Endometriosis and its associated symptoms bring many patients to their gynecologists in search of relief. Although some medications can be helpful, it is also worth considering alternative endometriosis pain relief options. By staying up to date on the latest research, healthcare professionals can be confident in recommending a wide range of approaches to help ease endometrial pain.
Understanding Endometriosis
Patients are diagnosed with endometriosis when tissue similar to that found in the uterine lining (the endometrium) grows elsewhere in the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, common locations for this tissue growth — also known as endometrial patches — include on or under the ovaries, on the fallopian tubes, behind the uterus, on the tissues that hold the uterus in place and in the bowel or bladder. In rare cases, endometrial patches can grow entirely outside the pelvic cavity, such as on the lungs, the skin and even the brain.
The Office on Women's Health reports that endometriosis affects at least 11 percent of women in the U.S. between the ages of 15 and 44. It can cause debilitating symptoms, such as pain, bleeding between menstrual periods, infertility and gastrointestinal problems. Pain is the most common endometriosis symptom and can include painful menstrual cramps, pain during sexual intercourse, chronic pelvic or lower back pain and pain while urinating or having bowel movements.
Alternative Approaches to Endometriosis Pain Treatment
It is no wonder, then, that so many women seek relief from endometriosis symptoms. One conventional approach to endometriosis pain relief is using hormonal birth control, such as intrauterine devices and extended-cycle contraception that limits menstrual periods to just a few times a year or eliminates menstruation altogether. (Although this option is not appropriate for women who wish to become pregnant.) Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen can also treat endometrial pain, but they may have unpleasant gastrointestinal effects if taken too often or at high doses. In more severe cases, surgery is a beneficial option, but endometrial patches can return after surgery.
In the search for new symptomatic treatments for endometrial pain, consider discussing the following measures with patients who wish to try alternative endometriosis pain relief options.
- Heat: Placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on the pelvis is a common home remedy for endometrial pain relief. Applying heat or taking a warm bath can help relax muscles, reducing cramping and pain.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity, as well as gentle forms of exercise such as yoga and tai chi, may benefit patients with endometrial pain. Exercise appears to decrease levels of circulating estrogens, which in turn might ease endometriosis pain. Physical activity has also been linked to improvements in inflammation and mood, and relaxing forms of exercise can help to manage the stress that accompanies endometriosis.
- Acupuncture: This ancient needling technique has been shown to help relieve chronic pain, and some studies suggest that it may also offer endometriosis pain relief in particular.
- TENS: Some women have found an approach called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) useful. This method aims to influence pain perception using small electric currents.
- Cannabis: Research from Pain suggests that the body's endocannabinoid system contributes to mechanisms underlying the pain associated with endometriosis, which may help explain why some women with the condition report pain relief from cannabis use. This approach may be an option for patients who live in states where medicinal marijuana use is legal.
What helps endometriosis pain for one patient may not provide relief for another. With conventional therapies for endometrial pain still largely ineffective, patients are searching for alternative options for endometriosis pain relief. In addition to performing tests like ultrasound and counseling through diagnoses, gynecologists can help guide patients to the best options for easing pain associated with this condition.
