Endometriosis Explained: Causes, Diagnosis, and Its Impact on Fertility

Endometriosis is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions impacting women's reproductive health. It affects an estimated 10% of women of reproductive age, yet many go years—sometimes decades—without a proper diagnosis. This condition not only causes chronic pelvic pain and severe menstrual symptoms but is also a major contributor to infertility.

As a naturopathic doctor in Toronto, I aim to help you better understand the root causes of endometriosis, the tools we use to assess it, and the integrative treatment strategies available to support your health, fertility, and quality of life.

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar—but not identical—to the endometrial lining of the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus. This tissue is responsive to hormonal changes, especially estrogen, and undergoes cyclical inflammation and bleeding in response to your menstrual cycle.

Common areas where endometriosis can form include:

• The ovaries

• Fallopian tubes

• Pelvic peritoneum

• Uterosacral ligaments

• Bladder or bowel

• In rare cases, even distant organs like the lungs

This chronic inflammation leads to scarring, adhesions (bands of fibrous tissue that bind organs together), and often, significant pain.

What Causes Endometriosis?

The exact cause of endometriosis remains unclear, but current research points to a multifactorial origin. The leading hypotheses include:

• Retrograde menstruation: Menstrual blood flows backward through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity, carrying endometrial-like cells.

• Immune dysfunction: An altered immune response may fail to clear misplaced endometrial cells, allowing them to implant and grow.

• Estrogen dominance: Elevated estrogen levels or poor estrogen detoxification can promote the growth of endometrial tissue.

• Genetic factors: There is often a family history of endometriosis, suggesting inherited susceptibility.

• Environmental toxins: Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (like dioxins or phthalates) may increase the risk of developing the condition.

Common Symptoms to Watch For

Endometriosis presents differently for each woman, and the severity of symptoms doesn’t always correlate with the extent of the disease. If you're experiencing the following signs, don’t dismiss them as "normal period pain":

• Severe menstrual cramping that affects your ability to work or function

• Chronic pelvic pain outside of menstruation

• Pain during intercourse, especially deep penetration

• Pain with bowel movements or urination (particularly during menstruation)

• Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea

• Fatigue and low energy, often cyclical

How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

While laparoscopic surgery remains the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis, non-invasive tools like advanced ultrasound imaging are becoming increasingly valuable in the diagnostic process.

Ultrasound Techniques

Transvaginal ultrasound, especially when performed by a skilled sonographer trained in endometriosis detection, can identify:

• Ovarian endometriomas ("chocolate cysts")

• Deep-infiltrating lesions

• Uterosacral ligament nodules

• Adhesions causing organ tethering

When combined with a thorough clinical history and pelvic exam, imaging can often suggest a strong likelihood of endometriosis, even without surgery.

That said, superficial peritoneal lesions often go undetected without laparoscopy, which is why clinical symptoms remain a key part of the diagnostic process.

The Impact of Endometriosis on Fertility

Endometriosis can impair fertility in several ways:

• Anatomical distortion: Adhesions may block the fallopian tubes or impair egg pickup.

• Ovarian dysfunction: Endometriomas can damage ovarian reserve and reduce egg quality.

• Inflammation: Chronic pelvic inflammation creates an environment that may be hostile to sperm, eggs, or implantation.

• Hormonal imbalance: Disrupted progesterone signalling and estrogen dominance can affect ovulation and implantation.

Studies show that up to 50% of women with infertility may have endometriosis, making early recognition and treatment essential for preserving reproductive health.

Treatment Options: A Functional and Integrative Approach

Treatment depends on your symptoms, fertility goals, and how the condition is affecting your quality of life. Conventional medical options include:

• Hormonal therapies: Birth control, progestins, or GnRH agonists to suppress menstruation and slow tissue growth

• Surgical intervention: Laparoscopic excision of endometrial lesions, which offers symptom relief and may improve fertility outcomes, but has a high risk of regression.

• Pain management: NSAIDs or other analgesics

But symptom management isn’t enough—we must also address the underlying drivers of inflammation, hormone imbalance, and immune dysfunction.

Natural Strategies to Support Endometriosis

While endometriosis isn’t “curable,” natural therapies can reduce symptoms, slow progression, and support fertility.

Nutrition

• Anti-inflammatory diet: Emphasize wild fish (omega-3s), leafy greens, berries, turmeric, flax, and cruciferous vegetables.

• Limit: Red meat, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods, all of which can promote inflammation and estrogen imbalance.

Targeted Supplements

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC): Reduces oxidative stress and modulates inflammation. One study showed NAC reduced endometrioma size after 3 months.

• Turmeric (Curcumin): Natural anti-inflammatory and COX-2 inhibitor.

• DIM or Calcium-D-glucarate: Supports estrogen detoxification.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Shown to reduce menstrual pain and systemic inflammation.

• Magnesium + B6: May reduce cramps and balance estrogen metabolism.

Lifestyle

Exercise: This one is key! A 2017 study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science found that low-impact aerobic exercise reduced pain intensity and improved quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis, and a 2019 review in Reproductive Sciences noted that physical activity can modulate immune and inflammatory responses, which may indirectly reduce lesion activity and pain in endometriosis patients. Practice restorative movement (yoga, Pilates, walking) to reduce cortisol and pelvic congestion.

Sleep: Prioritize sleep and stress reduction, which modulate the immune system and inflammation.

If you’re struggling with unexplained pelvic pain, irregular cycles, or infertility, you deserve answers—and a plan that goes beyond symptom suppression. Naturopathic support for endometriosis combines comprehensive testing with target and individualized natural therapies to support your body’s inflammatory and hormonal cycles.

Whether you're seeking to reduce pain, preserve fertility, or prepare for conception, living with endometriosis doesn't mean accepting your concerns as your normal.

Call (647) 351-7282 to discuss your endometriosis concerns with Dr. Courtney Holmberg, Toronto-based Naturopathic Doctor.