What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a progressive, chronic condition that affects about 1 in 9 women in Australia. While there is currently no cure for endometriosis, there are effective natural treatments that may relieve many of the symptoms.

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, or womb. Endometriosis develops when cells that are similar to those that make up the endometrium are growing in other parts of the body. These growths usually develop in the pelvis, but can move to almost any part of the body.

Cells within these tissues that are growing outside the uterus respond to messages from the ovaries, as if they were part of the uterine wall. This means that the tissues build up each cycle, just as the lining of the uterus builds up, and when the uterine wall sheds as the woman menstruates, the tissues that have grown in other areas of the body also bleed. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and scarring, and can cause organs to stick together in places (known as adhesions).

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis?

Some of the common symptoms affecting women with endometriosis include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Anaemia
• Pain on and around ovulation
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea OR constipation
• Irregular periods
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Painful urination
• General pelvic or abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding during your period

If you have several of the symptoms listed above, you may have endometriosis.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

Currently, the only way to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis is to have a laparoscopy which is why many women can go years without a diagnosis. During a laparoscopy, doctors use a scope to search for endometrial tissue that is growing in abnormal locations in the abdomen. Biopsies are usually taken also to further examine any growths that are located.

Some women with Endo have no symptoms, but for others it is painful and debilitating, seriously affecting a woman's quality of life and impacting fertility in many cases also.



What causes Endometriosis?

While it is not known definitively what causes Endometriosis, some of the contributing factors that have been identified include:

• Family history
• Stress & inflammation in the body
• Retrograde menstruation - when, instead of releasing through the cervix, blood travels back up through the fallopian tubes, carrying endometrial cells outside of the uterus.
• Poor gut health
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Immune system dysregulation
• Infections
• Malfunctions with the detoxification processes in the body
  

What are some Treatment Options for Endometriosis?

Naturopathy and acupuncture can offer support to women with endometriosis by treating the underlying driving factors of the condition - not just the symptoms. Each woman will have completely unique factors influencing her expression of Endometriosis and a benefit of Naturopathic treatments are that they can be highly personalised.

Your Naturopath will spend time with you, gaining an in-depth understanding of your lifestyle and contributing factors which will enable an effective treatment plan to be developed. This may also include other practitioners to support the individual needs of the patient.

Are you looking for ways to more effectively manage endometriosis? Book a Naturopathy consultation today with Randa Majrouh or Lesley Oakes to find out how we can support you with Endo or any other hormonal issues that may be affecting you.



Randa Majrouh

B.Sc. Comp. Med. , ND. Naturopath. Member of the Australian Natural Therapy Association (ANTA) and a registered Practitioner of AHPRA.

With her great interest and extensive background is in natural fertility & IVF support, Randa has a solid knowledge in many aspects of alternative therapies which has helped many couples to achieve their dreams of having a family.