Endometriosis: How can pelvic floor physiotherapy help you?

What is it?

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the presence of endometrium outside the uterus. The endometrium is the layer that lines the uterine cavity internally and is renewed monthly by shedding during the menstrual flow. In some situations this tissue, instead of being eliminated, returns through the tubes, and reaches the pelvic and abdominal cavity, generating endometriosis.

The disease can also affect the ovaries, tubes and other organs such as the intestine and bladder.

Endometriosis is a condition that affects up to 1 in 10 women and girls in New Zealand.

The main symptoms and signs of endometriosis are pain and infertility. Approximately 20% of women have pain only, 60% have pain and infertility, and 20% have infertility only. Among the most common symptoms are:

• Intense menstrual cramps and pain during menstruation;
• Premenstrual pain;
• Pain during sexual intercourse;
• Diffuse or chronic pain in the pelvic area;
• Chronic fatigue and exhaustion;
• Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding;
• Intestinal or urinary changes during menstruation;
• Difficulty getting pregnant and infertility.

Early intervention is vital to improve quality of life, halt the progression of the disease and ensure fertility is not compromised.

Unfortunately millions of people from generations past and still today may have suffered a whole lifetime but never have had a diagnosis or suitable treatment and the effects sometimes continue beyond the menopause.

Endometriosis New Zealand

Treatment

The approach to the patient with endometriosis should be holistic and preferably, by a multidisciplinary team. This usually includes medical, surgical and sound self-management practices.

Pelvic floor physical therapy will not cure your endometriosis. It may, however, provide some much-needed pain relief.

The physiotherapy treatment aims to minimise pain by increasing the release of endorphins with targeted exercises, relaxing the muscles of the pelvis, undoing the “tension-pain-tension” cycle, preventing disabilities and restoring the functions desired by the patient.

Research shows that patients with endometriosis also have improved pain relief when treated with pelvic floor physical therapy after surgery. Pelvic floor physical therapy combines exercises, stretches, manual techniques, and behavior modification to improve patients’ quality of life.

Do you want to know more? Get in touch or book an assessment and let’s talk about it!