A Deeper Understanding of Endometriosis and the Associated Pain with Endometriosis

Endometriosis is often described as a hormone-based condition and therefore the treatments used are related to suppressing oestrogen and ovulation. The contraceptive pill, the Mirena and other contraceptives are often prescribed to alleviate the endometriosis growths and thereby minimise lesions.This unfortunately doesn’t address the endometriosis or why it has formed in the first place. It may suppress symptoms, but this is solely based on the lack of ovulation and thereby the cycle synchronising with the endometriosis lesions found in the abdominal cavity, which react to that hormonal stimulation.

To truly address the actual endometriosis, we need to look deeper at what is triggering the endometriosis from forming in the first place. There are studies to show that many women have dispersed cells from the endometrium but not all women develop the disease of endometriosis. Why is there this overreaction to these lesions on some women and not others?

It seems that there is more at play than simply retrograde menstruation or hormone stimulation. Upon further research, we discovered that endometriosis is largely associated with a heightened inflammatory reaction to these dispersed cells. Histamine is higher in the area and interestingly there is also a connection with higher levels of iron. This could explain the many ties to anaemia and women who suffer from endometriosis.The histamine is triggering a misalignment with oestrogen which therefore could be a contributor to oestrogen dominance. What is interesting is that not all women with endometriosis experience oestrogen dominance so it is thereby false to assume this should be our sole treatment protocol.

The key areas, we focus on is the auto-immune response, reducing inflammation and hormone balance. Hormone balance also needs to address thyroid imbalances along with prolactin levels – often associated with fibroids which can accompany endometriosis.

The trigger for pain is the body and its reaction to these dispersed cells. Where there is inflammation, there is pain. Much like if you cut your finger, your finger will become inflamed and red. It is the bodies way of healing. In the case of endometriosis, there seems to be a heightened response to these cells. Instead of the immune system simply cleaning up these dispersed cells, it overreacts and causes this inflammatory response.

It is in fact the inflammatory response that is largely responsible for the pain, the development of adhesions and further damage within the abdominal cavity.

So, why is this reaction occurring?

In many cases, there has been some kind of physical or emotional trauma associated with the abdominal cavity. For instance, there is a high correlation of women who have experienced sexual abuse also suffer from endometriosis. Other forms of trauma could be from a fall that affected the area or an infection within the area.

Treatment involves not just physical treatments like using an anti-inflammatory diet, realigning the hormone imbalances, reducing anxiety and stress but also looking at the emotional aspects of the disease. Guilt and pain are closely related and one needs to consider the mind-body connections to the disease to truly address this on a personal level.

What I can tell you is that treatment is possible and that there is a way forward that doesn’t involve simply the suppression of symptoms but actually addressing the reason for the disease.