Endometriosis Pain and Antioxidant Supplement Therapy

Abstract

Endometriosis is a common condition in which the tissue lining the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, begins to grow on the outside of the uterus, onto fallopian tubes, and ovaries causing scarring, pain, and often infertility. In some cases, these growths can even appear in other parts of the body such as the bladder, skin, lungs, or bowel (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2019). These growths often result in chronic pain, particularly during menstruation, as well as tissue scarring, cysts, and inflammation. Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility in women, and it is estimated to affect at least 11% of women in America (USDHHS, 2019). Endometriosis pain is often treated with pain medications, hormonal birth control, or surgery but for some women these may not be an option. Supplementation with antioxidants (often in the forms of vitamins A, C, and E) are easy to implement and do not have as many potential side effects and complications as other treatment options for this condition. This brief will attempt to examine the efficacy of antioxidant supplement therapy in decreasing endometriosis pain in women of childbearing age. Because endometriosis impacts women of childbearing age and it is the responsibility of health care professionals to be informed on the topic, be able to provide patients with methods to decrease their pain and improve quality of life.