Regular exercise, yoga, meditation and a healthy diet helps manage endometriosis

Dr Durga G Rao

Many women have problems related to their periods. But they are unaware that irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or severe pain could lead to infertility. Endometriosis is one such condition that can go undetected but may affect a women’s fertility to a great extent.
To know more about endometriosis, one should know about the menstrual cycle. And women need to have a clear understanding of the menstrual cycle.
The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium which makes itself ready to embrace the fertilized egg every month. But if there is no pregnancy, the endometrial tissue is shed every month during the menstrual cycle as a result of which bleeding occurs.
When the endometrium grows anywhere outside the uterus namely on the fallopian tube, ovary, vagina, etc. it’s called endometriosis. This tissue is also shed but the blood has no place to go causing inflammation and resulting in scar tissue and lesions.
Endometriosis affects roughly 10 per cent (190 million) of reproductive-age women and girls globally according to WHO. In India, around 26 million suffer from it. There is an utter lack of awareness about early diagnosis and effective management of endometriosis.

Some of the symptoms of endometriosis
♦Chronic pelvic pain/ low back pain
♦Painful periods (Dysmenorrhea)
♦Difficulty in conceiving (Infertility)
♦Pain during sexual intercourse (Dyspareunia)
♦Excessive bleeding during periods
♦Painful cyclical hematuria/ painful defecation (Dyschezia)

Treatment of endometriosis
♦Requires treatment for infertility as a priority which can be either IUI or IVF-based on the patient’s egg reserve.
♦If the family is completed, then birth control pill, hormone treatment, and surgery can be considered as options to relieve pain/ other symptoms.
♦Hormone Therapy: By hormone therapy, ovulation can be prevented which can also slow down the growth of the endometrium.
♦Surgery: Affected tissues can be removed by laparoscopic surgery. In some cases, hysterectomy is done wherein the uterus and ovaries are removed.

The good news is you can manage endometriosis by lifestyle changes
♦Eat Healthy Foods: Consuming fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of developing endometriosis. Alcohol, caffeine, and trans fat should be avoided.
♦Exercise: Regular exercise can help in managing endometriosis. Also, yoga and meditation can help in overcoming stress, thereby helping you to cope with endometriosis.
♦When you have problems with your menstrual cycle, don’t hesitate to consult a fertility specialist. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in overcoming infertility issues and achieve your parenthood dream.

Dr Durga G Rao is Co-founder &
Medical Director at Oasis Fertility