Understanding Endometriosis and Birth Control Pills

Endometriosis is a chronic, progressive condition that is controlled by hormone levels. Therefore, to better understand the cause and relief of painful symptoms of endometriosis in women, it is worth looking at the relationship between endometriosis and birth control pills.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that can affect women once they have reached puberty and have started menstruation. It typically affects women between the ages of 20 and 40, although there are more cases of younger women and girls being diagnosed.

Ongoing abdominal pain that may be worse during menstruation, as well as pain in other parts of the body, characterize endometriosis. This is the main symptom of endometriosis, but it is generally the most debilitating of all endometriosis symptoms.

Endometriosis gets its name from endometrial tissue similar to those found in the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that grows in other parts of the body, usually the pelvic cavity.

Every month, if pregnancy does not occur, these tissues, wherever they are in the body, grow, shed, and bleed. A process controlled by the female hormone, estrogen. For endometrial tissue outside the uterus outside the uterus, this results in inflammation and scarring, as there is no place for the unwanted tissue.

Over time, this accumulation and memberships can form. These are cords of scar tissue that bind the organs together and can alter the flexibility of the reproductive organs, causing infertility. Since endometriosis is related to hormones, symptoms tend to be worse during menstruation.

By controlling hormones, endometriosis symptoms can be minimized. This is where birth control pills come in.

Birth control pills

Birth control pills are developed primarily to help prevent pregnancy among women. These oral contraceptives work by regulating female hormones. Birth control pills regulate the levels of estrogen and another hormone, progesterone, in the body.

Therefore, when a woman is taking birth control pills, her estrogen level decreases and progesterone increases, which stops the growth of endometrial tissue. By doing that, contraceptives can easily be used as a treatment for endometriosis and its symptoms.

For mild to moderate endometriosis, taking the pill is an option that you should discuss with your doctor as a way to manage symptoms.

When taking the endometriosis pill instead of solely for contraceptive reasons, you will take the active pills continuously. This means that you will not have a period as your body thinks you are pregnant. By doing this, you may find that you have some blemishes as your body adjusts to the pill.

However, there are some side effects to be aware of and you will need to decide if the pain of endometriosis outweighs the risks of taking the pill. Side effects can include weight gain, acne, and hair growth on the face.

With more and more surgical options available, you may want to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of using the pill to manage your symptoms.

Sign up below for the free newsletter to discover natural alternatives for endometriosis relief that are not dependent on hormonal treatments.

Endometriosis and birth control pills have one thing in common: hormones: Endometriosis is directly influenced by hormone levels in a woman’s body, and the pill regulates those hormones.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *