Endometriosis
WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?
Endometriosis is a complex condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue responds to hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle and causes systemic symptoms such as:
persistent pelvic pain
severe period pain (including pelvic, lower back, vaginal, leg pain)
heavy periods
pain during or after sex
fertility challenges / “infertility”
digestive changes (eg constipation, bloating, pain with bowel motion)
fatigue
Symptoms are often variable with no two people presenting with the same, therefore treatment needs to highly individualised and tailored to the unique experience. In all naturopathic are there is no one size fits all but especially in such a complex condition.
NATUROPATHIC APPROACH
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It is important to decipher what the underlying cause is for YOUR health, not generally looking at the condition itself. You are a real person, not a walking diagnosis. Katelyn is meticulous in the way she curates an individualised treatment plan to look at your unique body, health, mind, lifestyle to decipher what the true root cause is for your symptoms. Katelyn’s approach in treating endometriosis focuses on:
Inflammation
Endometriosis is characterised by chronic inflammation in the pelvis. I know inflammation can feel like a vague term so I often liken it to little fires causing pain and impaired fertility.
Hormone Imbalance
Endometriosis often has hormonal dysregulation, typically seeing elevations in oestrogen which feeds pain, heavy bleeding lesion (and therefore disease) progression and reducing fertility outcomes. This elevation in oestrogen isn’t necessarily due to making too much oestrogen but rather poor detoxification through the liver and bowels (hello gut health)
Immune Dysfunction
Immune dysfunction is one of the most under looked areas in endometriosis. The immune system is responsible for clearing endometrial lesions and therefore dysfunction contributes to lesion progression and upregulation of inflammatory cells.
Stress
Stress causes the release of cortisol (a hormone) and all hormones dance together, therefore exacerbating oestrogen imbalances. Stress also increases pain perception, therefore more stress = more pain.
Gut
Simply put, the gut controls inflammation, the immune system and the detoxification of hormones. Gut health and endometriosis are two peas in a pod.
Vaginal Microbiome
The latest research in endometriosis indicates that if the vaginal microbiome is distrupted (think infection like thrush and BV but also infections with no vaginal symptoms) then this can directly exacerbate endometriosis related pain
Nutritional Deficiencies
Again, simply put, if we don’t have nutrients then nothing can function as it should.
Your Questions, Answered
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No! Because my care is 100% individualised, it is important that I understand your body and your symptoms and with this I will be able to make an assessment for your underlying drivers and this would be the same approach with or without a diagnosis.
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Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for endometriosis but looking at the underlying cause helps to reduce symptoms and disease progression often long term.
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Not always. Recommendations are individualised and based on your own needs and preferences. I often work with supplements first whilst building diet and lifestyle changes to reduce the need for supplementation long term.
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You don’t need a single thing to start treatment with me but once I know more about what is going on then I can make recommendations for testing based on your individual needs. This often involves basic blood testing and if required hormone panels, vaginal microbiome and gut microbiome testing.
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Book an appointment! I can’t wait to meet you xx
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I am compassionate, warm and have a very practical approach where I will meet you where you’re at. This is a collaborative relationship, you should feel safe and cared for.