How to Treat Endometriosis Naturally
There are 2 important takeaways I want you to get from this article. Your endometriosis is treatable. You have options beyond birth control and pain medication.
So, let’s start by setting the stage.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue—that stuff you build up inside your uterus every cycle and then lose as blood with your period—but it’s also located outside the uterus. The most common symptom of endometriosis is chronic pain in the pelvic area (lower abdominal area, low back, vulva, and all the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding your reproductive system). Typically, the pain starts sometime within the first two years of your first period and it can get better on birth control or after menopause. Usually the longer you are off birth control, or the longer you have a natural period, the worse the pain becomes.
Just as you grow and build endometrial tissue inside your uterus, this is also growing and thickening outside the uterus. This tissue is NOT supposed to be there—so as your body shifts to accommodate for this growth in tissue, it also creates adhesions and inflammation. This is why the pain that can continue even without a period when you are on birth control.
Endometriosis affects 7-10% of women and is the reason for severe pain in more than 60% of women who experience chronic pain during their cycle1.
What causes endometriosis?
We are starting to learn more about the etiology (or reason) for endometriosis, and it appears to be a mix between genetics and the environmental toxins you have been exposed to.
…but to be completely honest, we don’t know a lot about endometriosis causes quite yet.
Like most diagnoses in the medical field, it appears there is a blend between genetics and environmental factors that cause endometriosis to form—and although we can’t influence your basic genetics, we CAN address everything else. The everything else: this is where I come in and what natural medicine can do to expand your treatment options.
How does working with a Naturopathic Doctor help endometriosis?
We’re going to build you a road map to reducing symptoms related to your endometriosis.
This is going to include:
a comprehensive intake
comprehensive labs
additional imaging (if needed)
…and the time & space to discuss it all.
We will work from this baseline of knowledge to figure out your diet, supplements, medications, and additional medical providers that need to be added to your team.
My approach may include balancing your hormones, reducing inflammation, balancing your mood, optimizing or tweaking your diet, and getting you to feel better—right down to the root cause of endometriosis.
Again, what we can’t do is change your genes, so I cannot promise a cure for your endometriosis. You still may need surgery or birth control; but coupling naturopathic medicine into your plan should dramatically improve your symptoms and it may even mean you don’t need those pain medications, birth control, or surgery to feel better.
In our work together, we can:
reduce or eliminate your pain before/during/after your period
improve your fertility
balance your mood
improve your sleep
get you feeling your best 🙂
This is about putting you back in charge of your health, giving you the tools to take control, and giving you the knowledge and power to know what helps you feel like the best version of yourself.
I am here to help guide you. I promise to listen, come up with a comprehensive treatment plan, and to give you one of the best experiences you have ever had at a doctor’s office.
For more a more in-depth look at the causes & co-factors surrounding endometriosis, read this: https://drsaranorris.com/causes-signs-and-symptoms-of-endometriosis/
In health,
Dr. Sara Norris, ND
1 Eur J of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 2017;209: 3–7