CBD, Endometriosis and You

It’s time for a DMC about CBD, and how it can affect your relationship with Endometriosis.

10% of uterus-owners worldwide are affected by Endometriosis – a disease in which the
tissue that forms the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity. This means 176
million uterus-owners are suffering with chronic gynaecological pain!

Despite the fact that Endo is a widely known condition, information on the causes,
treatments and effective methods of diagnosis have mainly been put on the back-burner. In
fact, it takes 7.5 years (on average) to get a diagnosis of Endo after the initial gynaecologist
consultation.

There is no definitive cure for the disease, but treatment methods range from long-term
hormonal contraceptives (such as The Pill or IUD) to last-resort surgery, otherwise known as
a hysterectomy.

Experts have speculated that CBD could be effective in managing chronic Endometrial pain.
In order to decide which treatment plan is best for you, we first need to understand what
Endometriosis actually is – and how different symptoms affect different people.

What Is Endometriosis?

Plenty of people have been raising awareness of Endo over the last 5 years or so. You may
have even seen your favourite celebs talking about it – from Sarah Hyland to Gabrielle
Union and beyond. Endometriosis is a chronic disease which can cause the sufferer a great
deal of pain and discomfort.

The uterus lining (or Endometrium) is made from a substance called epithelial tissue. Endo
develops when the tissue begins to grow outside of the uterus lining, typically spreading to
your ovaries, bowels and pelvic tissue.

When you start your period for the month, hormonal changes lead to irritation and
inflammation of the foreign tissue. This is why the disease can cause so much pain.

As you get older, the tissue gradually grows and breaks down. The problem is, because the
tissue isn’t meant to be outside the uterus in the first place, it has nowhere to go.
Oftentimes, the tissue simply becomes trapped in the pelvis.

When this happens, sufferers may find that their period pains escalate to much more severe
levels. They might also experience issues with fertility. It’s a pretty raw deal.

There are four stages of Endo which range from mild to severe. These stages depend on the
number and severity of the lesions outside your uterus. The level of pain you experience
isn’t usually connected to the stage you’re in. People with stage one Endo may suffer from
highly intense pain episodes, while stage four sufferers may only experience mild pain.

In Layman’s terms? It varies from person to person.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The most widely reported symptom of Endo is intense pelvic pain during menstruation.
Sufferers may also experience unusually heavy bleeding during their period, as well as
debilitating abdominal cramps before and during menses. Outside of menstruation,
sufferers have reported pelvic pain during bowel movements and sex, as well as infertility.

As with other chronic pain disorders (and reproductive conditions like Vaginismus), Endo
also comes with its fair share of mental health symptoms. Having to live with continuous,
chronic pain can be incredibly isolating! Sufferers may be left feeling depressed and fatigued
as well as sexually unworthy and unable to fulfil short-term commitments.

Receiving a diagnosis of Endo can be a long and trying ordeal. Potential patients often hold
back from seeking help, due to the invasive nature of a laparoscopy and the possibility of
missing vital information on an ultrasound.

Treatment

According to charity Endometriosis UK, it’s important to note the following things while
considering treatment:

1. Endometriosis is not an infection.
2. Endometriosis is not contagious.
3. Endometriosis is not a cancer.

Having Endo is nothing to be ashamed about – and treatment isn’t something to be terrified
of. While there’s no current cure for the disease, there are lots of treatment methods out
there for those who need help.

Depending on which stage of Endo the sufferer is in, courses of action can vary. Some cases
of Endo may be managed with simple, over-the-counter pain relief (otherwise known as
analgesics). Hormonal contraception such as The Pill or Mirena (the progesterone IUD) can
be prescribed to relieve symptoms as well.

For more advanced stages of Endo, surgery is possible. Conservative surgery – or keyhole
surgery – may be recommended by your gynaecologist in order to extract some of the
excess tissue. This procedure is non-invasive and can provide relief from symptoms,< although it isn’t always an effective long-term solution.

A hysterectomy – or ‘last-resort surgery’ – may be recommended in extreme cases for those
with stage four Endo. This is where the womb is removed from the body, with the option of
having the ovaries extracted as well. The process is irreversible.

CBD and Endometriosis

As I said, some forms of Endo can be managed with a simple dose of over-the-counter pain
medication. CBD is a natural analgesic with anti-inflammatory properties. Although there
hasn’t been a lot of insight into how CBD works to relieve symptoms of Endo, medical
professionals have claimed to see a whole host of potential in this alternative remedy.

CBD has already been highly recommended by sufferers of other chronic pain conditions
such as Fibromyalgia.

Our team at Dani Pepper has created the Natural CBD Oil in order for our customers to de-stress and decompress after experiencing discomfort. Containing 2000mg of CBD tincture
and all-organic ingredients (including MCT coconut oil), our natural remedy is perfect for
those who want to incorporate pain relief into their sexual wellness routine.