Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which endometrial-type tissue — similar to the tissue lining the inside of the uterus — grows in other parts of the body.
While endometrial-like tissue most commonly affectsTrusted Source other organs in the pelvic and abdominal areas — such as the fallopian tubes, bladder, and intestines — research shows that in some cases it is much more far-reaching, impacting the heart, lungs, and even brain. Some research suggests that endometriosis can affect every single organ in the human body.
This condition can cause long menstrual periods (longer than 7 days), heavy bleeding, excruciatingly painful cramps that may cause a person to faint, nausea and vomiting, pain during and after sex with vaginal penetration, fatigue, and spotting between periods, among several other symptoms.
For people who receive a diagnosis of endometriosis, there are relatively few treatment and management options, which are not effective for everyone, and which do not guarantee long-term relief even for those for whom they do work.
This has led medical doctors, researchers, and individuals with endometriosis alike to search for additional relief methods, and one of these is centered on nutrition.
In this month’s installment of the In Conversation podcast, we discuss why endometriosis can be so difficult to manage, and some of the ways in which dietary changes may help relieve symptoms such as pain and heavy bleeding. Our guests are Dr. Hana Kahleova and Hannah Alderson.
Dr. Kahleova is director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine — a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC — and one of the authors of a recent review looking at nutrition as a factor in the risk for and management of endometriosis. The review appeared in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in February 2023.
Alderson is a registered nutritionist with the British Association For Nutrition And Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and founder of The Positive Method – The Path to Happier Hormones. Her precepts for well-being stem from her own long journey seeking a diagnosis and treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, which she shared with us on the podcast.