Endometriosis

Q Can endometriosis be cured with Korean medicine alone?

A. It is difficult to remove lesions or achieve a cure with Korean medicine alone. However, when combined with conventional treatment, there is a clear synergy in pain management, relapse suppression, and improved quality of life.

Q I hear endometriosis and uterine fibroids often occur together - can they be treated together?

A. The two conditions share an estrogen dependence, so they often occur together. Uterus-warming and blood-invigorating, stasis-resolving Korean medicine treatment applies to both, allowing them to be managed at the same time.

Q I hear endometriosis patients often have irritable bowel symptoms too - is there a connection?

A. Yes. When endometriosis tissue adheres around the bowel, it causes painful bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms resembling irritable bowel syndrome. We manage them together through gut-uterus linked treatment.

Q Are there lifestyle habits I should be especially careful about during my period?

A. During menstruation, avoid intense exercise, postures that raise abdominal pressure, and exposure to cold environments. Keeping the lower abdomen warm and drinking enough water help relieve pain.

Q Does exercise help with endometriosis?

A. Regular aerobic exercise helps regulate estrogen levels and improve immune function. However, high-intensity exercise on days with severe menstrual pain can actually backfire.

Q I have a chocolate cyst - is it safe to receive Korean medicine thermal therapy?

A. If the chocolate cyst is under 3 cm and being monitored by your obstetrician-gynecologist, combining thermal therapy is possible. If it is 5 cm or larger or at risk of rupture, we recommend treatment after surgery.

Q What are the emergency warning signs when endometriosis symptoms suddenly worsen?

A. If sudden, severe abdominal pain comes together with fever and dizziness, it may be an emergency such as a ruptured chocolate cyst or worsening tubal adhesions. Go to the emergency room immediately.

Q Can I take herbal medicine while on a GnRH agonist or birth control pills?

A. Most herbal medicines have no direct drug interaction with GnRH agonists or oral contraceptives, but before starting you must tell your Korean medicine doctor all the medications you are currently taking.

Q I hear it often recurs even after surgery - how high is the recurrence rate?

A. The 5-year recurrence rate after conservative surgery reaches 40-50%. Consistent management - combining hormonal therapy, lifestyle care, and supportive Korean medicine treatment - is needed to suppress recurrence.

Q Does endometriosis make it hard to get pregnant?

A. It is strongly linked to infertility, but not every patient is infertile. Mild cases can conceive naturally, and for severe cases, surgery before IVF can improve the chances of pregnancy.

Q Why does endometriosis develop?

A. Endometrial tissue that should line the inside of the uterus instead settles outside it, on the ovaries or peritoneum. Each month during menstruation this tissue repeatedly bleeds and inflames, worsening adhesions and pain.

Q Are chocolate cysts and endometriosis the same thing?

A. A chocolate cyst is one form of endometriosis. When endometrial tissue settles on the ovary and bleeds month after month, the old blood thickens into a chocolate-colored cyst.

Q Are there foods that are bad for endometriosis?

A. Cold foods and cold drinks, processed meats, and foods high in trans fats worsen uterine cold and inflammation. A diet that reduces cold foods and favors warm, cooked dishes is recommended.

Q Do stress and lifestyle habits worsen endometriosis?

A. Yes. Chronic stress raises cortisol and creates an estrogen-dominant environment, while lack of sleep weakens immune function and promotes the growth of endometrial tissue.

Q How often and for how many months do I need Korean medicine treatment?

A. In the early phase you visit 1-2 times a week, and progress is observed in 3-month units. Treatment intensity is adjusted to the menstrual cycle, and after improvement it shifts to maintenance care 1-2 times a month.

Q After an endometriosis diagnosis, in what order does Korean medicine treatment proceed?

A. It proceeds in the order of first-visit constitutional assessment, intensive blood-stasis-clearing treatment (1-3 months), the uterus-warming and blood-nourishing stage (3-6 months), and then menstrual-cycle maintenance care.

Q I have endometriosis surgery coming up - does Korean medicine treatment help?

A. Pre-surgical Korean medicine treatment improves pelvic blood flow and boosts immune function, leading to a better surgical outcome. Two weeks before surgery, we stop herbal medicines that could affect bleeding.

Q Does Korean medicine treatment really work for endometriosis?

A. Herbal medicine and thermal therapy are reported to help relieve menstrual pain, improve pelvic blood flow, and support relapse prevention. Rather than a standalone cure, the focus is on improving quality of life alongside conventional treatment.