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Birth Control Health Period

Things You Should Know About Endometriosis: Definition, Symptoms, Treatments & Medications

endometriosis and birth control
Image credit: iStock

Endometriosis, a painful condition affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. That’s about 190 million women globally. More often than not, endometriosis causes severe pain and can contribute to other problems like poor wellbeing and even infertility. And that’s why it’s important to address it, starting from this blog article.

Just last month (June 2021) in Singapore, it was reported that there’s a rising trend in the number of people diagnosed with endometriosis. From 70 to 80 patients per month in 2019, the National University Hospital’s endometriosis clinic saw 100 to 110 patients a month this year, with more than half being severe cases. (Source: CNA)  

Endometrial pain can also be extremely unbearable for most women, thus some may choose to opt for telehealth services like Siena where they can access birth control to help relieve the pain. We’ll delve into that in a bit. 

What is Endometriosis? 

It is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus instead. The tissue attaches itself to other pelvic and abdominal organs like the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which causes scarring, adhesions and cysts. 

Every month, your uterus grows the endometrial lining in preparation for a fertilised egg. If the fertilised egg doesn’t implant itself in the lining within a month, your hormone levels will fall, prompting the lining to shed. 

For women with endometriosis, however, after the lining sheds, the endometrial cells that grow outside the uterus liquefy, bleed and touch other organs or body tissues. This then causes irritation, inflammation and pain. 

There is currently no cure for it although you can seek treatment to help with the symptoms.

Common symptoms

  • Severe premenstrual/menstrual cramps (marked by having to change more than five to six sanitary pads a day) 
  • Pain during and/or after sex 
  • Painful and frequent bowel movements 
  • Pain in the abdomen, lower back or thighs often lasting throughout the cycle 
  • Heavy periods 
  • Spotting between periods 
  • Difficulty getting pregnant (40 to 50% of patients with endometriosis are diagnosed with infertility)

If you’re experiencing menstrual cramps that are currently (or have been) affecting your quality of life (e.g. unable to get out of bed or having to take medical leave to get through your cycle), it’s a sign that you could have endometriosis. 

Due to the condition’s painful and uncomfortable symptoms, women may also develop depression.

However, some who suffer from endometriosis may not display any symptoms at all.

Likely causes

Most people diagnosed with endometriosis are in their 30s and 40s. But you may be more vulnerable if: 

  • You’ve never given birth 
  • Your periods last more than seven days 
  • You have short menstrual cycles (your period comes every 27 days or less) 
  • You have a family history of endometriosis 
  • You’re suffering from a health problem that keeps blood from flowing out of your uterus when you’re on your period

Ways to Manage Endometriosis 

As there is currently no cure, it’s good to know about the available treatments out there to help you better manage your symptoms. It can be treated with medicine or surgery. 

How hormone medications can help 

In most cases, doctors tend to prescribe specific types of birth control ranging from the combined contraceptive pill to the contraceptive patch and GnRH analogues. This is because birth control can help reduce pain and bleeding.

As these hormone medications act as both contraception and treatment for endometriosis, they’re especially useful if you don’t plan on getting pregnant anytime soon.

Method Function
Combined hormonal contraception like birth control pills and patches (containing both estrogen and progestin hormones) – Pain relief
– Help you experience lighter, shorter and more regular periods
– Continuous use (skipping the inactive pills or last week of a 4-week pack) of the pill prevents menstruation. Thus, this stops endometrial cells from shedding and causing inflammation and irritation.
– Monophasic birth control that releases a continuous, steady dose of hormones each day of the month is also useful in alleviating symptoms. 
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists medications– Trigger a temporary menopause-like state by stopping the production of certain hormones
– Prevent ovulation, menstruation and the growth of endometriosis and its related pain and symptoms
Progesterone and progestin medications like the mini pill, injection or intrauterine device (IUD) – Improve symptoms by reducing or skipping periods, on top of preventing pregnancy
– These hormones reduce menstrual flow without causing the uterine lining to grow, thus reducing endometriosis-related pain 
How hormone medications alleviate symptoms of endometriosis

As with all hormonal treatments, symptoms can return after you stop taking or using them.

Other methods to ease symptoms of endometriosis 

For milder symptoms that are still tolerable, you can consider painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications which may be enough to keep away the pain. This may include over-the-counter pain relievers or even stronger painkillers prescribed to you. 

If you want to get pregnant but you’re unable to do so or if you experience severe and extreme symptoms, surgery is another option you may want to go for. Going through with surgery will require you to remove the growths outside of your uterus or just patches of endometriosis tissue, relieving the pain and making it easier for you to get pregnant. Sometimes, the growths do come back after surgery so you may have to take medication. 

Some women also opt for hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) to remove part or all of the affected organs like the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Keep in mind that this is permanent and it’ll be impossible to become pregnant in future. 

