Endometriosis and pelvic pain - what every woman should know

Written By Nicole Hills

Endometriosis and pelvic pain

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects 1 in 7 Australian women, yet it takes an average of 6-8 years to diagnose. It occurs whenn tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation, scarring and often significant pain.

In Chinese Medicine, this pain is diagnosed as the stagnation of both Qi and Blood in the pelvis, thus resulting in blocked circulation within the lower abdomen, ultimately disrupting smooth menstrual flow.

What are the common symptoms of Endometriosis?

  • Severe period pain, not relieved by standard pain relief

  • Chronic pelvic pain (not just during menstruation)

  • Pain during sex, or with bowel and bladder movements

  • Heavy or irregular periods

  • Bloating, nausea and fatigue

  • Difficulty conceiving and infertility

  • Anxiety or depression

How is Endometriosis diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical history and pelvic exam. A specialised transvaginal ultrasound can identify lesions and ovarian cysts. In some cases, laparoscopy via keyhole surgery is required for confirmation. If you suspect Endometriosis, your GP can refer you to a Specialist for this diagnosis.

How is Endometriosis treated?

There is no cure for Endometriosis, however it can be managed. The following steps can meaningfully reduce the burden of symptoms:

  • Anti-inflammatory diet - incorporating plenty of vegetables, oily fish, wholegrains, legumes. Reduce red meat, sugar and alcohol.

  • Warmth - heat packs and warm foods encourage improved circulation and ease cramping (cold is considered a key aggravating factor in Chinese Medicine)

  • Gentle movement - yoga, pilates, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, swimming and walking help to reduce inflammation and support mood

  • Stress management - chronic stress worsens stagnation in the body, thus activities which help regulate the nervous system such as meditation, mindfulness and adequate sleep are essential.

Acupuncture and Endometriosis

A 2024 meta-analysis of 14 Randomised Controlled Trials (Chen et al., Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) found Acupuncture significantly reduced dysmenorrhea (period pain), pelvic pain and CA-125 levels, and improved quality of life.

A 2023 Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) in Fertility and Sterility (Li et al.), a high quality multicentre placebo-controlled trial, demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction in the acupuncture group versus sham at 12 weeks.

A 2023 Systematic Review (SR) co-authored by RMIT Melbourne researchers (Wang et al., Complementary Therapies in Medicine) found manual acupuncture and moxibustion (heat therapy) improved pain and quality of life across 15 RCTs and 1,018 patients.

Chinese herbal medicine (Lin et al., 2023, American Journal of Chinese Medicine) showed meaningful pain reductions whether used alone or alongside conventional treatment.

Research:

Chen, C., Li, X., Lu, S., Yang, J., & Liu, Y. (2024). Acupuncture for clinical improvement of Endometriosis-related pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 310(4), 2101-2114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07675-z

Giese, N., Kwon, K. K., & Armour, M. (2023). Acupuncture for Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Integrative Medicine Research, 12(4), 101003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2023.101003

Li, P. S., Peng, X. M., Niu, X. X., Xu, L., Hung, Y. N. E., Wang, C C., Deng, J. F., Li, J., & Liang, R. N. (2023). Efficacy of Acupuncture for Endometriosis-associated pain: A multicentre randomised single blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertility and Sterility, 119(5), 815-823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034

Lin, Y., Wu, L., Zhao, R., Chung, P. W., & Wang, C. C. (2023). Chinese herbal medicine, alternative or complementary for Endometriosis-associated pain: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 51(4), 807-832. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X23500386

Wang, Y., Coyle, M. E., Hong, M., He, S., Zhang, A. L., Guo, X., Lu, C., Xue, C. C. L., & Liang, X. (2023). Acupuncture and moxibustion for endometriosis: A Systematic Review and analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 76, 102963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102963

How can Embrace Complementary Medicine help?

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Nicole Hills
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