Did you know that 190 million females around the world are afflicted by endometriosis? Treatment plans can be customized for this condition by our Toronto area functional medicine practitioners, which may help regulate periods, pain, and other symptoms.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition, and many individuals experience symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis, as it can be difficult to detect and is often underrecognized. This condition can be debilitating enough to potentially cause absences from work and school. There isn’t a way to prevent it either – but what we can do is understand what it is and how to manage it. This information can drive you to get comprehensive testing conducted, which could help delay or prevent the disease from progressing in your body.
This new blog post emphasizes:
- What endometriosis is;
- A list of symptoms and causes;
- The ways functional medicine therapies can target this condition;
- How we can enhance your clinical experience with our integrative treatment approach.
What is this health condition?
Your uterine lining is composed of specialized tissue. When you have endometriosis, uterine tissue is found to have grown externally from the uterus. Sometimes this tissue extends into the fallopian tubes, behind the uterus, or into the abdomen or pelvic region.
As you already know, your uterine lining sheds blood and cells during a period; but when this tissue is located outside the uterus, it cannot shed properly and may trigger severe pain or reproductive issues.
Studies have shown that women with endometriosis tend to experience higher mental health setbacks and whole-body inflammation compared to women without the disorder. “Endometriosis has traditionally been thought of as a disorder that primarily affects the pelvic area; however, it is now recognized as a systemic disorder, meaning its effects occur throughout the body,” confirms Yale Medicine.
Causes and symptoms
Though science has significantly advanced, there still isn’t a clearcut reason as to why endometriosis forms. There are a few theories, though:
- You have a first-degree relative with the condition (i.e. mother)
- Your immune function is unable to remove the tissue located outside the uterus
- From retrograde menstruation, which is when period blood and endometrial cells move upward into the pelvis and fallopian tubes instead of exiting the vagina.
- Hormones may alter abdominal cells (peritoneal cells) into cells that are similar to the ones in the uterine lining.
- The blood vessels end up transferring endometrial cells to other body parts.
If left untreated, endometriosis can lead to declines in sexual health, as well as infertility or ectopic pregnancies, depression, anxiety, ovarian cysts, and potentially incontinence.
The functional medicine approach to endometriosis
Some women opt into taking a personalized medicine approach to their endometriosis condition. As we all have disparate lifestyle factors and genetics, tailored therapies can help tackle the root cause of health challenges, which may help relieve menstrual discomforts. Here are some ways endometriosis may be handled with the functional medicine approach:
- Comprehensive testing: We might recommend functional lab tests to explore what may be worsening your symptoms, such as high oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, hormone imbalances, etc. These results can help us pinpoint the roots of your symptom severity and how to treat them.
Symptoms of endometriosis may include:
- Painful, heavy and/or irregular periods
- Digestive issues during periods (i.e. bloating, constipation, diarrhea)
- Low energy levels
- Spotting between periods
- Back pain
- Infertility
Each woman experiences the condition differently – some women get severe cramping, and other women may be asymptomatic. Please visit your healthcare provider to explore any underlying health concerns.
- Lifestyle modifications: Estrogen dominance is common in women with endometriosis. Stress management techniques can reduce chronic stress, which can optimize your hormonal balance. In fact, getting continuous acupuncture treatments may even be “…an effective and safe method of relieving dysmenorrhea, shortening the pain duration, and improving wellbeing and quality of life in women with endometriosis-associated pain,” confirms a Fertility and Sterility journal article.
- Food changes: Studies have shown a correlation between consuming the Mediterranean Diet and lowered pain levels linked to endometriosis. Please speak to a holistic nutritionist about adopting this diet to boost your intake of plant-based fats, fish, fresh vegetables and fruit. You may also be advised to limit sugars and red meat.
- Supplements: Especially if you have nutrient deficiencies, key supplements may be supportive for anti-inflammatory effects and cellular health. According to a Menopause Review paper, “… certain studies indicate that fish oil may have a positive effect on reducing pain due to the effects of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins PGE3 and PGE3α derived from omega-3 fatty acids. The same effects were seen with the introduction of the antioxidant vitamins C, D, and E.”
If you’re struggling to understand why you’re unwell, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre can customize therapies for your needs. Many women have reported to experience invalidating health care. Our clinic adheres to the functional medicine model, which addresses individual health issues and chronic diseases with a compassionate, personalized approach.
Suggested reading: From Probiotics to Postbiotics: The Future of Gut Health with Toronto Functional Medicine
Treating the root cause of menopausal symptoms, heavy periods, and more
Our integrative medicine practice can adapt several types of functional medicine therapies, including Western medicine, botanical remedies (herbal supplementation), holistic nutrition, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, detoxification therapies, IV drip treatments, hormone optimization programs, and more.
When patients have several health ‘tools’ under their belt, they can confidently and independently support symptom relief and long-term health outcomes. We provide ample education to patients, such as how to interpret results from laboratory testing, the rationales behind prescribed therapies, and the potential benefits of organic food options. Providing these details can inspire patients to make informed decisions about their health care.
Furthermore, our patients have access to our laboratory testing services. Functional lab tests help us examine how your body is functioning, scrutinizing biomarkers to determine if you’re heading towards a healthy direction. Our labs may be beneficial for inspecting food allergies, hormones, gut microbes, and even exposures to environmental toxins. The results are used by our functional medicine providers to modify doses of supplements, herbal medicine, and more for your uniqueness. Please contact us today! We are a patient-centred clinic, so we encourage you to ask questions at all times.
Our personalized clinic services include comprehensive testing, IV therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and more – check them out to support your long-term health needs. Send the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre a message now to request your virtual appointments or in-person sessions.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media.
References
Chen C, Li X, Lu S, Yang J, Liu Y. Acupuncture for clinical improvement of endometriosis-related pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 Oct;310(4):2101-2114. doi: 10.1007/s00404-024-07675-z. Epub 2024 Aug 7. PMID: 39110208; PMCID: PMC11393010.
Cirillo, Michela, et al. “Mediterranean Diet and Oxidative Stress: A Relationship with Pain Perception in Endometriosis.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 19, 2023, p. 14601, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914601. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
“Endometriosis” from the World Health Organization, posted March 14, 2023, viewed on June 1, 2025.
“Endometriosis” from Yale Medicine, viewed on June 2, 2025.
“Endometriosis & Lifestyle-Based Therapies” from the Institute for Functional Medicine, posted on March 27, 2025, viewed on June 1, 2025.
Giese, Nora, et al. “Acupuncture for Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Integrative Medicine Research, vol. 12, no. 4, 2023, p. 101003, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2023.101003. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Habib, Nassir, et al. “Impact of Lifestyle and Diet on Endometriosis: A Fresh Look to a Busy Corner.” Przegla̜D Menopauzalny = Menopause Review, vol. 21, no. 2, 2022, p. 124, https://doi.org/10.5114/pm.2022.116437. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Li PS, Peng XM, Niu XX, Xu L, Hung Yu Ng E, Wang CC, Dai JF, Lu J, Liang RN. Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2023 May;119(5):815-823. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034. Epub 2023 Jan 27. PMID: 36716811.
Tsamantioti ES, Mahdy H. Endometriosis. [Updated 2023 Jan 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567777/
Original article "Toronto Functional Medicine Centre – (416) 968-6961" first appeared in the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website.
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