Happy Endometriosis Awareness Month 💛

💛 Happy Endometriosis Awareness Month

Endometriosis can be overwhelming. Painful, heavy, or irregular periods can control your calendar, sap your energy, and affect every area of your life, from work to relationships, and even your mental health.

Many women are told it’s “just hormones” or given contraception as a quick fix, leaving the root causes unaddressed.

This is where I come in.

As a degree-qualified clinical nutritionist specialising in female and reproductive health, I work alongside your GP or gynaecologist to provide evidence-informed, personalised strategies that target the underlying drivers of symptoms from inflammation and gut dysfunction to hormone imbalance and nutrient deficiencies.

Did you know it takes 6-10 years on average for endometriosis to be correctly diagnosed?

Approximately 10% of reproductive-age women and girls worldwide (around 190 million) are

affected.

It takes an average of 7-10 years from the onset of symptoms to receive a definitive diagnosis.

Among women experiencing infertility, 25-50% have endometriosis.

That’s not rare. That’s common and often overlooked.

When Is It More Than “Just Hormones”?

How do we know when painful, irregular, or heavy periods are more than a “hormonal imbalance” or something that gets covered up with the contraceptive pill?

Let me say this clearly:

Hormonal contraception can be incredibly helpful for symptom management but it does not fix endometriosis. It suppresses symptoms. And if you decide to come off contraception to try for a baby, those symptoms often return, sometimes more intensely. That’s why understanding the underlying drivers matters.

When Period Pain Is More Than “Just a Bad Period”

Your period is the shedding of the uterine lining

Normal length: 3-7 days

Average blood loss: 30-40 mL

Textbooks define heavy bleeding as more than 80 mL per cycle.

But the definition I prefer comes from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

(NICE):

“Excessive blood loss that interferes with a woman’s physical, social, emotional and/or quality of life.”

That definition matters more.

If your period:

Stops you going to work

Makes you cancel plans

Leaves you exhausted or anaemic

Causes pain during sex

Makes you fear your cycle

It deserves attention regardless of volume.

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, commonly on the ovaries, bowel, bladder, and pelvic lining.

Under the influence of oestrogen, this tissue can thicken, attempt to shed (similar to what happens during your menstrual cycle), this triggers inflammation, forms lesions, cysts and scar tissue. Unlike a normal period, this tissue has nowhere to shed.

Blood in the pelvic cavity is highly inflammatory and over time this can lead to:

Severe period pain

Pain throughout the month

Pain with bowel or bladder movements

Pain during sex

“Endo belly” bloating

Migraines

Constipation

Fatigue

Infertility

Up to one-third of cases may be asymptomatic. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis but symptom support does not need to wait for surgery.

How I Can Support You as a Clinical Nutritionist

Endometriosis is complex. There is no single diet, no magic supplement, and no one-size-fits-all approach but there is a structured, personalised, evidence-informed way to reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life.

As a degree-qualified clinical nutritionist working in female and reproductive health, my role is not to replace your GP or gynaecologist. It’s to work alongside them helping you address the underlying drivers that influence pain, inflammation, bleeding, gut dysfunction, and fatigue.

Here’s how I support women with endometriosis:

Reduce Inflammation & Support Immune Regulation

Using evidence-informed strategies, we may explore targeted nutrients such as:

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)●

Curcumin

Omega-3 fatty acids

Vitamin D (if deficient)

Zinc

PEA + magnesium for pain modulation

All supplements are individualised and introduced strategically, never all at once.

Restore Gut Health & Improve Oestrogen Metabolism

Gut dysfunction is common in endometriosis. We may:

Trial specific probiotic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus species)

Investigate SIBO or dysbiosis where appropriate

Support gut barrier integrity

Gradually optimise fibre intake

Consider dietary trials (gluten-free, A1 casein-free, or low histamine when clinically indicated)

We implement one change at a time and allow sufficient time (often 3 months) to assess hormonal impact.

Address Heavy Bleeding & Nutrient Deficiencies

If bleeding is heavy, we look beyond just iron. Testing and interpretation may include:

Iron studies

B12

Folate

Simply supplementing iron isn’t always enough especially if inflammation is impairing absorption. This is where proper assessment matters.

🔍 Take a Comprehensive, Whole-Person Case History

Not all pelvic pain is endometriosis. Differential diagnosis is essential.

We explore:

Menstrual history and age of menarche

Contraceptive and surgical history

Gut and immune patterns

Nervous system regulation

Fertility goals

Emotional wellbeing

This ensures we’re not missing fibroids, IBS, ovarian cysts, or other overlapping conditions.

Provide Patient-Centred, Collaborative Care

Endometriosis is associated with anxiety, depression, fertility stress, and often medical dismissal. Some women are pushed toward hysterectomy. Others are told to “just get pregnant.”

That is not patient-centred care. My role is to advocate for shared decision-making, support your fertility choices, reduce

inflammatory load, improve microbiome balance, and help you feel empowered in your health journey while collaborating with your broader medical team.

If your periods:

Control your calendar

Dictate your energy

Affect your relationships

Or leave you feeling unheard

You do not have to manage it alone. Because surviving your cycle is not the goal. Thriving

through it is. If you're ready for answers and support, you can book a consultation with me today.