Endometriosis Specialists in Austin

Prevent, alleviate, or heal disease—naturally.

Meet our practitioners who specialize in natural Endometriosis treatment

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How it works

Consult with our health coaches who will learn about your symptoms, habits, and goals.

Take personalized home health tests to discover potential root causes of any symptoms or conditions you may have.

Review your results in just days with our functional medicine doctors, nurses, and dietitians who will help you achieve optimal health.

Learn about Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting millions of women worldwide, where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, known as the endometrium, starts to grow outside the uterus. This misplaced tissue can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the outer surface of the uterus, and other organs within the pelvis. In rare cases, it may spread beyond the pelvic region. Despite being benign (non-cancerous), endometriosis can cause severe pain, particularly during menstrual periods, and may lead to infertility. Its cause is not entirely understood, making it a challenging condition to manage, but recent research points towards a combination of genetic, hormonal, and immune factors.

Causes

The exact cause of endometriosis remains unknown, but several theories have been proposed. One leading theory is retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood flows back through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity instead of leaving the body. Another hypothesis suggests that hormones transform the cells outside the uterus into cells similar to those lining the inside of the uterus. Additional theories include the transport of endometrial cells by the blood or lymphatic system, immune system disorders failing to eliminate misplaced cells, and genetic factors inherent in some families. Environmental toxins may also play a role in the development and progression of endometriosis.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of endometriosis can vary widely, but the most common include pelvic pain (often associated with menstrual periods), pain during intercourse, pain with bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding during or between periods, infertility, and fatigue. Many women with endometriosis also experience digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, and bloating, particularly during menstrual periods. The intensity of the pain is not always indicative of the extent of the condition; some women with severe endometriosis may have mild pain, whereas others with a milder form of the disease may experience severe pain.

Diagnosing Endometriosis

Diagnosing endometriosis involves a combination of medical history assessment, physical examination, and potentially imaging tests like ultrasounds or mri scans to detect cysts associated with endometriosis (endometriomas). However, the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis is laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows a doctor to view the pelvic organs and obtain tissue samples for testing. During laparoscopy, the extent of the disease can be directly observed, and endometrial implants can be removed or destroyed, providing both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits.

Prevention and natural treatment

There is no known prevention for endometriosis, but its symptoms can be managed through a combination of medical and surgical treatments. Hormonal therapies, such as birth control pills, progestins, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh) agonists, aim to reduce or eliminate menstruation, thereby decreasing the potential for endometrial tissue to become implanted outside the uterus. Pain relief is typically managed with nsaids. In severe cases, surgical options, including laparoscopy to remove or destroy endometriosis implants or, in extreme cases, hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), may be considered. Lifestyle changes and alternative therapies, including diet adjustments and acupuncture, can also support symptom management.

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