Increasing awareness

Even though access to early diagnosis and effective treatment of endometriosis is essential, it remains lacking. A significant problem associated with endometriosis is the delayed or under-diagnosis of the condition. Worldwide, diagnosis for endometriosis is typically made seven to 10 years after the onset of symptoms, which is a considerably long time. 

This suggests there’s low awareness among not just the patients, but also the general population and even doctors. Endometriosis shouldn’t be brushed off as merely normal period pain but rather, it’s important to be able to recognise and treat the condition to greatly improve patients’ quality of life.

The current priorities laid out by the World Health Organization includes the need for more research and awareness globally to “ensure effective prevention, early diagnosis and improved management of the disease”. Healthcare also plays an important role in screening, identifying and offering basic pain management to cope with endometriosis. 

In Singapore, there are a few great initiatives and outreach programmes you can support, such as the Endometriosis Awareness Campaign launched in 2012 and the Singapore Endometriosis Support Group. 

How Siena Can Help You Cope With Endometriosis 

If you think you may be suffering from endometriosis, birth control is definitely an option you can consider to help manage your symptoms. By hindering the growth of the endometrial tissues, birth control essentially relieves the pain and other symptoms associated with endometriosis. 

With that, don’t hesitate to seek help from any of our female doctors at Siena. With nine brands to choose from, you can also take comfort in knowing that we prescribe safe and effective hormonal birth control to help you alleviate symptoms of endometriosis. 

Summary

What is endometriosis?

It is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus instead. The tissue attaches itself to other pelvic and abdominal organs like the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which causes scarring, adhesions and cysts.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

– Severe premenstrual/menstrual cramps (marked by having to change more than five to six sanitary pads a day) 
– Pain during and/or after sex 
– Painful and frequent bowel movements 
– Pain in the abdomen, lower back or thighs often lasting throughout the cycle 
– Heavy periods 
– Spotting between periods 
– Difficulty getting pregnant (40 to 50% of patients with endometriosis are diagnosed with infertility)

What causes endometriosis?

You may be more vulnerable if: 
– You’ve never given birth 
– Your periods last more than seven days 
– You have short menstrual cycles (your period comes every 27 days or less) 
– You have a family history of endometriosis 
– You’re suffering from a health problem that keeps blood from flowing out of your uterus when you’re on your period

References: 

Categories
Birth Control Health Period

Period Hacks: 9 Ways You Can Embrace Self-Care During That Time of the Month

period hacks: 9 ways to embrace self-care during your period

Periods can be tough. Most of us learn (the hard way) that it’s pretty much impossible to avoid both the physical and emotional symptoms of your menstrual cycle. From painful menstrual cramps to bloating, fatigue and irrational mood swings, there are seriously tons of reasons validating that dreadful feeling you get when you’re on your period. 

But you’re definitely not alone. Approximately 80 percent of women experience period pain (dysmenorrhoea) in their lifetime and in 5 to 10 percent of women, the pain can be so severe that it disrupts their daily life. While some of those who experience dysmenorrhea rely on over-the-counter painkillers, others may also seek longer-term remedies like birth control to help reduce the pain associated with menstrual cramps. 

Looking for an everyday solution that’s more convenient and perhaps even free? Try these easy period hacks that can help you cope better during that time of the month! 

Dietary Changes

Image credit: Freepik

Snuggling in bed with junk food on both hands, Netflix and a pint of ice-cream waiting by your bedside. Yes, I’m sure we’ve all been there in one way or another. It can get really tempting to just wait out your period in the most comforting (yet unhealthy) manner possible. 

1. Stay away from simple carbs, sugar and salt

Of course, along with your period also comes the time you’re most likely to indulge in food high in carbohydrates, sugar and salt. Mostly because you feel like it. However, they can actually cause energy levels to crash whilst intensifying mood swings and bloating due to higher water retention. 

Instead, try to consume protein-rich foods and those with healthy fats and high fibre which can help to stabilise your blood sugar levels and decrease inflammation. Or you could also consider having more complex carbs found in wholegrain food as they keep you full longer, thus reducing your food cravings and irritability.

2. Hydrate

Drink up (water, not alcohol)! Having plenty of water helps with digestion, hormone regulation and hydration. Research has shown that staying hydrated (at least 1600ml a day) can decrease the duration of menstrual bleeding and the severity of menstrual pain.

If you’re usually reliant on that cup of espresso to kickstart your days or plenty of nights with at least one glass of wine, it might be a better idea to avoid them around the time of your period. Both caffeine and alcohol have the potential to enhance premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as irritability, restlessness and tension.

3. Don’t forget your daily nutrients/supplements

Calcium is a key dietary intake that can help relieve PMS symptoms like depression and fatigue. In the week leading up to your period, you might want to consider stocking up on milk, other dairy products and even cereal. 

When taken together, magnesium and vitamin B-6 are most effective in helping you cope with symptoms like depression, anxiety, bloating and food cravings. Vitamin B-6 is commonly found in fish, chicken and fruits while you can also expect to have magnesium in your leafy greens like spinach, and in whole grains and nuts. 

