What is Endometriosis and How Can Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Help?
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is when tissue (similar to the lining of the uterus) develops outside the uterus. The physical tissue can attach itself to surrounding organs in the pelvic region, and sometimes in the thorax. It can cause intense pain and can be managed with medication, surgery, and especially Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. The best pelvic floor physical therapy clinic, V Strong Physical Therapy in Armonk, NY, will treat symptoms and discomfort.
Signs of Endometriosis…
Painful Periods
Most women experience cramps and pain around the pelvis and uterus during menstruation that is often more intense. Irregular bleeding is also not uncommon.
Pelvic Pain
Many women will experience general pain in the pelvic region and surrounding organs. Oftentimes, it can cause dysfunction in daily life since women with this condition are unable to be active, and this causes a decline in their health.
Pain with Sex
Pain during intercourse occurs because endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. “Nodules” or “lesions” can form, and scar tissue can get stretched during penetration. This makes it difficult to have relaxed or enjoyable intercourse.
Difficulty Conceiving
Scar tissue and adhesions can form around the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which can physically obstruct the egg from releasing and ability for the sperm to reach the egg to fertilize. This affects ovulation and implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus, which can make conception difficult.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Many women will experience issues with bloating, constipation, and going to the bathroom. The Endometrial tissue (which grows outside the uterus) can attach to the intestines. Irritation, obstruction, and inflammation can occur which causes discomfort and GI related issues.
Key Statistics
1 in 10 women have endometriosis. It can be quite a disturbance to daily life. One must seek treatment, which can include medication, surgery and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. These are all very important to manage symptoms. According to this study from the NIH, “The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) 2 identified that patients with a laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis had a higher risk of myocardial infarction, angiographically confirmed angina, and coronary heart disease than those without endometriosis. The NHS cohort was predominantly of higher sociodemographic status, educated, and with greater access to medical care than the general population; thus, results may not be generalizable.”
While there is no specific known cause, many factors may contribute to this. These include:
Genetics
Hormones
Immune System
According to research, there is a correlation between biological and genetic factors. According to the NIH with an article, Genetics and Genomics of Endometriosis, “These studies demonstrated the familial clustering of endometriosis. A recent report reminds us that familial clustering could represent other risk factors for the disease in question which cluster in the family, like lifestyle and diet, or an intermediary factor associated with the development of endometriosis that is inherited, like age of menarche. Another potential mechanism that can mimic familial clustering is reporting and ascertainment biases.” Genetics and Genomics of Endometriosis
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can help address and manage symptoms of endometriosis as well as flare-ups. It’s important to have symptoms managed as this affects your daily function and overall health. If your symptoms have impeded your ability to be physically active, this effects your cardiovascular, mental and neuromuscular health. We will work with you on addressing pelvic pain, pain with sex and any GI issues so that you can maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
If you believe you may have symptoms or have been recently diagnosed, book a Consultation Call with the best pelvic floor physical therapy clinic and we’d love to chat more about how V Strong Physical Therapy in Armonk, NY can help!
Read more about our V Strong Physical Therapy program, and how you can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy treatment!
https://vstrongphysicaltherapy.com/about/
Resources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4346178/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5737931/
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/factsheets/endometriosis