12 Things Making Your Endometriosis Period Pain Worse
Affecting about 11% of females, endometriosis is a hormonal inflammatory condition where estrogen-dependent uterine tissue forms somewhere else in the body, usually somewhere in the pelvic region, or in any of the spaces between the bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum. A way to remember endometriosis is that “endo” means inside and “metrium” means uterus.
Estrogen is a growth hormone responsible for the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system. It is released in high amounts during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle which is the first 2 weeks leading up to ovulation. Estrogen is released from the ovaries, fat tissue, and adrenal glands because it has a connection between fertility and body fat composition. Estrogen plays an important role in endometriosis because estrogen levels that are elevated show a correlation to the worsening of the disease.
LEARN YOUR ESTROGEN DOMINANCE PICTURE AND HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY ESTROGEN LEVELS IN LESS THAN 1 HOUR!
You’re wondering: “are there things making my endometriosis period pain worse?”
Yes, there are things in your control that could be making your period pain worse. Once you identify these you can make some changes to experience more pain-free periods.
The important question we need to be asking first is: what is out of balance in my body?
This is taking a root cause approach when it comes to understanding our health and hormones. When we answer this question, we are understanding what is driving the imbalance (which is showing up as symptoms in the body).
By addressing the root cause, not simply just the symptom (or the hormone imbalance for that matter), we can find long-term, sustained healing.
I’m here to help you have better periods, symptomless cycles, and optimize fertility (whether that’s now or in the future) all through simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that feel simple, doable, and empowering (not overwhelming).
PRIVATE COACHING FOR BETTER PERIODS, SYMPTOMLESS CYCLES, & OPTIMAL FERTILITY
As always, I’m giving away my best hormone tips here, answering your burning questions, and letting you in on the what the science says.
This is the kind of insider info I share with all of my 1:1 coaching clients and students in my signature course, Heal Your Period.
I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!
So, let’s dive in into it!
work with me 1:1
What is making my endometriosis period pain worse?
Here are 12 things making your endometriosis period pain worse.
1. Low Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral in the diet and has many beneficial effects for reducing endometriosis period pain. A study found that magnesium has been shown to relax smooth muscle in the pelvic region to reduce painful contractions and cramps. They also found that magnesium supplementation was linked with an inverse relationship to endometriosis risk. Magnesium is also an anti-inflammatory mineral, which explains its effect on reducing endometriosis period pain. This shows that low magnesium can make the endometriosis period pain worse because then contractions will be more intense due to the unregulated strain on smooth muscle.
Source: 23380045
2. Low Omega-3
Low omega 3s in your diet can be another factor for worsening your endometrial period pain. Polyunsaturated fats are fatty acids that contain at least 2 double bonds in the structure. Two types of polyunsaturated fats are omega 3 and omega 6. Most western diets consume a ratio of 1:20 of omega 3 to omega 6 when it should be 1:3. This evidence is correlated with endometriosis period pain incidence, showing that omega 6’s are pro-inflammatory and promote the pain while omega 3’s have protective effects to decrease the pain caused by inflammation. Omega 3s have been found to inhibit the implantation of the endometrial tissue in the first place and to discourage further growth.
3. Low Zinc
Low zinc consumption is another cause worsening your endometriosis period pain. Similar to magnesium, zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and it also assists with immunity. The basis of the growth of the endometrial tissue is due to inflammation and poor immunity. Additionally, studies have shown that zinc consumption is decreased in patients with endometriosis period pain but levels are normal in those without endometriosis period pain.
Source: 25864256
4. Low Vitamin B6
Another nutrient deficiency making your endometriosis period pain worse is low B6 levels. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin used in the functions of creating red blood cells and it aids in macronutrient metabolism. Additionally, vitamin B6 has been broadly accepted over many studies to treat PMS symptoms including pelvic cramps. Estrogen metabolism is another one of the properties of Vitamin B6 which helps convert estrogen into its active form. This is why supplementing with Vitamin B6 is beneficial to reduce endometriosis period pain.
5. Caffeine
Endometriosis period pain can also be worse due to caffeine. Caffeine can increase the stress response in the body to promote inflammation. Studies have found that caffeine consumption is linked with increased estrogen levels which can lead to endometriosis period pain. In addition, a study found that you are at a higher risk of getting endometriosis if you drink caffeine.
