Endometriosis and Menopause
What happens now?
Endometriosis and menopause are two very common issues that are a concern for many women, young and old. Endometriosis is a disease that affects approximately 1 in 10 women. Although it is most common in women that are in the reproductive years, it has been known to affect young women as well as women experiencing menopause. Endometriosis presents itself in many ways and the symptoms and severity of symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman. The most common symptoms include menstrual cramps, gastrointestinal problems, and pain during sex. Endometriosis manifests itself with tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus, and attaches itself to the walls of the abdominal cavity as well as on organs like the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, and bladder. This tissue build up sheds with each menstrual cycle but is unable to exit through the vagina; the trapped tissue remains behind which results in inflammation and scar tissue. With the onset of menopause and the lessening of estrogen levels, the painful symptoms of endometriosis usually lessen or disappear completely but this is not always the case. Since the ovaries continue to produce small amounts of hormones, endometriosis and the symptoms have been known to continue to be a problem in some women. If a woman takes hormone replacements or if she doesn’t stop producing a significant amount of hormones once menopause begins, endometriosis and the symptoms could continue to be an issue.
Western Medicine Treatments The cause of endometriosis continues to remain a mystery to medical professionals so it is difficult for them to eliminate the disease. The only thing that they’ve been able to do is to attempt to treat the disease. The aim is to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible by reducing or stopping estrogen from being produced each month. When there is little or no estrogen production, there is little or nothing to feed the endometriosis growths. With mild cases of endometriosis, monitoring of the progression of the disease along with taking analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prescriptions should help with the pain. Other treatments include hormone therapy, drugs and surgery.
Natural Remedies for Endometriosis and Menopause If you have a mild to moderate case, natural treatments may help you avoid drugs or surgery. One way to treat endometriosis is with bioidentical progesterone. This fools the body into thinking it is pregnant and as a result, it stops endometrial growths. Using progesterone cream may not get rid of your endometriosis, but it could give relief from symptoms. For more information about progesterone, see
bioidentical progesterone
Other natural remedies include: Changing your diet to minimize xenoestrogen exposure. Do not use plastic to microwave food. Avoid storing food in plastic as much as possible. Eat organic dairy products, meat and chicken, since these products are not given extra hormones. All of these actions will reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens (industrial compounds with estrogenic effects). Eat more nutrient rich foods such as vegetables, fish and fiber. Limit your intake of processed and convenience foods. Limit your alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight. Take supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and omega-3. Add acupuncture or physical therapy with pelvic massage. Herbs that have helped endometriosis symptoms include those that help balance hormones, such as
wild yam,
vitex,
and herbs for your
liver
The most natural treatment for endometriosis and menopause would be the onset of menopause due to age. Natural menopause involves the reduction of the production of estrogen and hormones which contribute to endometrial growth.
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Natural Remedies for Menopause
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