Many women who suffer from severe period cramps are taught and conditioned by our society to pull through without allowing it to affect their work or home life. The consensus has been take whatever pain killers they need, to do so quietly, and to move on. If there is stigma around something as common and natural as menstruation, imagine what it’s like to suffer from conditions made worse during menstruation, especially when to the outside world – it doesn’t look very different from having your regular period. These women are often labelled as weak, or misunderstood to be complaining, when in fact they suffer from a critical medical condition.
I want to clear up some myths and facts about something I come into contact with on a regular basis at Womens BestHealth and that’s Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a noncancerous condition in which the cells that typically form the uterine lining grow outside the uterus in areas like the ovaries, bowel, fallopian tubes or bladder resulting in very painful period cramps, and in particularly bad cases – chronic pain.
When endometriosis tissue grows outside of the uterus, it still responds to estrogen, among other hormones telling it to grow. The pain is triggered when these hormone levels are high, and like the lining in the uterus, they too break down. But unlike the cells that break down in the uterus, the tissue forming outside has nowhere to go. Therefore, these women bleed internally, causing further inflammation.
Sometimes, symptoms are also triggered by sexual intercourse, making it difficult for women in partnerships to maintain a healthy or regular sex life – affecting their relationships, routine, mental health, and sometimes even fertility.
The idea that endometriosis is nothing more than “killer cramps” invalidates the suffering of many who have this unfortunate condition. When a woman with endo experiences cramps, an ibuprofen tablet will not work. She more than likely uses prescription drugs to manage the pain and may be forced to make the trip to ER for relief.
Every year there are physicians recommending Laparoendoscopic Excision, a surgery which requires superior laparoscopic skill. There are very few surgeons who know how to successfully perform a complete removal. Surgery also puts great financial burden on the patient.
There are ways to treat the symptoms of endometriosis using functional, or alternative medicine. At Womens BestHealth we will be able to do a complete hormonal profile to see how your estrogen can be regulated through diet, lifestyle changes, the taking of supplements, and other vitamins or minerals, significantly alleviating pain without performing any invasive procedures.
If you’re tired of the drugs, hormone therapies, discussing surgeries, or if you’ve had to endure surgeries for your endo that just haven’t been successful, consult me at Womens BestHealth for more information about how I can help you. Give our office a call at (954) 782-4855, or visit our website at www.womensbesthealth.com. Endometriosis is a serious and debilitating condition when it isn’t treated. Find relief that works today.