Endometriosis affects people mostly in their reproductive years (aged 12-52) and can even affect those in their youth
On average, there is a 7-10-year delay in diagnosis
Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility
Endometriosis affects 1 out of every 10 woman
What is Endometriosis?
During a woman's regular menstrual cycle, endometrial tissue builds up and is shed if she does not become pregnant. Women with endometriosis develop tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue outside of the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the abdominal cavity. Each month, this misplaced tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle by building up and breaking down just as the endometrium does, resulting in small bleeding inside of the pelvis. This leads to inflammation, swelling, and scarring of the normal tissue surrounding the endometriosis implants. When the ovary is involved, blood can become embedded in the normal ovarian tissue, forming a "blood blister" surrounded by a fibrous cyst, called an endometrioma.
What are the most common symptoms of endometriosis?
Painful periods
Long periods
Periods with heavy bleeding
Bowel and urinary disorders
Nausea and/or vomiting
Pain during sexual activities
Infertility
Chronic fatigue
Can Acupuncture help with endometriosis?
Researchers at Tongji University hospital compared acupuncture with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving acupuncture achieved a 92.0% total effective rate. Patients receiving mifepristone achieved a 52.0% total effective rate. Mifepristone, also known by its trademarked name RU-486, is a synthetic steroid that inhibits progesterone action and is used for the treatment of endometriosis
All patients underwent Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessments before and after their treatments. VAS is an instrument that measures pain intensity levels experienced by patients. B-scan ultrasonography was conducted to calculate the size of pelvic masses. A CA125 test was also conducted to measure the number of CA125 (cancer antigen 125) in the blood. CA125 is used clinically in the diagnosis and management of endometriosis.
Based on the Journal of Chinese medicine, the following acupuncture protocol reported a 50% significant improvement in menstrual pain, smaller masses, and improved CA125 levels in patients with endometriosis.
• CV6 (Qihai)
• CV4 (Guanyuan)
• CV3 (Zhongji)
• Zigong (Extra)
• SP10 (Xuehai)
• SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
• LV2 (Xingjian)
• LV3 (Taichong)
We have had great success treating endometriosis utilizing Acupuncture, Chinese cupping, and East Asian dietary food recommendations in Mount Prospect and the surrounding areas. Looking to help manage your symptoms of Endometriosis? Call 224- 307-4325 to schedule your Free 10-minute consultation call and see if acupuncture is right for you.