Written by Benjamin Lee - Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Consultant - February 12, 2023
Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the lining of the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows outside of the actual uterine cavity or uterus. It can cause painful periods, infertility and other pelvic issues. Menopause is defined as a period of decline in a woman's estrogen and progesterone hormones that happens after she has gone through her last menstrual cycle. So, can menopause make endometriosis worse?
The answer to this question depends on the individual's specific case. On one hand, menopause may actually alleviate symptoms related to endometriosis since lower levels of estrogen can reduce inflammation and lessen pain from endometrial tissue growth. On the other hand, menopause also leads to a decrease in muscle strength and bone density, resulting in more discomfort from endometriosis-related pain due to decreased support for organs in the pelvis. In addition, some women find that their mood changes during menopause may further exacerbate their symptoms of endometriosis since heightened stress has been linked to more severe cases of this condition.
It is important to note that while some women may experience an increase in symptoms due to menopause directly impacting their endometriosis case, these effects are not felt universally by every woman suffering from this condition at every stage of her life. Several factors should be taken into account when making an assessment on whether or not menopause will have any effect on endometriosis for any given person – such as age, overall health, lifestyle habits and genetic predispositions for particular diseases or conditions.
For example, younger women who have just begun experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms may find that hormonal fluctuations associated with this stage contribute negatively to their existing endometriosis case due to fluctuating hormone levels playing into already existing imbalances within their system. Conversely, older women who are post-menopausal may find relief from previously experienced symptoms simply due to entering a new phase in which they no longer experience regular hormonal fluctuations anymore – thus leading to alleviation of active cases of endometriosis they may have had before entering into full-blown menopause.
At the same time it’s important not to underestimate the psychological impact that changes associated with aging can have on existing cases of endometriosis as well - often times anxiety or depression due to aging can worsen pre-existing physical ailments such as those related to endometriosis. Thus it is important for any woman experiencing post-menopausal discomfort related to her endometriosis case – either psychologically or physically – to seek out professional guidance from a qualified health care practitioner so she receives appropriate treatment and advice on how best manage her own unique case going forward considering all aspects at play here including her emotional state too!
Some possible treatments for managing symptoms related an individual’s unique case of Endo include: Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT), Pelvic Physical Therapy (PT), Surgery & Interventional Treatment options such as injections/ablations or laser therapy; lifestyle adjustments such as dietary changes and stress reduction techniques like yoga/meditation; natural remedies like supplements/herbal remedies; and over-the-counter medications like anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers. BHRT Pro Center specializes in helping people manage all stages of their lives through bioidentical hormone therapy so if you’re looking for personalized support tailored specifically your hormones needs consider giving them call today!