You never think about the negative effects of your dietary habits or exercise regimen until you try to get pregnant—and can’t. Then your anxiety levels soar, and your mind starts to race: Am I having trouble conceiving because I drank too much alcohol last year? Could my weight loss diet result in poor nutrition that’s causing me to be infertile? Maybe I exercise too hard and that is blocking conception.
Stop! Before you beat yourself up, let’s take a look at some sound lifestyle habits and natural treatments that may reduce the risk of endometriosis and boost the chance of conception.
Natural treatments to manage endometriosis
As with many health problems that result in infertility, part of an overall natural treatment plan with endometriosis will focus on lifestyle changes you can make. These lifestyle changes will support a more positive outcome, both in the area of getting pregnant and also in reducing endometriosis symptoms.
For example, regular exercise has been shown in several studies to reduce a woman’s risk of endometriosis. If possible, include regular exercise into your daily lifestyle to increase fitness and manage symptoms of endometriosis.
Why diet and nutrition are important
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent health condition. This is why endometrial tissue levels increase in the body when estrogen levels are high. Some studies show that a diet high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables increases the risk of getting endometriosis.
The good news is some findings link healthy dietary habits and good nutrition to a lower risk of endometriosis. In addition, recent studies point to symptom relief when participants added fish oil and antioxidants to their diet.
Fish oil is high in marine omega-3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits such as blueberries and citrus fruits also help with disease prevention.
Along with a healthy diet and better nutrition, it’s important to maintain a normal weight for your body to manage endometriosis and reduce symptoms. You should avoid being underweight as endometriosis symptoms might flare.
If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about a healthy weight loss plan to help you reduce. Your doctor may recommend a nutritionist who will supply you with a weight loss diet and recipes to aid in losing weight.
Avoid foods that increase prostaglandins
If you have endometriosis, try to avoid foods that increase prostaglandins E2 and F2a, chemicals in the body that cause inflammation and pain and stimulate estrogen. Avoid the following foods if you have endometriosis:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Dairy
- Red meat
- Saturated fat and all trans fats
- Sugar
- Wheat
Do alternative treatments help endometriosis?
Some alternative medicine therapies such as yoga may help to reduce endometriosis symptoms. If practiced regularly, yoga is a natural treatment that may help ease your stress and support optimal mental and physical health.
Some women with endometriosis use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to complement their medical treatment plan. Some preliminary findings indicate that TCM may help to regulate hormones in the body.
Other natural treatments assist by managing endometriosis pain and symptoms with the use of herbal tonics and acupuncture points. Acupuncture points are said to unlock blockages in energy (“chi) in the body. When energy can flow unhindered, the body can become healthy again.
If you have endometriosis, seek medical treatment. But also realize that you have control in your life as you select healthy dietary and nutrition choices and stay physically active each day.
This content is Copyright The American Fertility Association (AFA) 2010. This content is intended for personal use and may not be distributed or reproduced without AFA consent. Please contact info@theafa.org or visit theafa.org for more information.
Sources: Vitonis AF, Hankinson SE,et al. “Adult Physical Activity and Endometriosis Risk.” PubMed.gov; January 21 2010. Fjerbaek A, Knudsen UB. “Endometriosis, Dysmenorrhea and Diet – What is the Evidence” PubMed.gov; January 8 2007. Mier-Cabrera, J,Aburto-Soto T, et al. “ Women With Endometriosis Improved Their Peripheral Antioxidant Markers After the Application of a High Antioxidant Diet.” PubMed.gov; May 28 2009.
