Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of a Flare-UpLengthCausesManaging TriggersPain Relief and CopingWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms of a Flare-Up
Length
Causes
Managing Triggers
Pain Relief and Coping
When to Seek Care
An endometriosis flare-up is a period of increased severity of endometriosis, resulting in increased pain and worsenedsymptoms. Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, so there are several factors that can increase or trigger inflammation in the body and cause flare-ups.
This article will review endometriosis flare-up symptoms, causes, and management strategies.
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Endometriosis Flare-Up Symptoms
How Long Do Flares Last?
Endometriosis flare-ups can vary in length. For many, hormonal changes trigger flare-ups that occur during the menstrual cycle and can last a few days from the start to the end of menstruation. For others, other factors that cause increased inflammation and last up to several weeks can trigger flare-ups.
Causes of Endometriosis Flares
Though the exactcause of endometriosisisn’t clear, bodily changes that increase inflammatory processes with endometriosis can trigger flare-ups. You can control some of these triggering factors, while others you cannot.
Hormonal Changes
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent condition that fluctuating levels ofestrogenhormones trigger. The normal hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle often trigger flare-ups as well.
Stress
Like other inflammatory conditions, endometriosis is associated with high levels of chronic stress. Researchers believe that high amounts of stress are associated with increased pain severity and duration of symptoms due to increased inflammation throughout the body.
Lack of Sleep
Lack of sleep commonly results from endometriosis because the pain it causes can make falling asleep difficult. In turn, sleep disruption can weaken the immune system, causing an abnormal increase in inflammatory processes. This increased inflammation can then stimulate more pain, resulting in an ongoing cycle of pain and poor sleep.
Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol use is often linked to estrogen-dependent conditions because it activates enzymes that increase estrogen levels in the bloodstream. Because of this, alcohol use has been associated with an increased risk of endometriosis. Long-term alcohol use also impairs the functioning of the immune system, which increases the risk of developing inflammatory diseases.
Inflammatory Foods
Inflammatory foods, such as those that are heavily processed with artificial colors, flavors, high amounts of sugar, and refined seed oils, are known to increase inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to the worsening of endometriosis symptoms. Anti-inflammatory foods and supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin from turmeric, and green tea are currently undergoing studies for their potential use in decreasing pain from endometriosis.
Theories About Endometriosis Causes
Identifying and Managing Triggers
Identifying triggers of endometriosis flare-ups is important for managing endometriosis and lessening your pain and other symptoms. Keeping a journal of symptoms you experience, how long they last, and information about your lifestyle habits can help. This includes diet, exercise, alcohol use, sleep quality, and stressful events.
Over time, you may notice a common trend in your journal entries. If you can identify and avoid triggers, you can help manage and reduce flares. This may include making certain lifestyle changes or learning ways to manage stress effectively.
Endometriosis Pain Relief and Coping Tips
Pain from endometriosis can be severe and debilitating. Current treatment for endometriosis includes pain-relieving and/or hormone-suppressing medications and surgery to remove lesions if necessary. But sometimes, these methods aren’t enough to alleviate pain.
Self-care methods may help reduce your pain and manage your symptoms in addition to medical treatment. These include methods like using a heating pad or taking a warm bath, finding ways to manage stress, and exercising.
12 Natural Endometriosis Treatments
When to Seek Care for a Flare
If pain during a flare-up is so severe it interferes with your daily activities and work or school, you should schedule a visit to see a healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may want you to try several different types of medications to reduce your symptom severity. If you have large endometriosis lesions that are continually flaring, your healthcare provider may also recommend surgery to remove them.
Summary
Endometriosis flare-ups are periods of worsened pain and other symptoms that hormonal changes and increased inflammation trigger in the body. These triggers can occur with stress, lack of sleep, alcohol use, and inflammatory foods. Medication, surgery, and self-care treatment strategies like avoidance of triggers, stress management, heat, and exercise can help reduce your symptoms and the severity of your flare-ups.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis: fast facts.Saunders PTK, Horne AW.Endometriosis: etiology, pathobiology, and therapeutic prospects.Cell.2021 May 27;184(11):2807-2824. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.041Reis FM, Coutinho LM, Vannuccini S, et al.Is stress a cause or a consequence of endometriosis?Reprod Sci. 2020 Jan;27(1):39-45. doi:10.1007/s43032-019-00053-0.Ishikura IA, Hachul H, Pires GN, et al.The relationship between insomnia and endometriosis.J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(8):1387–1388.Parazzini F, Cipriani S, Bravi F, et al.A metaanalysis on alcohol consumption and risk of endometriosis.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2013 Aug;209(2):106.e1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.05.039.Kechagias KS, Triantafyllidis KK, Kyriakidou M, et al.The relation between caffeine consumption and endometriosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients.2021 Sep 29;13(10):3457. doi:10.3390/nu13103457.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis: fast facts.Saunders PTK, Horne AW.Endometriosis: etiology, pathobiology, and therapeutic prospects.Cell.2021 May 27;184(11):2807-2824. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.041Reis FM, Coutinho LM, Vannuccini S, et al.Is stress a cause or a consequence of endometriosis?Reprod Sci. 2020 Jan;27(1):39-45. doi:10.1007/s43032-019-00053-0.Ishikura IA, Hachul H, Pires GN, et al.The relationship between insomnia and endometriosis.J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(8):1387–1388.Parazzini F, Cipriani S, Bravi F, et al.A metaanalysis on alcohol consumption and risk of endometriosis.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2013 Aug;209(2):106.e1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.05.039.Kechagias KS, Triantafyllidis KK, Kyriakidou M, et al.The relation between caffeine consumption and endometriosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients.2021 Sep 29;13(10):3457. doi:10.3390/nu13103457.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis: fast facts.Saunders PTK, Horne AW.Endometriosis: etiology, pathobiology, and therapeutic prospects.Cell.2021 May 27;184(11):2807-2824. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.041Reis FM, Coutinho LM, Vannuccini S, et al.Is stress a cause or a consequence of endometriosis?Reprod Sci. 2020 Jan;27(1):39-45. doi:10.1007/s43032-019-00053-0.Ishikura IA, Hachul H, Pires GN, et al.The relationship between insomnia and endometriosis.J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(8):1387–1388.Parazzini F, Cipriani S, Bravi F, et al.A metaanalysis on alcohol consumption and risk of endometriosis.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2013 Aug;209(2):106.e1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.05.039.Kechagias KS, Triantafyllidis KK, Kyriakidou M, et al.The relation between caffeine consumption and endometriosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients.2021 Sep 29;13(10):3457. doi:10.3390/nu13103457.
Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis: fast facts.
Saunders PTK, Horne AW.Endometriosis: etiology, pathobiology, and therapeutic prospects.Cell.2021 May 27;184(11):2807-2824. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.041
Reis FM, Coutinho LM, Vannuccini S, et al.Is stress a cause or a consequence of endometriosis?Reprod Sci. 2020 Jan;27(1):39-45. doi:10.1007/s43032-019-00053-0.
Ishikura IA, Hachul H, Pires GN, et al.The relationship between insomnia and endometriosis.J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(8):1387–1388.
Parazzini F, Cipriani S, Bravi F, et al.A metaanalysis on alcohol consumption and risk of endometriosis.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2013 Aug;209(2):106.e1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.05.039.
Kechagias KS, Triantafyllidis KK, Kyriakidou M, et al.The relation between caffeine consumption and endometriosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients.2021 Sep 29;13(10):3457. doi:10.3390/nu13103457.
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