March 14, 2019

Endometriosis Awareness Month

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month!

In this blog post, we’ll be observing Endometriosis Awareness Month by covering:

  • What Endometriosis is
  • Who is at risk for Endometriosis
  • How to find out if you have Endometriosis
  • Common methods of treatment, and
  • Natural options for pain management 

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called “the endometrium”), is found outside the uterus, where it induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in scar tissue.


Symptoms can include:

  • Pain is the most common symptom and can present in many different ways like:
    • Secondary Dysmenorrhea: painful menstrual cramps (1)
    • Chronic lower back and pelvic pain
    • Pain during or after sex
    • Intestinal pain and inflammation
    • Painful bowel movements or pain during urination during menstrual periods
  • Bleeding or spotting between periods
  • Infertility: About 25 to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30 to 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile (2)
  • Stomach/digestion problems such as IBS, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea

Research has also found links between Endometriosis and health problems such as:

  • Allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities (3)
  • Autoimmune diseases like MS, Lupus, and some types of Hypothyroidism (4)
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (5)
  • Certain cancers, such as ovarian (6) and breast cancer (7)

Who is at risk for Endometriosis?

Endometriosis can often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed but is estimated to affect more than 11% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 (8). Endometriosis is most common among women in their 30s and 40s, with some women experiencing an improvement in Endometriosis symptoms after menopause.

You may be more likely to get Endometriosis if you have:

  • Never had children
  • Periods lasting more than 7 days
  • Menstrual cycles lasting 27 days or less
  • A family member with Endometriosis
  • Another health condition that blocks the flow of menstrual blood during your period

What causes Endometriosis?

The exact cause of Endometriosis is not yet fully understood. Possible explanations include:

  • Problems with menstrual period flow. Retrograde menstrual flow is when menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body.
  • Genetics. Because Endometriosis runs in families, it may be inherited.
  • Immune system problems. A struggling immune system may fail to find and destroy Endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus.
  • Hormones. Endometriosis is stimulated by estrogen and pubertal estrogen levels are thought to trigger the symptoms. Research is also looking at whether endometriosis is a problem with the body's hormone system.
  • Surgery. During surgery to the abdominal area Endometrial tissue could be picked up and moved by mistake. For example, endometrial tissue has been found in abdominal scars.

No single theory explains Endometriosis in all patients. Most likely, Endometriosis is caused by “the perfect storm” of several causes that trigger the disease.

 

How can I find out if I have Endometriosis?

Diagnosing Endometriosis can be difficult because there is no single test to determine whether or not you have it. Currently, the only way to truly confirm the condition is by undergoing a surgical procedure in which a thin tube with a tiny camera attached is inserted through a small incision in the pelvic area called laparoscopy.

Other diagnostic strategies include:

  • A pelvic exam to feel for large cysts or scars behind your uterus.
  • Ultrasound or MRI to check for ovarian cysts from endometriosis.

 

Common Methods of Treatment

Surgery is possible but is typically only considered if other treatments do not work. Other treatment options include:

  • Hormonal birth control. This is generally the first step in treatment and may include birth control options that limit how many periods you experience during a year, usually in pill or shot form. IUDs are another option which can help reduce pain and bleeding (as well as protect against pregnancy). Hormonal treatment only works as long as it is taken and is best for those with Endometriosis who do not experience severe pain and other symptoms.
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. This medicine stops the body from making the hormones responsible for ovulation, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of Endometriosis. This causes temporary menopause, but once you stop taking the medicine, your menstrual cycle returns. This option does not as greatly affect a person’s ability to become pregnant, so it is often chosen when the person may want to become pregnant in the future.
  • Surgery. During the operation, the surgeon locates patches of endometriosis and may remove them. After surgery, hormone treatment is often restarted (unless the person is trying to become pregnant).
  • Pain Medications. If symptoms and pain are milder, a doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain medication.
  • Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Some people have reported pain relief using alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, herbs like cinnamon twig or licorice root, or supplements like Vitamin B12, Magnesium, and Omega-3s (9).

(Pictured: Luna Warrior Daily roller bottle)

Natural Pain Management Options

DMSO

By way of bladder installations, DMSO has been approved to treat a condition called interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition also known as “bladder endometriosis” or “Endometriosis’s evil twin”(10). Since DMSO is approved for interstitial cystitis and there are several similarities between the two conditions, there is a possibility that those with endometriosis may benefit from DMSO, even when applied topically.

According to a study done by the Division of Reproductive-Perinatal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology at Tottori University in Yonago, Japan:

“Although its mechanism of action is not known, DMSO is thought to increase bladder capacity, inhibit mast cell degranulation, and modulate neural activity in the bladder (11).”

The Affect of Essential Oils on Dysmenorrhea

A clinical study done in 2013 found that aromatherapy had a significant effect on pain and bleeding during menstruation (12). The essential oils used in the study were cinnamon, clove, lavender, and rose.

Any of those sound familiar? That's right! Those are the same essential oils in our Luna Warrior Daily blend.

Combining powerful ingredients like:

DMSO

A blend of Lavender, Rose, Cinnamon, and Clove essential oils

MSM for pain and inflammation and bolstering the immune system

Vitamin B12 to help with energy and brain fog (13)

Vitamin E for its antioxidant properties and to help reduce pelvic pain (14,15)
 

Luna Warrior Daily was created to try to help balance hormones, support a healthy immune system, improve energy and brain fog, and relieve pain and inflammation associated with Endometriosis.

If you struggle with painful periods, give Luna Warrior Daily a try!

 

 

(Pictured: Luna Warrior Roller Pack)

 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3935015/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2941592/
3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221865632_High_rate_of_allergies_among_women_with_endometriosis
4-6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12351553
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090825811004847
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21719000
9. https://irjponline.com/admin/php/uploads/897_pdf.pdf
10. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-interstitial-cystitis-bladder-pain-syndrome-beyond-the-basics
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3935015/
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3638625/
13. https://endometriosisnews.com/2018/04/19/endometriosis-brain-fog-minerals-clear-it/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3484190/
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3916184/
 

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not use if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking blood thinners.

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