Lifestyle Recommendations

Image credit: Freepik

Dating back to your teenage years, you might already be accustomed to a certain routine or way of life when it comes to your period. Good on you if it’s been working well for you so far! But for those of you still on the lookout for ways to improve your period health, it’s best to re-evaluate your current lifestyle and learn from some of the tips below. 

1. Get up and get moving

No matter how much you feel like it, don’t let yourself become a couch potato! 

Be it hiking, jogging, biking, dancing or even as simple as taking a stroll, any kind of exercise for at least 30 minutes a day can do you good. As long as it gets your heart pumping, the release of mood-boosting endorphins is a great way to improve PMS symptoms like fatigue, poor concentration and depression. 

2. Quality sleep 

Feel like you’re getting enough hours of sleep but can’t fathom why you still wake up feeling grouchy and moody? Well, here’s a plausible explanation.  

As you may find it harder to fall asleep at night whilst enduring your period symptoms, any disruption to your sleep pattern can also increase your irritability and even cause menstrual migraines. To tackle this, try sticking to a sleep routine where you head to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time in the morning.

Turn in earlier by reducing your screentime in bed so that you’ll also have the full, minimum eight hours of sleep. This will not only help to rejuvenate you, but it also stabilises your hormones. 

3. Break your habit 

Smoking can lead to more severe PMS symptoms and menstrual problems like cramping and irregular periods. This happens because it alters your hormone levels and even lowers plasma vitamin D levels which potentially increases the incidence and/or severity of PMS.

At-Home Care and Relaxation Techniques

Image credit: Freepik

Sometimes, all you really need during the few days of menstruation is to relax and forget about your troubles and worries. That’s all there is to it, period.

1. Therapeutic care

It can be stressful juggling your life’s commitments and daily activities, alongside your period. But fret not, there are so many relaxation techniques you can adopt to wind down and give yourself the self-care you deserve. 

Yoga is one effective activity for your stress management as the combination of gentle movements and deep breathing techniques help to relax your muscles and improve blood supply to the pelvic area. A study found that doing regular yoga exercises actually improved PMS bloating, cramps and sore breasts, hence decreasing premenstrual distress. 

Alternatively, a back and stomach massage could also be another solution for you to calm your nerves and anxiety around the time of your period, as well as to ease physical discomfort. An hour of massage can reduce your cortisol levels — a hormone triggered in times of stress — and produce a feel-good chemical, serotonin. This boosts your body’s ability to deflect pain, anxiety and negative emotions.  

2. Turn up the heat

Warm-anything is the way to go during your period! They help relax the muscles of your uterus causing period cramps and also boost circulation in your abdomen.

These are some simple and effective ways to ease tension and for pain relief:

  • Soak in a warm bath with aromatherapy oils 
  • Use a heating pad, patch or wrap 
  • Hug a hot water bottle 
  • Enjoy a cup of hot ginger tea 

3. Stay positive 

More often than not, taking care of your mental health may be just the thing to beat the period blues (emotionally at least). And these are probably the most basic of tips that some of you may have overlooked! 

We cannot emphasise enough how important rest is. Periods are obviously exhausting so don’t feel guilty for taking all the rest you need to recharge. 

If you’re tucked in bed feeling lonely and horrible, try listening to audiobooks and podcasts, or simply reach out to a friend or loved one to chat about what’s on your mind. 

And if you’re up for it, why not learn something new or invest your energy into a task you’ve been wanting to take on? Make yourself a new smoothie recipe, spend a few minutes on the piano or simply rearrange your bookshelf if it makes you feel better. You’ll probably feel the tiniest sense of accomplishment and satisfaction while getting a whole lot of inspiration in time for your post-period activities! 

Should You See A Doctor?

With plenty of period hacks to choose from, you’ll hopefully get better at managing your next and subsequent menstrual cycles! While they may not work for everyone, your period problems will most likely be more tolerable whenever the dreaded time of the month rolls around. Just remember to stick to the ones that work best for you and don’t be afraid to experiment. 

However, if your PMS symptoms are seriously unbearable and extreme such that it severely disrupts your daily life, consider seeking professional help from a doctor. With Siena, all you have to do is fill up a questionnaire to schedule a tele-consult with one of our female doctors to discuss the complications and find relief from your PMS symptoms — all from the privacy and comfort of your own home. 

Summary

How To Relieve Period Cramps?

  1. Dietary Changes

    Cut down on simple carbs, sugar and salt, constantly hydrate and don’t forget your daily nutrients & supplements.

  2. Lifestyle Recommendations

    Exercise, have sufficient quality sleep and stay away from bad habits like smoking.

  3. At-Home Care and Relaxation Techniques

    Indulge in therapeutic care such as yoga and massage, use heat pads or take a warm bath while staying positive.

References: