Japanese Translation

Coping with endometriosis

Complementary therapies

C

There is evidence from two systematic reviews suggesting that high frequency TENS, acupuncture, vitamin B1 and magnesium may help to relieve dysmenorrhoea (Proctor et al., 2002; Proctor and Murphy, 2001). One RCT has shown that vitamin E may relieve primary dysmenorrhoea and reduce blood loss (Ziaei et al., 2005). Whether such treatments are effective for endometriosis associated dysmenorrhoea and heavy bleeding is unknown.

Evidence Level 4

GPP

Many women with endometriosis report that nutritional and complementary therapies such as homeopathy, reflexology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal treatments, etc., do improve pain symptoms. Whilst there is no evidence from RCTs in endometriosis to support these treatments, they should not be ruled out if the woman feels that they could be beneficial to her overall pain management and/or quality of life, or work in conjunction with more traditional therapies.

Patient support groups

GPP

Patient self-help groups can provide invaluable counselling, support and advice. The website www.endometriosis.org/support.html provides a comprehensive list of all the self-help groups in the world. Self-management programmes may prove beneficial in providing the woman with tools to enable her to live with a chronic disease.

Supporting Documentation