There are a number of endometriosis treatment options available however, understandably, not all patients are initially willing to try them.
Some fear the surgical procedures while others don't want to take hormonal treatments for the rest of their lives.
The good news is that there are a number of alternative treatments available that endometriosis sufferers can try.
First though, it is important have your condition diagnosed correctly to ensure that the symptoms you have are those of endometriosis, so that you are aware of what's going on inside your body.
Here's a reminder of what having Endometriosis entails.
An Overview Endometriosis is a benign lesion made up of cells resembling those lining the uterus that grows in the pelvic cavity outside of the uterus.
These misplaced implants of endometrial tissue are normally found in the pelvic cavity, however they can attach themselves to the bowel, intestine, bladder, colon and stomach cavity wall.
More seriously endometrial tissue can find it's way into the spine, brain and lungs causing serious complications.
The misplaced endometrium responds to ovarian hormonal stimulation, and, indeed, depends on this for survival.
When the uterus goes through the process of menstruation, this tissue bleeds--mostly into areas having no outlet.
This is what causes the often debilitating pain, inflammation and adhesions (scar tissue).
At surgery, these lesions are typically small, puckered, brown or blue-black, indicating concealed bleeding.
If the endometrial tissue is within an ovarian cyst, there is no outlet for the bleeding and the formation is referred to as a chocolate cyst.
Symptoms vary and may be misleading, since extensive endometriosis may cause few symptoms whereas an isolated lesion may produce considerable problems.
Treatment Options Medical management depends upon the severity of the symptoms and the age group of the patient.
Medical treatment is initiated with hormonal therapy that blocks ovulation.
This relieves dysmenorrhea (debilitating pain associated with menstruation) and postpones surgical intervention.
If surgery does become needed the procedures most commonly carried out are the resection of cysts or removal of adhesions.
The likelihood of recurrence of endometriosis is high; however, these steps can allow pregnancy to occur and for some women it is worth the inconvenience of the surgery.
In women of childbearing age, ovarian tissue is saved whenever possible during surgery; after age 45 however, procedures that are more radical may be recommended.
Although it is worth pointing out that a hysterectomy may not alleviate all endometriosis symptoms as it depends if there are implants in other areas of the body.
Alternative Treatment In the medical field, alternative treatments are now considered effective measures to combat certain diseases.
There are varied reasons why people opt to choose alternative treatments.
The primary, underlying reasons why most patients go for alternative treatments is the availability of organic or natural medicines that reduce the risk of side effects associated with conventional medicine.
1.
Herbal treatment Even if most health experts sneer at the very thought of using herbs as the primary source of medication, nobody can negate the fact that herbal medicines are the first types of medicines that our ancestors used.
In fact, herbal medicines are the source, and often the inspiration of most prescribed drugs.
Herbal medicines, when used for treating endometriosis, can help to regulate hormonal imbalances.
In the same way, these types of remedies can help mend or repair tissues.
Since these are organic substances, herbal medicines can also help promote and fortify the immune system.
2.
Homeopathy This focuses more on the body's natural way of healing itself.
With homeopathic medicine, the body's immune system is fueled and increased, thereby giving the body the ability to fight back at the implants.
Homeopathy can also be used to relieve signs of pains and discomfort.
3.
Acupuncture Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is often used in conjunction with herbal treatments.
When visiting a TCM practitioner they will tailor the treatment to you individually so be prepared to tell them all about your medical history as well as your experiences with Endometriosis and your menstrual cycle.
If acupuncture is employed, the location of the acupuncture points and the herbal remedies used is done based on the TCM diagnosis and so will vary for each individual.
Although common acupuncture points for endometriosis are abdomen, back, ears, wrists, feet and legs.
It can take a number of sessions to feel any relief, but your TCM practitioner should be able to guide you as to how many sessions you will need.
There are also additional alternative treatments such as homeopathy and following specific diet and exercise recommendations that are easy to implement into your life.
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All of these things can help in facilitating endometriosis relief.
Keep in mind that you have choice of endometriosis treatment options available and many can be used in combination.
Discuss with your Doctor, which is the right one for you.