ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATMENT IN OTTAWA

Endometriosis is an illness that can cause debilitating pain and unusually heavy bleeding. Some individuals find that they are in pain from their belly-button downward, causing pain during their cycle, during bowel movements, sometimes during urination, and during intercourse. While endometriosis is often in the pelvic area, it can grow on other organs such as the appendix, lungs and diaphragm. Extra-pelvic endometriosis is not rare!

At Femade, we can support the physical symptoms of endometriosis by understanding which symptoms are most burdensome for you. alongside the pain comes a better understanding of hormones and lifestyle changes that could dramatically reduce the endobelly and inflammation.

Acupuncture for endometriosis

Acupuncture for endometriosis helps reduce inflammation in a specific area of the body and in the whole body overall. It also encourages the body to produce pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. As many patients also suffer from bowel issues associated with their cycle, acupuncture can calm the nerves so the bowels can take a break. The use of acupuncture not only assists with the pain, but it aims at balancing out the blood flow during your menstrual cycle and can help with stress, sleep and overall quality of life.

pelvic floor Physiotherapy for endometriosis

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for endometriosis is designed to train the pelvic floor muscles how to contract and relax, while also taking into consideration any issues with bladder, bowel and/or sexual function that may be affecting quality of life. There is a close connection between the pelvic floor, low back, and hips - understanding how your pelvic muscles are operating may be the key to unpacking the origin of some of your pain. Internal assessment and treatment assist in targeting specific muscles inside the pelvis, however non-internal therapy can also be provided based on patient preference.

Massage therapy for endometriosis

Massage therapy for endometriosis can help by providing professional guidance and a safe space where we can reconnect with our bodies after periods of disassociation. Therapeutic touch has also been known to reduce feelings of anxiety and improve symptoms of depression, giving a greater sense of being. A massage therapy treatment aimed specifically at stress reduction and relaxation can help our nervous system shift from sympathetic state (fight or flight) to parasympathetic state (rest and digest) and help us feel a little bit better prepared to face the challenges of every day life.

lifestyle changes for endometriosis

A big part of endometriosis is what we call ‘endobelly’. It is the distention of the belly when the body has been triggered, and much of this has to do with foods and environmental triggers. Using Naturopathic Medicine and/or our Nutrition, the goal is to identify what triggers your symptoms and how that be altered with a few lifestyle goals. In Naturopathic Medicine the key to treating menstrual disorders is not to treat the hormones themselves. Rather they are a clue to an underlying inflammatory or pain condition such as endometriosis. Through charting of your cycle - which is often helpful - we can obtain bloodwork during ovulation to truly assess your hormone levels. From there the approach of an endometriosis naturopath is individualized, and may include bio identical hormones that may be received well by your body.

Psychotherapy for endometriosis

Endometriosis comes with pain and symptoms which can be addressed using an approach through psychotherapy. But endometriosis also comes with gaslighting, stigma, and misunderstanding within your community. Psychotherapy can be used to better address the triggers in your life that bring on these symptoms. Learning how to deal with stress and stressful situations, getting out of the routine, and understanding how your body works are very important lessons in coping with endometriosis. Therapy can be done in a more formal setting such as with our psychotherapist, or in a more informal setting with our Mental Health Support Worker who is completely unbiased. We also offer community based therapy to immerse yourself with similar people. Our patient-led support group is run by Erin, who also suffers from endometriosis.

Want to talk to someone with life experience?

Our founder is available to chat about what worked for her, and maybe get you set on the right foot. If you’re not sure where to start, consider a health consult with our clinical director and founder. We can take it from there.