Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an increasingly diagnosed condition in the west. This is partly because of increased frequency of diagnostic surgery (laparoscopy) but also to deferred child bearing and increasing environmental pollutants. Its western medical diagnosis can be confirmed by mri or laparascopy, inferred from ultrasound or suggested by the symptoms pattern.

Endometriosis can take many forms but is often characterised by painful periods with dark menstrual blood and clotting. There may be palpable nodules or masses in the abdomen. Sometimes there is no bothersome symptoms such as pain but a key diagnostic can often be spotting before periods. It can also be indicated by certain patterns in the change of Basal Body Temperature.

Endometriosis is one of the main causes of infertility although the reason for this is uncertain.

Chinese medicine views endometriosis largely as stagnation of blood in the uterus. The blood and endometrium which should be shed cleanly with each period is not done so properly. This leads to the congealing and clotting of the blood in the uterus. As the natural flow is further hindered by this clotting, the endometrial tissue finds its way into areas it shouldn’t causing the problem.