Endometriosis
Updated Jun. 30th, 2026 | Read Time: 4 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- What is Endometriosis?
- Common Causes And Risk Factors for Endometriosis
- Endometriosis Symptoms
- Diagnosing Endometriosis
- Supplements & Lifestyle Support For Endometriosis
- Lifestyle Habits
- Endometriosis Supporting Supplements
- Nutritional Information
- Reader Comments (7)
Ongoing hormonal and inflammatory issues can significantly reduce energy, comfort, and quality of life. Balanced nutrition, lifestyle support, and targetetd strategies help you regain control of your health. Many people now use endometriosis supplements to support hormonal balance, reduce inflammation, and improve daily comfort. Let's explore effective ways women can support their bodies and feel their best.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial cells grow outside the uterus instead of within it.
These cells most often grow on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus surface, intestines, and pelvic lining. In sever cases, they spread to the vagina, bladder, or abdominal cavity. Endometrial cells are the same cells that are shed each month during menstruation. Outside of the uterus, these cells are referred to as endometriomas or endometriosis implants.
Whar Causes And Risk Factors Are Associated With Endometriosis?
Endometriosis risk factors are numeroud, but heredity plays the largest role. Women with an immediate relative have six times higher risk. Endometriosis most commonly affects women between ages 24 and 40. However, endometriosis can present itself at the beginning of menstruation or near menopause. Women face higher endometriosis risk with longer periods, shorter cycles, and elevated estrogen levels. Lack of exercise, IUS use, childhood abuse history, and high-fat diets also increase risk.
Evidence now suggests that an immunological deficiency plays a large role in the development of endometriosis. The immune system may fail to detect pelvic abnormalities and cannot prevent endometrial cell growth in improper locations. Studies have shown a correlation between suppressed immunity and a higher number and greater area of implants.
What Are Symptoms of Endometriosis?
The severity of symptoms associated with endometriosis varies between individuals. Almost all women with endometriosis experience a classic triad of symptoms, including pain with menses (dysmenorrhea), pain with intercourse (dyspareunia) and infertility. For some women, menses can cause such excruciating pain that they are unable to leave their homes, go to work or carry on activities of daily living. A labour-like, severe cramping or bearing down type pain usually begins just prior to menses and can last a couple of days into bleeding. Some women experience nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or even fainting during this time. The severity was once thought to depend on the number of cells that grew in abnormal places, but we now know that it is actually the depth of the cells, how deep they grow into the other tissue, that seems to correspond with the degree of pain a woman experiences.
Diagnosing Endometriosis
The only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is via one of two procedures. A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a scope is inserted through one of two very small pelvic incisions. A laparotomy is a more major surgical procedure.
Supplements & Lifestyle Support For Endometriosis
Lifestyle Habits
There are many nutritional and lifestyle recommendations that can both prevent and help to treat and decrease the symptoms of endometriosis. Simply ensuring that you are getting more than sufficient green leafy vegetables and fruit into your daily diet is a great start. Try to make them organic when and if possible. Liver-friendly fruits and vegetables, like carrots, beets, dandelion greens, kale, cabbage and lemon, increase the detoxification ability of the liver, thus decreasing the amount of excess or exogenous estrogen. Increasing fiber also increases transit time and helps to bind excess hormones. Decreasing intake of red meat has also been shown to drastically decrease the risk of developing endometriosis. Even lean meat protein can promote inflammation and pain. Many healthcare practitioners encourage women with endometriosis to try to incorporate more vegetable proteins, almonds, soy and even fish into their diet instead. Limiting refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol has also been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing endometriosis. Regular exercise is also key in preventing endometriosis, as well as minimizing stress.
Endometriosis Supporting Supplements
There are many supplements that may be beneficial in preventing the onset or reducing symptoms of Endometriosis. For the most part, we want to keep in mind our objective of supporting the immune system, reducing inflammation and pain, supporting and aiding the liver in detoxification and removal of excess hormones, and combating free radical damage. Any combination of these.




As someone who suffers from severe endometriosis affecting multiple organs outside of the pelvic region, I agree with the article that there are many different methods that can help with symptom management. I believe that there needs to be a mix of surgical and natural approaches. For diagnosis and proper initial treatment, surgery with an endometriosis specialist is necessary. It's important to note (and currently it's not mentioned in the article), that there are in fact different types of laparoscopic surgeries and there are endometriosis specialists. Many gynaecologists will perform ablation (the burning of the lesions); however, this can cause more issues as it doesn't remove the lesions from the root (think of it like an iceberg). Anyone who is seeking treatment should ensure that their surgeon performs excision, which is the cutting away of the disease. This way all of the disease is removed and there is a smaller chance of recurrence. The majority of gynaecologists perform ablation, not excision, so seeking a specialist is really important.
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for sharing your experience, we're glad you enjoyed our article and the suggestions for support. It's always best to seek advice from your health care practitioner to treat each personal case. We hope you're well and if you have any questions please reach out, we're always here to help.
Have a healthy day!
I know a family member who suffers from endometriosis and how painful it can be. She is already eating whole foods with iodine and high vegetable intake as we’ve read articles on how iodine and vegetables can help with this condition. We’re also considering the herb, shatavari, as it is known to help females with endometriosis. Many women aren’t sure what can help this condition and suffer longer than they should. This is a great article to get an understanding and starting point on what could help.
Hello Hassan,
Indeed, endometriosis is painful and uncomfortable. It's important to find a lifestyle and protocol that works well for the individual and the first step is understanding this health concern so it can be supported. Glad you found our article and hope your family member is feeling better.
Stay healthy & well!
This runs in my family. It sucks. I did not know that EPA specifically was helpful for preventing the growth of endometrial implants! I have been rather nonspecific about the long chain omega 3 that I supplement with daily, in terms of EPA and DHA content. So, now I will be on the lookout for that! And, I will consider increasing the dosage, too, since I only have about 200mg a day, which I have noticed is below the dose reccommended for certain benefits related to these omega 3s. Thank you for the good information on this, NN!
Hello Rachel,
Indeed, endometriosis is an unpleasant condition. Yes, check your supplement to see if it's the proper EPA to DHA dosage for your needs. You can learn more about both of these here: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/supplement-articles-epa-eicosapentanoic-acid/ & https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/supplement-articles-dha-docosahexanoic-acid/
Endometriosis is a pain, I have heard. I did not know it could even extend past the uterus, to have cells grow in the vagina, the bladder (YIKES!!) and also sometimes outside the pelvis and into the abdominal cavity. That sounds pretty terrible. It is good that general healthy lifestyle advice is applicable to helping prevent endometriosis. It is a pattern, I see with your articles, that they promote general healthy lifestyle to help most conditions. Of course, you suggest some pointed specifics as well, and sometimes even focus most on these. But I find it great and uplifting news that lifestyle can help with most health conditions