In the Know…About Endo
Tips for Endometriosis
Endometriosis…so, what is it anyway? Endometriosis is a disease when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It is commonly found in the abdominal region (such as on the bowel, bladder, and between abdominal organs) however it can extend throughout the body. Endo is shockingly common and is present in 1 in 8 women though many may not have a proper diagnosis. Despite how common it is, the average time to diagnosis remains 12 years.
Symptoms of endo can vary, but the most common are severely painful and heavy periods, pain with sex, bowel dysfunction, and infertility. That being said, you do not have to have all of these symptoms – some patients may have severely painful menstrual pain while they easily became pregnant three times while another patient may have had fairly normal periods, but endometriosis might be discovered during infertility testing. The take home message here is that period cramps that are so severe that you are missing school or work are not normal.
Physical therapy can help! Most women with endometriosis also have pelvic floor muscle tension which leads to additional pain and dysfunction. In my opinion, any woman diagnosed with endometriosis should be referred to pelvic floor physical therapy in order to reduce pelvic floor muscle tension and its associated pain. In addition, many patients with endo also have bowel and bladder dysfunction which can be addressed with pelvic PT as well.
What else may help? An anti-inflammatory diet which includes a diet low in sugar, dairy, gluten, and processed foods has been shown to be beneficial. Excision surgery to remove the lesions is often necessary. Medication may also be helpful at times. If a patient is diagnosed with endometriosis, they need to build a qualified medical team which should include an OB-GYN who specializes in caring for patients with endo, a trained pelvic health physical therapist, and a dietitian.
If you have endometriosis or suspect this may be a possibility, check out our four-week endometriosis programs. Empowering You with Endometriosis Level 1 is designed for patients who are in severe pain with significant impact on daily function. Empowering You with Endometriosis Level 2 is designed for patients who have mild to moderate pain with less daily disability.