Navigating Endometriosis with Acupuncture
Do you dread your period every month because the bleeding is so heavy and the cramps are so painful? There’s a chance you may have endometriosis, a condition that affects around 10% of women worldwide, particularly women in their 30s and 40s.
Endometriosis occurs when uterine-like tissue forms outside of the uterus. As with uterine tissue, it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds every month. This causes the heavy, painful periods most associated with the condition. Endometriosis can also contribute to fertility issues.
Unfortunately, endometriosis can be difficult to manage. There’s no cure, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms, particularly pain. Many women opt for over-the-counter pain medication or hormonal medicines (such as birth control).
However, you do have another option for endometriosis pain management: acupuncture. At EleVis Wellness Collective, we offer this established form of Chinese medicine to manage endometriosis pain without using drugs.
Take a look at Kaycee’s story to help you learn more about the benefits of acupuncture.
Endometriosis and Acupuncture: A Case Study
Kaycee received her endometriosis diagnosis when she was in her late 20s after over a decade of heavy, excruciatingly painful periods. While the diagnosis helped her understand the why of her symptoms, it didn’t help with the actual reality of them. Even with birth control pills, she spent a week every month in intense pain.
Eventually, Kaycee decided to try something a bit more unconventional. She scheduled an appointment with an acupuncturist, who worked with her to develop a treatment plan: daily sessions while she was on her period and once-weekly sessions when she wasn’t.
She was a little nervous at first. She knew that acupuncture involves inserting thin, sterile needles into the body, and she was afraid that it would be too painful to be useful. To her surprise, she experienced relatively little discomfort during the acupuncture sessions themselves–especially when compared to her period pain.
After three months of treatment, Kaycee started to notice a difference. Her period cramps lessened in intensity, and she found she was much more functional during her period weeks than she had been in years.
Now, Kaycee looks forward to her weekly acupuncture sessions. Aside from addressing her period pain, acupuncture helps her relax and destress–an hour of self-care that also has a lasting effect on her endometriosis symptoms.
Find Your Own Relief from Endometriosis
At EleVis Wellness Collective, our acupuncturist regularly helps women like Kaycee manage the symptoms of endometriosis. We’ll work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that suits your needs–including offering information about additional all-natural treatment options.
If you’re struggling with endometriosis or heavy, painful periods, request an appointment at our Chicago clinic. Our compassionate team will help you find relief!