Source: 24481690
6. Stress
Another factor worsening endometriosis period pain is stress. Stress is a response in our body when we feel threatened in any way, mild or severe, the response still occurs. This stress response makes us produce higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, from the adrenal glands. As a result, stress can make endometriosis period pain worse because it will promote the inflammatory response and will also deregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary axis response in the hippocampus. This is the part of the brain that releases hormones and that contribute to the reproductive system.
Source: 22527982
7. Inflammation
Inflammation is another one of the things making endometriosis period pain worse. Inflammation occurs when your white blood cells sense an invader or an area of injury in the body, so they release chemicals to surge the area as well as increase blood flow there. In the case of endometriosis, the foreign uterine tissue that implants in the pelvic region causes inflammation to occur because the body knows that this tissue doesn’t belong. Additionally, endometriosis promotes progesterone resistance, which leads to premature inflammation.
Source: 30104541
8. Gut Issues
Another factor worsening your endometriosis period pain is if you have gut issues. The gut is made up of a variety of different bacteria that aid digestion and are fueled by fiber. This bacteria is good, and we want a broad diversity of it in order to digest foods. Gut issues or (gut dysbiosis) is when there is an imbalance in the amount of these bacteria microorganisms in the intestines. This imbalance of bacteria is what causes the endometriosis period pain because the gut regulates estrogen through an enzyme that converts it into its active form for elimination, but when this process doesn’t work you can get an increase in recirculated estrogen. When the gut bacteria is not in balance this process can be defective which slows the digestion process and leads to higher estrogen levels which can lead to endometriosis period pain.
Source: 28778332
9. Blood Sugar Imbalances
Blood sugar imbalances can contribute to the worsening of your endometriosis period pain. This is because when you have unstable blood sugar with intense peaks and drops, you run the risk of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells do not accept insulin when it tries to input glucose into the cell. This causes a hyperglycemic state as well as a high insulin state. Endometriosis period pain can become worse with blood sugar imbalances because insulin will stimulate aromatase, which is the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. The increase in estrogen is a factor for exacerbating the symptoms of endometriosis period pain.
Source: 3322018
10. Poor Estrogen Detoxification
Another thing that might make your endometriosis period pain worse is that you have poor estrogen detoxification. High estrogen is a promoter of endometriosis period pain, so if you have a poor ability to detoxify or eliminate the estrogen, it will recirculate in the body and increase total estrogen levels. Detoxification of estrogen is a normal process that our liver, kidneys, and digestive system should be doing on there own, but these processes can slow down and not function right due to a number of reasons. There are 3 main steps to the detoxification process that must happen in order to eliminate the estrogen. First, the estrogen is converted into another compound, next, that compound is packaged up with the help of a nutrient like amino acid, and finally, that new compound is excreted from the body.
Source: 31508191
11. Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is another factor making your endometriosis period pain worse. Our hormones need to be in balance with each other in order to allow our bodies to function properly. When estrogen is elevated, then other hormones are suppressed, especially progesterone. When estrogen is high we call this estrogen dominance. Studies have shown benefits to endometriosis period pain when patients suppress estrogen levels. This is because the endometrial tissue contains a higher amount of estrogen beta receptors on it which is why estrogen dominance can be worsening endometriosis period pain.
Source: 31508191
12. Prostaglandins
Endometriosis period pain can also be caused by prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are sex hormones that work in opposition with progesterone, so when progesterone decreases right before menstruation, then prostaglandin will increase. Prostaglandins in the reproductive system aid in contractions for labor, but when you are not in labor these contractions are labeled as cramps. Prostaglandins can be more dominant in some women more than others so it is beneficial to figure where your levels are.
Source: 28944048
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are several things that can be making your endometriosis period pain worse.
While we chatted through lots of different options, remember that every body is unique and it’s about determine what works best for your body.
Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!
Pain-free periods and symptom-free cycles are possible for you.
-Krista
ways to work with me
KRISTA KING, MS, RDN, LDN, IFNCP
If you’re looking for individualized support for period problems, PCOS, endometriosis, stopping birth control, and/or fertility I’m your person! I have select spaces each month for:
Krista is an integrative dietitian helping you have regular, pain-free periods, symptomless cycles, and optimal fertility! Together we cover: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, cycle tracking, supplements, navigating doctor appointments, and lab testing.
My signature online program, Heal Your Period is open for enrollment!
This is your personalized solution for regular, pain-free periods, symptomless cycles, & optimal fertility (now or later), without complicated, soul-sucking protocols, lists of foods you can’t eat, or spending tons of $$$ on unnecessary supplements.
Heal Your Period is an online course with access to me to answer your burning hormone questions each month! Watch this for a special savings offer!
