A recent international online survey explored the impact of dietary changes on endometriosis pain symptoms, revealing that a majority of participants had tried altering their diet to manage their pain. Endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting nearly 200 million people globally, involves tissue resembling the womb lining growing outside the uterus, leading to chronic pain, infertility, and irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms. While medical treatments exist, many patients seek alternative methods, particularly dietary adjustments, to alleviate their symptoms.

The survey, conducted in collaboration with a Scottish endometriosis patient support group, gathered 2,599 responses from 51 countries. Participants reported experiencing pelvic pain (97%) and abdominal bloating (91%) as common symptoms. They rated their average pain levels, with most indicating a four (mostly ignored but with difficulty) or a seven (interferes with sleep and requires effort to function normally) on a scale of zero to ten.

The survey revealed that 83% of respondents had made dietary changes to manage their symptoms, with approximately 67% reporting a positive effect on their pain. Common dietary modifications included reducing alcohol intake, adopting a gluten-free diet, eliminating dairy, decreasing caffeine consumption, and limiting processed foods and sugar. Around half of the participants experienced pain reduction after implementing at least one of these diets.

Specifically, 53% of those who reduced alcohol consumption reported pain improvement, while 45% of those who went gluten-free or dairy-free also noted positive effects. Similarly, 43% of participants who reduced caffeine intake experienced pain reduction. The study highlighted that no single diet benefits everyone, necessitating a trial-and-error approach to identify effective strategies. It also indicated that dietary changes might be less beneficial for individuals with the most severe symptoms.

The survey's findings suggest that diet can be a valuable tool in managing endometriosis pain. Excess inflammation has been identified as a key factor in endometriosis-related pain. Certain foods, such as gluten and dairy, may promote inflammation due to their interaction with gut cells and the byproducts produced during digestion. Reducing the intake of these and other inflammatory foods, like alcohol, may help lower overall inflammation levels and alleviate symptoms.

Researchers emphasize the need for controlled clinical studies to understand the specific reasons why diet may help individuals with endometriosis. Future studies should monitor food intake, record real-time pain and IBS-like symptoms, and measure inflammation levels in the body. A large-scale study involving over 1,000 participants is underway, collecting stool and blood samples, tracking food intake, and monitoring the use of pain medications, supplements, prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary modifications. The ultimate goal is to promote a holistic and personalized approach to caring for people with endometriosis.