If you've been diagnosed with endometriosis, you may have found yourself wondering about the root cause of this chronic, debilitating condition. While endometriosis is often viewed through a purely physical lens, the reality is that there may be a deeper, more complex connection at play - one that links your pelvic pain to the trauma you experienced in your past. Studies have shown that up to 50% of women with endometriosis have experienced some form of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime.
So if you've been struggling to make sense of your endometriosis diagnosis, it may be time to explore the possibility that this is intricately linked to trauma held in your nervous system that is affecting your hormonal balance.
Did Childhood Sexual Trauma Cause Your Endometreosis?
The connection between childhood sexual trauma and endometriosis can be easily understood by recognising how the stress hormone cortisol, released during traumatic experiences affects your hormonal system.
As a child, if you endured sexual trauma, your brain would have experienced elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone released during experiences of fear and when you feel you are in danger. Cortisol triggers the fight / flight feeling and it's how your body gets alerted to keep itself safe. It does this by either running away, fighting or freezing.
However, as a child, sexual abuse would have been an ongoing experience. This means your cortisol levels would have been almost constantly elevated. Your body doesn't know any better and this becomes the base line. What I mean by that is, it becomes normal to feel this way.
The chain reaction is set in place.
Elevated cortisol disrupts the HPA Axis which governs your immune response and hormonal balance.
This is common in childhood trauma but especially in sexual abuse.
As your brain's mechanism for balancing your hormonal system is now disrupted, and cortisol continues to flood through your bloodstream and estrogen becomes elevated. Thyroid hormone becomes bound and B and T cells become deregulated. This leads to what is known as 'estrogen dominance' which fuels the endometrial-like tissue to grow outside the uterus - the hallmark of endometriosis and gynecological cancers.
Research Confirms The Link Between Childhood Sexual Trauma and Endometriosis
There is a growing body of research that has explored the connection between childhood sexual trauma and the development of endometriosis. Here are some key studies that shed light on this critical link:
A 2011 study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that women with endometriosis were significantly more likely to report a history of childhood sexual abuse compared to women without the condition. The researchers concluded that childhood sexual trauma may be an important risk factor for endometriosis.
A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders analyzed data from multiple studies and reported that women with endometriosis had a 2.3-fold increased risk of having experienced childhood sexual abuse compared to women without endometriosis.
A 2016 study in the journal Reproductive Sciences revealed that women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain were more likely to have a history of childhood sexual abuse than women with endometriosis but no pelvic pain. This suggests that the trauma of sexual abuse may contribute to the severity of endometriosis symptoms.
Research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2018 found that women who experienced childhood sexual abuse had a 79% higher risk of developing endometriosis later in life compared to women without a history of sexual trauma.
A 2019 study in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology explored the biological mechanisms underlying the link between childhood sexual abuse and endometriosis. The researchers found that early-life stress could disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to hormonal imbalances that promote the development of endometriosis.
These studies, among others, highlight the significant role that childhood sexual trauma can play in the onset and progression of endometriosis. By understanding this crucial connection, healthcare providers can better address the multifaceted needs of women with endometriosis, ultimately improving their overall health and well-being.
Sexual Trauma, Estrogen Dominance & Cancer
When cortisol – the body's primary stress hormone – remains elevated in response to childhood sexual trauma, it can wreak havoc on the thyroid's normal operations. Prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels can cause the thyroid hormones to become bound to proteins, rendering them less bioavailable to the body's cells. This thyroid hormone dysregulation then triggers a cascade of downstream effects, including the deregulation of the immune system's B and T cells. B cells and T cells are the cornerstone of the immune response. When the thyroid hormone imbalance disrupts the normal functioning of these immune cells, it can lead to a state of chronic inflammation and an impaired ability to mount an effective defense against potential threats. Studies have shown a clear link between elevatd cortisol, estrogen dominance, endometriosis and gynecological cancers, particularly endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer:
Endometrial Cancer: Women with endometriosis have a 1.5 to 2.5 times higher risk of developing endometrial cancer compared to women without endometriosis. The prolonged exposure to excess estrogen in endometriosis is thought to be a significant contributing factor.
Ovarian Cancer: The risk of developing ovarian cancer is estimated to be 1.3 to 1.9 times higher in women with endometriosis compared to those without the condition. The presence of endometriotic lesions on the ovaries is believed to increase the likelihood of ovarian cancer development.
By acknowledging the traumatic root causes, releasing imprints of childhood sexual trauma from your nervous system it is possible to completely rebalance and reset the neurological and hormonal system, and heal. Please reach out to me if you are ready to do this depth of healing work.
Common Symptoms of Endometriosis
If you're living with the debilitating pain of endometriosis, your heart has likely sunk with each new doctor's appointment, each failed treatment, each moment of feeling dismissed and unheard. The searing cramps, the heavy bleeding, the excruciating intercourse - these are your constant companions, reminders that something is deeply, inexplicably wrong.
You know the relentless ache all too well - the searing, stabbing pain deep within your pelvis that steals your breath away and leaves you doubled over. This is the reality you face as someone living with the torment of endometriosis.
But the symptoms you experience extend far beyond the classic menstrual cramps. Perhaps the battlefield lies between the sheets, as deeply penetrating pain during sex becomes a frustrating, ever-present obstacle. Or your body may be besieged by a relentless barrage of gastrointestinal distress - constipation, diarrhea, and agonizing sensations with each trip to the bathroom.
And then there are the invisible wounds, the ones that cut to the core of your very identity. The heavy, clot-riddled periods that leave you feeling drained and defeated. The infertility that shatters your dreams of motherhood. The pervasive fatigue that robs you of energy and joy.
Endometriosis Severely Affects Your Mental Health
You find yourself navigating a minefield of pain, uncertainty, and self-doubt, all while feeling dismissed or misunderstood by the very medical system tasked with your care.
The result is a deeply isolating experience, one that can further exacerbate the emotional turmoil. But this need not be your reality. Research shows that the emotional impact of endometriosis is often overlooked or even dismissed by doctors.
Infact, a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that women with endometriosis reported feeling that their condition was not taken seriously by their doctors, leading to feelings of frustration and helplessness.
By unearthing the roots of your trauma and doing healing that goes to the root cause of your nervous system and hormonal imbalance, you can heal.
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