Can birth control help endometriosis?
Ladies, it’s time to talk about a sensitive topic – endometriosis. This enigmatic ailment is one of the greatest mysteries plaguing modern science, and we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface in terms of treatment. However, there may be hope yet in a surprising source – contraception.
What is Endometriosis?
Before we dive into how birth control can help combat endometriosis symptoms, let’s first get an understanding of what exactly this condition entails.
Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside it, resulting in chronic pain during periods and intercourse. It can also lead to fertility issues and gastrointestinal problems due to adhesions formed between organs by rogue patches of tissue.
Why Does It Happen?
Unfortunately for us sufferers of endo (as it’s lovingly referred to), nobody quite knows why they have it. Theories range from retrograde menstruation – where menstrual blood flows backwards through the fallopian tubes instead of out of the body – to anomalies in immune system function(this part baffles doctors because everyone should have an iron-clad immune system, right?).
Regardless, research has shown that estrogen appears responsible for promoting growths caused by endometrial implants (talk about your hormones double-crossing you).
How Is Endo Treated Currently?
Current methods for treating endo include surgical removal or ablation followed by hormonal suppression therapy or just going straight for permanent infertility solutions like hysterectomies (yes people still do those) if quality-of-life impairment gets too severe (there are like more than two ways now guys!) .
Hormonal suppressive therapies don’t work miracles overnight but suppress further growth within 4-6 weeks with oral contraceptives being most often prescribed as first line treatments (for 99%of women under 35 years old who don’t smoke) since they counteract the hormones responsible for promoting growth. It’s important to recognize, however, that hormonal treatment only reduces pain in 3 out of 4 women and does not improve fertility.
How Can Contraception Help Endometriosis Sufferers?
Contraception pills (both combination hormone pills and progestin-only), Depo-Provera shot , NuvaRing among others suppress endometrial implant growths by reviving your menstrual cycle through estrogen and progesterone regulation (what else can these mini miracle workers do?) While specific brand names have nitpicky dosing differences, most combination birth control medication contains both ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and a progestin compound .The idea is that regular controlled cycles allow the body to flush out any stray tissue chunks hanging around looking for places to set up base camp. This makes management of symptoms easier by lowering inflammation levels which enhances overall quality-of-life(WINNING!!)
Even though there are exceptions as with every rule/law on this planet but Combination pills tend to work better than Progestin-Only pill because certain types can completely stop ovulation offering superior symptom relief (talk about robbing Peter-Paul model gone wrong). As mentioned above it should be noted that hormonal treatments cannot cure adhesions or restore fertility although common sense might suggest controlling further spread must surely help ease the misery(cue eye roll).
Other Benefits of Using Birth Control
There’s a reason why birth control has been increasingly popular over the past several decades – it offers an array of positive benefits beyond just preventing pregnancies. Here are some other reasons why embracing contraception could benefit you today:
Regulation Of Menstrual Cycles
Regulates periods making them shorter and lighter therefore less uncomfortable(our dream!).
Reduced Risk Of Ovarian/Endometrial or even Colon/Rectal cancer
Use of birth control suppresses hyperproliferative activity which tends to occur during ovulation ,thus reducing these risks.
Contraception Reduces Your Risk For Ectopic Pregnancy
If you are susceptible to salpingitis (an infection that can cause no symptom,physical signs at times or tremendous abdominal pelvic pain ouch!!) then using birth-control makes practical sense as it reduces the risk for ectopic pregnancy(the egg is fertilised outside the uterus)
Help Diminish The Severity Of PCOS Symptoms
Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome suffer from elevated androgen levels leading to excess acne,hirsutism(extra hair and thickening)and irregular periods
Our Final Thoughts On This Importance Of Birth Control in Endometriosis Management
Endometriosis is a debilitating illness that wreaks havoc on patients’ quality of life. Current treatments offer only temporary relief but oral contraceptives can be an effective non-invasive method for managing symptoms. At least so we hope(beware of snake oil). Women should be aware though that hormonal therapy alone may not treat all aspects of endometriosis . Hence an individual approach must therefore always be undertaken when assessing treatment options(ain’t nobody got same DNA + circadian rhythm guys!)
Remember ladies, if you want smoother roads ahead – go c-autonomous…whoops contraception.