Endometriosis: More Than Just "Bad Periods" - Understanding the Gut-Hormone-Stress Connection
I want to talk openly about endometriosis, a condition I've personally been diagnosed with. Sharing my own experiences and what's helped me is important because it's a condition that affects so many women, yet it's often misunderstood. Endometriosis is much more than just painful periods; it's a complex condition that impacts overall health in surprising ways. Your gut, hormones, immune system and stress levels are all deeply intertwined with this condition. If you've been diagnosed with endometriosis, or if you suspect you might have it, you probably know the common symptoms all too well: debilitating pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, pain during sex, and often digestive problems.
Following my diagnosis of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and bilateral endometriomas, I was told that a hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries was a recommended course of action. I was 39 at the time and this came as a shock. While I understood and appreciated the potential need for such a procedure, and the benefits that a range of surgical treatments options can have for many women, I wanted to explore other possible avenues first. As for me, this diagnosis was after / during a period of extreme stress in my life and I suspected for me, part of this was my body trying to tell me something. So I discussed the options with the consultant and was prescribed a progesterone only pill as an alternative starting point. Alongside this I looked at how I could best support my health and body in a broader way.
In this blog, I want to share what I've learned about the connection between your gut, hormones, and stress, and how these factors relate to endometriosis. These insights improved my own symptoms. So I'm sharing this because I believe it's crucial to explore supporting our whole body health alongside good medical support and advice.
Understanding Overall Well-being: The Gut Connection
Our gut health is linked to many aspects of our overall well-being. It’s home to trillions of microbes, and maintaining a balanced gut environment is important for everyone. When this balance is disrupted, it can influence things like:
Inflammation: An imbalanced gut can contribute to increased general inflammation in the body.
Nutrient Absorption: A healthy gut lining is crucial for properly absorbing vitamins and minerals from our food.
Hormone Metabolism: The gut plays a role in how our bodies process hormones. Supporting healthy gut function contributes to overall hormonal balance.
Many individuals, including those with endometriosis, experience digestive issues like bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea. While these can have various causes, supporting general gut health is a positive step for anyone.
Strategies to Support General Gut Health:
Focusing on these areas can be beneficial for overall digestive function:
Prioritise Nutrient-Dense Foods: Build your diet around whole foods, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and sources of healthy fats and lean proteins.
Avoid or reduce ultra-processed foods: These foods often high in unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt, and low in essential nutrients. Studies are also linking them to other negative impacts on health.
Eat Enough Fibre: Fibre is vital for feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supports healthy digestion and elimination. Include beans, lentils, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration is essential for digestive processes.
Manage Stress: Stress can significantly impact gut function for many people. Incorporate stress-reducing practices into your routine.
Consider Fermented Foods/Fibre-Rich Foods: Foods containing probiotics (like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (like garlic, onions, bananas, oats) can support a healthy gut environment.
Listen to Your Body: If you suspect certain foods consistently cause you discomfort, you can explore this with a registered nutritionist or your GP who can help you identify potential sensitivities safely.
Hormone Balance and Overall Well-being
Hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, play a significant role in women's health and overall well-being. Maintaining a healthy balance is key. Lifestyle factors can generally influence our hormonal health.
Diet: A nutrient-dense diet, rich in fibre and varied vegetables, can support the body's natural processes for metabolising hormones.
Exercise: Regular physical activity can help support healthy hormone regulation and overall mood.
Stress Management: Chronic stress can impact hormonal balance in the body.
Hormonal management is often a part of medical treatment for endometriosis. So it’s really worth considering how we can complement this and support our bodies natural hormone regulation alongside this.
The Stress Factor: Supporting Your Resilience
Living with a chronic condition like endometriosis can naturally be a source of stress, and for me this is one area in particular where I hadn’t realised quite how much long term stress was impacting my body. I now know that the relationship between stress and our physical health is significant and wide ranging. Including the that chronic stress can influence inflammation in the body and impact hormonal balance.
Learning to manage stress is crucial for supporting your overall resilience when navigating health challenges. Finding ways to manage this are so individual and it’s important to find something that works for you, some ideas can include:
Mindfulness and meditation
Yoga or gentle exercise such as a slow walk in nature
Connecting with supportive communities
Prioritising adequate sleep
Relaxation techniques (deep breathing)
Seeking support from a therapist or counsellor
Working with Health Professionals
If you have endometriosis or suspect you might, please consult with your GP or a specialist for medical advice, and treatment options tailored to you. I fully appreciate that this can be a challenging and frustrating experience for many women. There are UK based charities such as Endometriosis UK and local support groups, such as the Manx Endometriosis Support Group on Facebook.
As a health coach, I can provide support and guidance in implementing healthy lifestyle changes, such as developing stress management practices, and making informed choices about nourishing foods to support your overall health and well-being. My role is to support you in making sustainable habit changes that complement medical advice. Coaching also provides you with the opportunity to take an active role in your health journey which is so beneficial to our overall wellbeing.