Endometriosis is a chronic condition with no known cure, and managing the uncomfortable symptoms can be challenging. Pain medication and hormone therapy are often not sustainable long-term due to adverse side effects, a hysterectomy and ovarian removal are not ideal for women hoping to conceive, and symptoms are known to recur within a few years of laparoscopic surgery to remove endometrial scar tissue and implants.
For these reasons, a combination of alternative therapies is ultimately recommended to manage the symptoms of endometriosis, improve quality of life, and increase fertility prospects in women of reproductive age.
What is Endometriosis?
Linked to estrogen production during the menstrual cycle, endometriosis is diagnosed when tissue similar to the uterus lining (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. When this occurs, endometrial-like tissue growth is often found on the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and sometimes on the bladder and bowel.
Endometrial-like tissue growth outside the uterus can manifest as endometrial implants (lesions), cysts, scar tissue, or adhesions (tissue growth that connects organs that would otherwise remain separate).
Endometrial-like tissue can also develop outside the pelvic area, however, this is rare.
Medical Treatments Used to Treat Endometriosis
Medical treatments for easing the symptoms of endometriosis often begin with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain medication (ibuprofen or Aleve) to relieve cramping and pelvic pain.
Hormone therapy is also commonly prescribed to reduce estrogen production, prevent ovulation and the growth of implants outside the uterus, or suppress the menstrual cycle completely.
Although hormone therapy can ease the pain linked to endometriosis, it is not ideal for women of reproductive age trying to conceive. It’s also known to result in side effects for some women, such as hemorrhaging, liver issues, or early menopause symptoms.
In some cases, laparoscopic surgery may be performed to remove scar tissue, cysts, lesions, or adhesions from the reproductive and pelvic organs to relieve pain and improve the chances of becoming pregnant. Unfortunately, research shows that endometrial-like tissue tends to regrow within five years of being removed with laparoscopic surgery.
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with or without an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) may also be suggested. Interestingly, it has been found that removing the ovaries in women aged 30-39 will not prevent endometrial-like scar tissue or lesions from re-growing within 5-7 years.
Due to these side effects and the uncertainty linked to surgical treatments for endometriosis, a combination of alternative therapies is often more effective.
The Best Alternative Therapies for Endometriosis
Given that the majority of women experiencing endometriosis are of reproductive age, a combination of alternative therapies to ease pain, improve quality of life, and increase the likelihood of pregnancy is often the best course of action for long-term management of symptoms.
Also known as Endometriosis Supportive Therapy, a combination of alternative therapies is now regularly advised to address the physical symptoms of endometriosis as well as the emotional and psychological aspects.
To understand which combination of alternative therapies is right for your symptoms, consult a pelvic physical therapist or gynecologist. For some women with endometriosis, each of the therapies below will be helpful, while others may require just one or two.
Alternative therapies for endometriosis typically include:
- Pelvic physical therapy
- At-Home Pelvic Tools
- Lifestyle & Dietary changes
- Relaxation Techniques
- Acupuncture
Pelvic Physical Therapy
Pelvic physical therapy is one of the best alternative therapies for endometriosis. It is highly recommended to ease pelvic pain, stretch and relax pelvic muscles and ligaments, reduce the tightness of endometrial implants and scar tissue on pelvic organs, and improve pelvic floor function for more sexual comfort, improved quality of life, and stress-free reproduction.
Depending on the symptoms, pelvic physical therapy for endometriosis could include manual massage therapy, biofeedback, breathwork, pelvic floor training, and mild electrostimulation. At Intimate Rose, we also offer online pelvic floor therapy!
At-Home Pelvic Tools
As an extension of pelvic physical therapy for endometriosis, pelvic health tools such as Vaginal Dilators and Pelvic Massage Wands are commonly recommended for patients to continue physical therapy in the comfort of their own homes.
Vaginal Dilators
Designed to gently and gradually relax tight pelvic floor muscles, Vaginal Dilators have been proven to reduce dyspareunia (pain during sex) from an average pain score of 8.3 to 1.3 and completely alleviate the pain in 58% of women. They are also helpful for treating vaginismus, which sometimes develops from dyspareunia.
Sold in sets of gradually-increasing widths and lengths (from the size of a pinkie finger to an erect penis), these helpful pelvic tools are a must-have for anyone suffering from sexual discomfort or a lack of sexual confidence due to endometriosis.
