Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 people who menstruate and yet the path to diagnosis averages 7 to 10 years. Many people spend years being told their pain is normal, cycling through treatments that only partially help, or managing symptoms without ever getting to the root of what’s driving them.
Hormonal therapies are often the first thing offered, and for some people this can provide some symptomatic relief. But endometriosis is not purely a hormone condition and understanding that distinction changes everything about how it can be treated.
Why hormones alone often aren’t enough
Research increasingly shows that endometriosis involves multiple interconnected systems in the body… not just estrogen. These include:
- The immune system and chronic inflammatory pathways
- The nervous system (which is why central sensitization plays a role in pain)
- The gut and vaginal microbiome
- Metabolic health and detoxification capacity
This is why some people continue to experience significant symptoms even when hormones are suppressed. Treating the whole picture, not just one piece of it, is where naturopathic medicine has a lot to offer.
What a naturopathic approach to endometriosis actually looks like
No two experiences with endo look the same. Some people come to me primarily dealing with debilitating period pain. Others are navigating digestive symptoms, deep fatigue, painful sex, or fertility challenges. Some are preparing for surgery. Others are post-op and trying to rebuild.
Because of this variability, treatment has to be genuinely individualized. What I’m working toward with each patient is a plan that addresses the specific combination of factors driving their symptoms and their goals.
Protocols can include nutritional medicine, targeted supplementation, herbal medicine, acupuncture, lifestyle support, and collaboration with your broader care team including pelvic floor physiotherapists, surgeons, acupuncturists, therapists, and GPs or OBs. Everything is rooted in current research and adapted to what’s actually happening in your body.
How I structure endometriosis care
STEP 1: Foundational assessment
A detailed intake covering your pain patterns, cycle history, digestive symptoms, past treatments, and relevant lifestyle factors. Comprehensive lab work is ordered so treatment is guided by your actual health markers. Early treatment focuses on strengthening the foundations of health including immune function, digestive health, inflammation, stress, environmental exposures, and potential nutrient deficiencies.
STEP 2: Personalized treatment plan
Once labs are reviewed with you, we build a comprehensive plan together. This may include targeted supplementation, herbal support, nutritional strategies, indicated medications, referrals, and ongoing foundational care tailored to your goals.
STEP 3: Ongoing check-ins and collaboration
Follow-up visits to track progress, adjust the plan, and coordinate with any other practitioners involved in your care. A space for support, accountability and ensuring the plan is working for you. We check in on health goals every step of the way, because as those shift the plan shifts with it.
STEP 4: Long-term support + Maintenance
As symptoms improve, the focus shifts toward maintaining those improvements and supporting your long-term wellbeing, because endometriosis is a chronic condition, and ongoing care matters.
Working with me
I offer integrative naturopathic care focused on hormones, pelvic health, and reproductive wellness. I see patients in person in Vancouver (Fairview) and virtually across BC and Ontario.
If painful periods, pelvic pain, or suspected endometriosis is affecting your daily life, I’d love to connect. Book a complimentary discovery call here.
Be well,
Dr. Jess, ND