7 tips to live better with endometriosis

Endometriosis causes abdominal pain, severe cramping, pain and discomfort during or after intimate contact. These symptoms can be alleviated through physical exercise, increased consumption of foods rich in omega-3 or through the use of painkillers, which must be prescribed by the doctor.

In addition, tracking the menstrual cycle, using a calendar, can help to understand at what stage the symptoms of endometriosis worsen or improve, and relate the habits that favor this increase.

Some tricks and tips that can help you deal with endometriosis better and help you to lessen the symptoms of pain and discomfort and live better are:

1. Practice exercise

The practice of light physical exercise, such as walking, for example, can help to reduce the development of endometriosis, as physical exercise reduces the levels of estrogen in the body, the main hormone that controls a woman’s menstrual cycle.

In addition, some relaxation techniques such as yoga and Pilates can also help reduce pain.

2. Take pain and colic medication

Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for example, help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by endometriosis, helping to overcome periods when symptoms are most evident.

3. Eat a diet rich in omega-3

Eating a diet rich in omega-3 rich foods like salmon, sardines or tuna, flaxseeds or chia, and nuts like chestnuts and peanuts, helps to naturally reduce the production of prostaglandins, which helps to reduce inflammation.

In addition, consumption of coffee or drinks containing caffeine, such as some teas or soft drinks, should be avoided as in some cases caffeine can make the pain worse.

4. Use contraceptives

The use of contraceptives helps to regulate and reduce menstrual flow, preventing the growth of endometrial tissue inside and outside the uterus, and consequently reducing the episodes and intensity of pain.

see others drugs that are used in the treatment of endometriosis.

Using warm compresses, a warm wet towel, or a hot water bottle in the abdominal area is a trick that helps to reduce menstrual cramps, lower back pain, and discomfort caused by endometriosis. Alternatively, you can also take a hot bath, which will also help to relax the muscles in the pelvic region, relieving pain.

6. Do acupressure

Acupressure is an alternative therapy that helps relieve some pain by compressing different points of the body. Thus, for pain relief, a point located on the inside of the leg, about 5 cm above the ankle, can be pressed for about 1 minute, with sufficient force to make the tip of the thumbnail white.

Another acupressure point that can be pressed for pain relief is located on the hands, at the midpoint between the thumb and forefinger. Learn more about acupressure.

In addition, the use of lubricant can also help to decrease pain and discomfort during intimate contact. If the woman intends to become pregnant, she can also use a specific lubricant for this purpose, as is the case with Conceive Plus.

Watch the video with Dr. Helizabet Ribeiro, a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis who clarifies all doubts about this disease: