Endometrosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is one of the most frequently occurring reproductive disorders, affecting approximately 10 to 15% of women in the U.S. For women, perfect health and well-being is closely interconnected with the rhythm of their menstrual cycle.
WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Endometriosis is characterized by abnormal uterine cell growth (endometrium) found outside of the uterus - around the pelvic organs, bowels, ovaries and/or fallopian tubes. Endometrium naturally responds to changing hormone levels that occur during menstruation, causes bleeding. Unlike normal menstrual blood which flows through the cervix and vagina, endometrial tissue found outside of the uterus has nowhere to escape and thus remains trapped inside the body.
WHAT CAUSES ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Conventional Western medicine is somewhat perplexed by endometriosis. Various theories exist instead of definite answers, yet it is almost certain that high levels of estrogen are responsible for the physiological changes that take place and cause endometriosis. Some of the most commonly accepted theories are:
Retrograde menstruation
Uterine cell-containing menstrual blood may flow back into the fallopian tubes and pelvis, where the cells attach to the outer layer of the organs, creating endometrial cells outside of the uterus.
Induction theory
Healthy cells that line the uterine cavity convert into abnormal cells due to receiving abnormal hormonal signals. These abnormal cells slowly transform the inside lining of the uterus.
Surgical scar theory
During a pelvic surgery (most often C-section), uterine cells get transferred outside of the uterus, then attach to the incision and later spread around in the pelvic cavity.
Immune system-related complications
Abnormal hormone levels may lead to some women's immune systems causing uterine cells to grow outside of the uterus.
Western medicine often misdiagnosis endometriosis as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cysts, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and further complicates the issue by prescribing treatment that has nothing to do with the root cause of the patient’s symptoms.
Endometriosis Symptoms
Interestingly, large percentages of women don't experience concerning symptoms in the first stages of disease development. When endometriosis symptoms are present, they can range from mild discomfort to serious problems, yet the severity of symptoms experienced is not an accurate way to determine the progress and degree of the disease.
Symptoms may include:
pelvic, abdominal, and lower back pain, especially right before the start of menstruation
heavy, irregular, or prolonged cycles experienced
painful bowel movements, urination, and sexual intercourse
infertility
chronic fatigue, generalized feeling of discomfort
Symptoms may differ from person to person since they are often dependent on the location of the endometrial tissue. Eastern medicine regards endometriosis as the sluggish movement of blood and energy inside of the body. It is important to get the right diagnosis in order to receive the most effective treatment.
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH TREATMENTS FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS
It is extremely important to understand your body, menstrual cycle, and discover its unique patterns and traits. This way when unusual changes and disruptions occur, we can be prepared and ready to begin to find our way back to the restoration of our health.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
If you are suffering from women’s health issues such as endometriosis, work with the nation’s leading expert on integrative functional medicine. Dr. Bhandari combines the best in Eastern and Western Medicine to understand the root causes of diseases and provides personalized treatment plans that quickly and effectively deliver results.