The Good, Bad and Ugly of the Pill In Treating Symptoms of Endometriosis

During the last stage of the menstrual cycle normally a layer of endometriosis lining in the inside of the uterus is expelled, known as menstruation blood but instead some of the endometriosis tissues grow somewhere in the body causing endometriosis. Endometriosis also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. For women with or without endometriosis, It is important that you know how oral contraceptive pills work and what is their side effects. In this article, we will discuss the good, bad and evil of the Pill.

I. The good

a) Control unwanted pregnancy

The pill beside reducing the period pain, it also helps to protect woman against any unwanted pregnancy, because it stop or reduce period, creating a continual pregnancy like state resulting of not letting sperm near you.

b) Control menstrual cramps

It helps to inhibit the over production of prostaglandins which cause the muscles spam contraction of ovarian muscles resulting of less period pain and period flow.

c) Reducing the rate of reproductive organ diseases

Study shows that intake of oral contraceptive combination pill helps reduce the rate of ovarian and endometrial cancer, benign breast disease, benign ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, because of stopping or reducing of period blood flow.

d) Shrinking endometriosis

Endometrial implants, adhesion or cysts no longer active, because there are no substance to activate the menstrual cycle because of pregnancy like state that shrinks the endometriosis.

e) Anemia

Since anemia is a disease of iron deficiency, intake of the pill stops or reduces the period blood, there are less iron needed to be produced by the liver or other organs 

II. The bad

a) Growth of fibroids

Fibroid starts from a single cell that grows abnormally. Fibroid occurs mostly in women after puberty puberty and shrink after menopause. Growth of fibroid is caused high level of estrogen and progesterone. The intake of the pill increase the level of both hormones resulting in increase the risk of growth of fibroid.

b) Recurrent of menstrual symptoms

Some women stop taking the pill may see all the menstrual symptoms coming back.

c) Blood clots

Intake of estrogen through the pill cause the blood getting thicker resulting in blood clots in the small vessels in the leg and the lung.

d) Stroke and heart diseases

Study shows that women who have higher natural estrogen levels may have a higher risk of stroke and heart diseases caused by estrogen in the pill that blocks that hormonal action in some parts of the body, while increasing its effects in the heart and others

e) Hormonal imbalance

The pill may influence the imbalance hormones of estrogen and progesterone. Normally, It require six months for the body to adjust to the intake of oral contraceptive pill.

f) Depression and mood swing

The intake of the pill at the beginning may cause abnormal fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone elevate both physical and psychological stress, eventually resulting in both depression and mood swing. If depression and mood swing continue over six months period, it is for your own good to talk to your doctor for other pills.

g) Infertility

Prolong used of oral contraceptive conbination pill may cause loss of period in some women. Some women may take months or year to get their period back. resulting of infertility.

III. The ugly

a) Bleeding and spotting

Bleeding and spotting is normal for the first six months for women starting any oral contraceptive combination pill because our body needs time to adjust to the new medication.

b) Lost interest in sex

Women who take the contraceptive pill are in danger of permanently lost their interest in sex because the oral contraceptive pill inhibits testosterone, the hormone that drives sexual desire even after if they stop the pill.

c) Chloasma or melasma

It caused by hormonal changes, as in pregnancy and intake of estrogen in the oral contraceptive pill.

d) Nutritional deficiency

Oral contraceptive pill causes vitamin and mineral imbalances or deficiencies. It depletes magnesium for healthy heart, coenzyme Q10 for healthy heart muscles, folic acid for preventing cervical abnormalities, vitamin B6, B2, B3, zinc, etc.

Endometriosis and Diet (Spinach)

As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know food play a very important role in prevent and treat some kinds of diseases. In this article, we will discuss how Spinach helps to treat endometriosis.


I. Definition

Spinach is also known as spinacia oleracea. It is a delicious vegetable in the family of Amaranthaceae and originated in central and southwestern Asia. Spinach contains high amount of nutrition and is recommended to include in our daily diet including children.




II. How spinach effects women with endometriosis

1. Beta carotene
Spinach contains high amount of beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body not only helps to improve the immune system in fighting against the forming endometrial implants and adhesion but also increases the cell activity in the nervous system resulting in reducing the symptoms of endometriosis such as anxiety, stress, irritation, etc.

2. Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B complex in spinach is vital for women with endometriosis. For whatever reasons. Women with endometriosis are found to have vitamin B complex deficiency leading to hormone imbalance of the prostaglandins family that causes menstrual pain.

3. Folic acids
Folic acids in the spinach are important for liner in protein and fat metabolism. Without enough folic acids, it causes nervous tension leading to symptoms of endometriosis.

4. Vitamin C
Spinach contains high amount of vitamin C. Besides aiding the immune system because of its antioxidant property, vitamin C helps to protect the capillaries that are easily broken off for women with endometriosis resulting in reducing the heavy period flow during menstruation.

5. Vitamin E
High level of Vitamin E in spinach  is another antioxidant, that helps to protect the membrane of the red blood cell by making it more elastic resulting in lessening the risk of anemia and heavy blood.

6. Iron
The trace mineral iron in spinach is vital for women with heavy period flow during menstruation, it helps to increase the production of red blood cells and levels of oxygen in the blood that are necessary for maintaining the body cell function. Deficiency of iron causes symptoms of endometriosis and anemia.

7. Zinc
Zinc in spinach is important  for liver' s metabolisms. Without enough zinc, it causes weakening of liver function leading to hormone imbalance including hormone of prostaglandins family and tension of nervous system resulting in menstrual pain, stress and depression.

8. Magnesium
Magnesium in spinach helps to convert fatty acids to good prostaglandins hormone that reduce the risk over active uterine muscle resulting in lessening the menstrual pain.

Since spinach is highly oxidative, please consult with your doctor before taking spinach if you have kidney diseases including kidney stone.

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Endometriosis and Diet (Watercress)

As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know watercress contains high amount of nutrients that are important to women with endometriosis during menstrual cycle.

1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant besides helping to boost the immune system infighting against cell abnormality, it also helps to decrease the risk of heavy menstrual flow during menstrual menstruation.
2. Vitamin C
Besides helping to reduce the heavy blood flow caused by breaking off of the capillaries' wall, it also increases the digestive system absorption of other vital vitamins and mineral including vitamin B complex, iron, zinc, etc.
3. Vitamin K
Vitamin K in one the natural coagulation, that helps to reduce the risk of heavy bleeding during menstruation that is vital for women with endometriosis and with anemia.
4. Calcium
Calcium besides helping to increase the bone density, it also helps to maintain the healthy body functions including formation of DNA and RNA and in fat metabolism.
5. Magnesium
Magnesium is vital for maintaining the function of neuromusclar system. Without enough magnesium, our body can not function normally, resulting in over active muscles including the uterine muscles, muscle weakness and twitching
6. Iron
Iron is essential for women with heavy blood flow during menstruation, because it helps to increase the levels of oxygen in the blood and increase the function of nervous system resulting in lessening the symptoms of endometriosis.
Since endometriosis is treatable and manageable by natural remedies and a self help course, if you have endometroisis, please look on the bright side.