Shining a Light on Endometriosis This March
March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month, making it a great time to take a closer look at a significant and often misunderstood health condition. Endometriosis affects around 200 million women worldwide — an estimated 1 in 10 women in the United States. It is a major cause of infertility, GI problems, and significant pain that can lead to missed school and work, impacting women's education and livelihood.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that resembles the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, typically around the pelvic and GI organs — though it can migrate to other parts of the body. Like actual uterine tissue, these implants respond to hormonal changes. During menstruation, they bleed, but because the blood has nowhere to go, inflammation and scarring occur. The scar tissue caused by endometriosis often creates adhesions in the pelvis and abdomen, binding organs down into the pelvic cavity or causing them to adhere to one another.
What actually causes endometriosis? Unfortunately, the answer isn't fully known (incredibly frustrating, we know). One theory is that uterine tissue gets backwashed through the fallopian tubes during menstruation — something that happens to most people who menstruate. In the majority of cases, the body breaks this tissue down and clears it. A possible explanation for endometriosis is that some people have an immune response that fails to eliminate the tissue, allowing it to take hold and cause damage. Another theory suggests that endometriotic nodules are implanted during fetal development but don't cause symptoms until menstruation begins. What is known is that endometriosis is an inflammatory disorder, and the only way to definitively diagnose it is through laparoscopic surgery.
So, what can be done? Medications — either for pain management or hormonal regulation — can help control symptoms, but do not stop the progression of endometriosis. Another option that doesn't involve medication is pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic PT can help in several ways:
Muscle tension and pain relief. Pain often causes the pelvic floor muscles to tighten, which in turn creates more pain. Pelvic PTs use manual therapy to help these muscles relax and teach patients self-release techniques to manage discomfort at home.
Visceral manipulation. Pelvic PTs can perform specialized manual techniques on the abdomen called visceral manipulation, which may help reduce adhesions — potentially relieving pain and improving GI function and fertility.
Nervous system regulation. Living with chronic pain can leave the nervous system in a constant state of high alert, amplifying the perception of pain. Pelvic PTs use targeted stretching and breathing techniques to help calm the nervous system and reduce overall pain sensitivity.
If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis or suspect you may have it, please know you are not alone. At Link Physical Therapy, our specially trained pelvic physical therapists are here to help reduce your symptoms so you can live life better!