Endometriosis: A Systemic Disease

Our understanding of endometriosis is progressing and it’s about time! For decades, women with a range of strange and seemingly unconnected symptoms have been misdiagnosed or dismissed by medical professionals simply because as a condition, endometriosis has been misunderstood. For years, it has been believed that endometriosis was a disease of the female reproductive system that remained isolated to the pelvis. This is not the case. Endometriosis is a chronic systemic disease. It affects metabolism in the liver and various tissues throughout the body. It has been shown to cause systemic inflammation in the body, and alters brain function in a way that can result in increased pain and significantly affect mood.

When I was trying to get a diagnosis, I had a range of symptoms that the doctors kept telling me were unrelated issues and ‘just bad luck’. They were wrong. I now know that all of my symptoms were a result of one systemic condition; endometriosis. Once I knew what I was dealing with, I have been able to effectively manage it. While pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms, endometriosis presents in many different ways and it is important for women and medical professionals to be aware of all the possible symptoms as it may help women to get answers and reach a diagnosis quicker. Below are all of the symptoms / other conditions that are currently associated with endometriosis:

- Pelvic pain

- Lower back pain

- Bloating

- Nausea

- Severe period pain

- Heavy bleeding

- Spotting between periods

- Pain during sex

- Vulvodynia (vaginal pain)

- Pain when urinating or having a bowel movement

- Difficulty getting pregnant / infertility

- Mood swings

- Depression

- Migraines

- Acne

- Chronic fatigue syndrome

- Digestive issues

- IBS

- Constipation

- Interstitial Cystitis

- Fibromyalgia

- Arthritis

- Allergies / intolerances

…and these are just the ones we’re aware of. While the impact of endometriosis and the way in which it behaves is not yet fully understood, through increasing awareness of endometriosis as a systemic disease and continuing to push for answers as a community, we can help women get the diagnosis they need, allowing them to then take control and move towards managing their symptoms and become healthier and happier.

So often, we are offered ‘quick-fix’ relief for our endo symptoms whether that be the oral contraceptive pill or surgery, however, a systemic, whole body condition should be treated as just that; whole body. While these ‘quick-fix’ approaches can absolutely help to manage your symptoms in the short-term, adopting a holistic approach to target your endometriosis is going to have the most successful outcome. That means you need to get your nutrition right, start exercising in a way that works for you and focus on improving your emotional wellbeing; putting time aside for self-care. By taking this three-pronged approach, you can start reducing inflammation in your body and balance your hormones. Putting just a few positive lifestyle changes in place can make all the difference to how you feel and start you moving towards a healthier, happier future.