Endometriosis - a condition to be treated by physiotherapy
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue like the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterine cavity. This growth of the uterine lining can lead to the symptoms of pain and or infertility. Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women in Australia.
Symptoms of endometriosis
This condition leads to women experiencing recurrent fatigue, pain during menstruation, heavy bleeding, painful intercourse, and pelvic floor dysfunction. While some women experience mild symptoms, others report high pain, increased urinary frequency, pain with bowel movements, and a significant impact on their quality of life.
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
Endometriosis is diagnosed by gynaecologist using a procedure called laparoscopy. This small surgical procedure involves using a small camera to allow an accurate assessment of the organs of the pelvis and abdomen. With a close-up view of the tissue and biopsy, the surgeon can determine if there is a growth of the uterine lining spreading to the outside of the uterus.
What if left unresolved?
The average diagnostic time for women is 7 years so many women endure years of pain that impacts their participation in sport, work, daily activities, and intimacy without a clear answer or treatment. Endometriosis can have a widespread impact on the pelvis. It can cause interstitial cystitis (pain with bladder filling) and vulvodynia (pain around and in the entrance of the vagina). As many women go undiagnosed for years their pelvic floor muscles can grow tight, leading to pelvic floor dysfunction. The scaring, inflammation, and adhesion from endometriosis can cause painful trigger points in your pelvic floor, hips, and back. The pelvic floor muscle can spasm, creating increased tone and sensitization.
Common non-physiotherapy treatments include pain relief medication, hormone treatment to suppress the menstrual cycle, or laparoscopic surgery to remove the endometriosis. However, even with these treatments, pain and discomfort can persist.
What can physiotherapists do to help you?
Fortunately, pelvic floor physiotherapy can play a significant role in treating women and managing chronic pelvic pain. During the appointment, we will take a comprehensive history. We need to know when the pain started, its past management, and your bladder and bowel function.
After gathering a thorough history, we will check your pelvic floor muscle tone and motor control. Many women with endometriosis exhibit habitual holding patterns of the pelvic floor, which leads to an inability to relax their muscles. From the assessment, your physiotherapist will create an individualized management plan.
We will educate you on how to manage your pain through relaxation techniques and giving you the tools for optimizing bladder and bowel health. We team up with your obstetrician to effectively address your pain and discomfort. You will be guided through specific stretching and motor control exercises to help you reduce local tissues spasm.
What can you expect from our help?
Endometriosis can take time to manage, but treatment aims to reduce pain levels and improve your level of comfort, daily function, and quality of life. This means fewer runs to the toilet, smoother bladder and bowel movement, more pleasure during sexual intercourse. Our specialised area: Women’s Health physiotherapy is an essential part of multi-modal treatment for women living with endometriosis.
