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Intestinal endometriosis it is a difficult disease to diagnose. Symptoms are also common to other types of diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Only by contacting a doctor can endometriosis be diagnosed with precision. However, it is a treatable pathology whose causes can be multiple.
Alongside traditional medicine, the treatment can expand to food choices but also by taking into consideration some natural remedies such as Bach flowers and much more.
Endometriosis: what it is
Endometriosis is, in general, an inflammation of the endometrium, which is the tissue that lines the uterus. If the inflammation affects the intestine, then it is referred to as intestinal endometriosis which occurs in the rectum and sigmoid area.
The disease can be one type superficial or localized. This depends on the area of the body that is affected. Over time, in addition to involving the rectum, it can also reach other areas of the intestine, such as the ileum, the initial part of the large intestine, the small intestine and the appendix. Women aged between 29 and 39 are most affected, but in some cases this disease can also occur in adolescents.
Intestinal endometriosis: symptoms
Symptoms they can be many and more or less severe pains. In fact, at least in the early stages, it is not an immediately diagnosable disease. Sometimes, it even occurs in an asymptomatic form. For these reasons, the right diagnosis is often made through an intraoperative examination. The main symptom is pain at the level of painful intestinal spasms, but it can also be: the alternation of constipation and diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, widespread cramps, nausea, vomiting, rectal tenesmus, painful defecation, loss of appetite and rectal bleeding.
It is not certain that these symptoms appear all, indeed in some cases they occur individually in others combined. In the premenstrual period these symptoms are much more pronounced. This is a wake-up call not to be underestimated, although it is true that PMS can have symptoms very similar to those described above.
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The different causes of intestinal endometriosis
The possible causes they may be different. In many cases we speak of retrograde menstruation, this means that during menstruation some endometrial tissue, rather than leaving the vagina, nestles forming aggregates and thus causing intestinal endometriosis. Another cause may be genetics, so the fact that someone in the family already suffers or has suffered from it is an indication of the possibility that the disease will recur. Metastatic dissemination of endometrial cells is another possible cause, as it promotes the transport of endometrial cells to certain organs such as the liver and lungs. Finally, some types of diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease can be at the origin of the disease.
Intestinal endometriosis: treatment and remedies
The cure for intestinal endometriosis it exists, even if it is not a specific cure. Treatments are mostly based on reducing pain and trying to avoid female infertility. Medicines often given to control pain are NSAIDs. A hormone therapyit is also considered essential for lowering estrogen levels. The classic birth control pill, therefore, can be used to counteract the symptoms of intestinal endometriosis with the effect of also reducing pain. We always recommend that you consult your doctor before taking any medicine. In addition to taking medications, you can benefit from pain through a healthy, rich and balanced diet. To improve your condition through nutrition, some simple but effective rules must be followed. Avoiding dairy products and soy, for example, can undoubtedly be beneficial.
In addition, the consumption of red meat and all foods that, in general, contain a lot of histamine, such as strawberries, chocolate, cheeses and tomatoes, should be reduced. On the other hand, foods rich in fatty acids, such as fish and oil seeds, can be favored. Nutrition alone, even if correct, may not be enough to stop intestinal endometriosis, especially if the disease is already in an advanced stage. To the right drugs and nutrition it is also possible to rely on some natural remedies. Among the most effective are Bach flowers, currant nigrum but also spirulina.