What is endometriosis

A disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus, grows outside the uterus. With endometriosis, the tissue can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or the intestines.

Sign and symptoms

The most common symptoms are pain in the lower abdomen. You may suffer excessive bleeding or irregular bleeding.

• Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before and extend several days into a menstrual period.
• Pain with intercourse.
• Pain with bowel movements or urination.
• Excessive bleeding.
• Infertility.

Treatments

Conventional treatments such as hormones and excision surgery, are available. Talk to your doctor to explore this option.

Why acupuncture may work for you?

Acupuncture may become an integral part of your treatment plan. Discuss this option with your doctor. Research has shown that acupuncture can address signs of painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) and excessive bleeding which are experience by some women with endometriosis (Wang et. al., 2021).

Research by Li et al.(2014) and Ren et al. (2012) stipulated the analgesic effect of acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea. It is related to the regulation of endogenous opioids in the pain modulation system and pain-related system in the brain.

How many treatments do I need?

If you decide to try acupuncture for your endometriosis, be prepared to plan for the initial course of treatment to last 6 to 8 weeks. Your practitioner may ask you to visit once or twice a week. After the first phase, your practitioner might move you to 2 weeks per month. Commonly, you would be told to expect results in 3 to 6 months.

References

1. Wang Y, Xu J, Zhang Q, Zhang Q, Yang Y, Wei W, Guo X, Liang F, Yu S, Yang J. (2021). Frontiers in neuroscience, 15 | added to CENTRAL: 31 July 2021 | 2021 Issue 07. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.647667
2. Liu L‐Y, Li X, Tian Z‐L, Zhang Q, Shen Z‐F, Wei W, Guo X‐L, Chen L, Su M‐H, Yang L, Yu S‐Y, Yang J. (2022). Frontiers in neuroscience, 2022, 16 | added to CENTRAL: 31 October 2022 | 2022 Issue 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.917721
3. Li, C., Yang, J., Park, K., Wu, H., Hu, S., Zhang, W., et al. (2014). Prolonged repeated acupuncture stimulation induces habituation effects in pain-related brain areas: an FMRI study. PLoS One 9:e97502. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097502
4. Ren, X., Guo, M., Zhao, Y., Ding, X., Li, C., Ji, B., et al. (2012). Effects of Electroacupuncture on Pain Reactions, Expression of Spinal k-opioid Receptor and Contents of Enkephalin and b-endorphin in Periaqueductal Gray of Midbrain in Dysmenorrhea Model Rats. Acupuncture Res. 37, 5–11.