Pelvic Wands
Pelvic Wands are ergonomically shaped for easy access to deep pelvic floor muscles and painful pelvic trigger points. Gently manoeuvring the wand around the vaginal canal helps to locate tender or tight areas that can be softly pressed with the tip of the wand for pain relief.
In this respect, they are ideal for relieving pelvic pain, tightness caused by the growth of implants on organs outside the uterus, and the pelvic floor dysfunction associated with endometriosis.
Additionally, Intimate Rose has developed the Vibrating Pelvic Floor Wand (with several vibrating settings), the Temperature Therapy Pelvic Wands (for added heat or cold therapy), and the Bendable Pelvic Wand (which is also a little longer) for harder-to-reach pelvic pain relief.
Pelvic health experts advise choosing pelvic health tools made from medical-grade silicone for optimal vaginal health and comfort. At Intimate Rose, we use only the highest quality, BPA-free, medical-grade silicone to provide a silky smooth, non-sticky, and comfortable experience for you.
Lifestyle and Dietary Changes
In addition to relieving pelvic pain with the right pelvic tools, lifestyle modifications play a vital role in managing the symptoms of endometriosis. Taking warm baths or applying heat packs to the pelvic area during ovulation and menstruation can help ease pain.
Gentle and regular aerobic exercise is known to stabilize estrogen and lighten periods, while releasing endorphins that reduce stress and elevate low moods. Stretching can help correct muscle imbalances and improve posture, and pelvic floor workouts can help with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Dietary changes can also alleviate endometriosis symptoms by reducing the extent of inflammation in the pelvic area during estrogen surges. For example, reducing red meat intake, processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol can help ease the pain linked to endometriosis.
Consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D has been linked to reduced inflammation. Adequate magnesium and water intake are known to reduce muscle spasms and tightness.
Relaxation Techniques
Given that endometriosis is a chronic condition and can flare up during each menstrual cycle, stress often becomes an added symptom. Unfortunately, added stress can also worsen symptoms like pain, pelvic floor tightness, dyspareunia, and difficulties conceiving.
Therefore, any form of natural therapy that helps endometriosis patients relieve stress is highly recommended. Yoga, meditation, breathwork, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindful practices, or speaking with a therapist can all provide tools for stress management.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy involving the insertion of fine needles through the skin on specific body parts known as ‘acupoints’. Doing so is believed to encourage the flow of chi, blood, and nutrients throughout the body for improved well-being, reduced stress, and pain alleviation.
Although it is not effective in alleviating all endometriosis symptoms on its own, when used in conjunction with pelvic physical therapy or pelvic health tools, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications, acupuncture is considered an effective component of support therapy for endometriosis.
Do Chinese Herbs Relieve Endometriosis Symptoms?
Although several Chinese herbs, ayurvedic medicine, and forms of naturopathy are touted to relieve the symptoms of endometriosis, research into their efficacy is limited. While some patients have experienced pain relief with these therapies, others have not. However, holistic medicine often requires more time to work, so patience may be necessary to feel improvements.
Conclusion
Given the side effects and uncertainty linked to the medical and surgical treatments for endometriosis, a combination of alternative therapies is often advised for long-term management, pain relief, and improved quality of life.
Pelvic physical therapy and at-home pelvic tools like vaginal dilators and pelvic wands can relieve the pelvic pain, discomfort during sex, and infertility associated with endometriosis. Dietary and lifestyle changes are effective at reducing inflammation when estrogen increases. Relaxation techniques are recommended to reduce stress, and acupuncture can help improve the flow of chi throughout the body for improved well-being.
To comprehend which combination of alternative therapies is right for your endometriosis symptoms, speak with a pelvic physical therapist or gynecologist for guidance.
References
World Health Organisation (WHO) – Endometriosis - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
Cleveland Clinic – Estrogen - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22353-estrogen
National Library of Medicine – Estrogen Receptors and Endometriosis - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7215544/
Endometriosis Foundation of America - Everything You Need to Know About Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) for Endometriosis – - https://www.endofound.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pelvic-floor-physical-therapy-pfpt-for-endometriosis
National Library of Medicine - Low Dose, High Frequency Movement Based Dilator Therapy for Dyspareunia: Retrospective Analysis of 26 Cases - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8240346/
The Endometriosis Foundation – Diet & Lifestyle - https://www.theendometriosisfoundation.org/diet-and-lifestyle
Medical News Today - What are the best exercises for endometriosis? - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/endometriosis-exercise
National Library of Medicine - Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36716811/