Endometriosis is a condition that impacts the lives of 200 million women across the globe. For years, researchers have recognized a strong connection between childhood sexual trauma and various forms of pelvic pain and inflammation. However, it's only in recent times that scientists have begun to explore the specific link between childhood sexual trauma and endometriosis. As Harris et al. confirmed in a study conducted in the early 2000s and published in 2018, the childhood trauma that one experiences in their early life is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis.
This new focus sheds light on a potentially crucial relationship that could help us better understand the origins and development of this challenging condition. As studies delve deeper into this connection, we may uncover valuable insights that could lead to improved diagnosis, trauma informed holistic healing and more focused support for women affected by both endometriosis and childhood sexual trauma.
If you've been diagnosed with endometriosis, you may have found yourself wondering about the root cause. While endometriosis is often viewed through a purely physical lens, the reality is that often, there is a deeper traumatic root cause. Infact, studies have shown that up to 50% of women with endometriosis have experienced sexual trauma. 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.
How Unresolved Childhood Trauma Affects Pelvic Function & Chronic Pain
Early traumatic experiences, particularly in childhood, can have a profound and lasting impact on the body's stress response system. When a child experiences trauma, such as sexual abuse, their body goes into a state of high alert. This triggers the release of stress hormones, primarily cortisol, from the adrenal glands.
Under normal circumstances, this stress response is temporary and helps the body deal with immediate threats. However, in cases of ongoing trauma, this system can become chronically activated. This leads to:
Dysregulation of the HPA axis: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls the body's stress response, can become overactive. This results in consistently elevated levels of stress hormones.
Altered inflammatory responses: Chronic stress can lead to increased inflammation throughout the body. The immune system, which normally helps to regulate inflammation, can become less effective at doing so.
Changes in pain perception: Prolonged exposure to stress hormones can make the nervous system more sensitive to pain signals. This can lower the pain threshold, making a person more susceptible to feeling pain.
Tissue sensitivity: Chronic inflammation can make tissues, including those in the pelvic area, more sensitive and prone to pain.
These physiological changes can contribute to the development of chronic pelvic pain and other pain syndromes. For example:
The heightened inflammatory response can contribute to conditions like endometriosis, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
The increased sensitivity to pain can make normal sensations in the pelvic area feel painful.
The ongoing stress response can lead to tension in the pelvic muscles, contributing to chronic pain.
Moreover, these early experiences can "program" the body to maintain this state of heightened stress response and inflammation long after the initial trauma has passed. This helps explain why individuals who experienced childhood trauma are at higher risk for developing chronic pain conditions, including pelvic pain syndromes, later in life.
The Link Between Childhood Sexual Trauma and Endometriosis
If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, your brain likely dealt with high levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. This hormone is released when you're scared or feel threatened. It triggers the fight-or-flight response, helping your body react to danger by either running away, fighting back, or freezing in place.
Unfortunately, if you were a victim of ongoing sexual abuse, your cortisol levels would have remained elevated for a long time. Your body starts to see this heightened state as normal, which can create a lasting impact on your well-being.
This constant presence of elevated cortisol can disrupt your HPA Axis, the system that regulates your immune response and hormonal balance. This disruption is particularly common in cases of childhood trauma, especially childhood sexual abuse.
As a result, your body struggles to maintain hormonal balance. With cortisol continually flooding your system, estrogen levels can rise too. This imbalance can affect other hormones, leading to issues like 'estrogen dominance.' This condition can cause endometrial-like tissue to grow outside the uterus, which is a key factor in conditions like endometriosis and certain 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.
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.
How Childhood Sexual Trauma Affects the HPA Axis and Immune System
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 Physical Symptoms of Endometriosis
Severe menstrual cramps
Chronic pelvic pain
Pain during or after sexual intercourse
Lower back pain
Abdominal pain
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Irregular periods
Painful bowel movements
Pain when urinating
Bloating
Nausea, especially during menstruation
Fatigue
Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant
Diarrhea or constipation
Pain during ovulation
Leg pain
Mood swings or depression
Headaches or migraines
Rectal bleeding during menstruation
Pain in the lower abdomen when standing for long periods
Common Emotional Symptoms of Endometriosis
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. According to research, the most common emotional symptoms associated with endometriosis include:
Depression: Many women with endometriosis experience higher rates of depression compared to the general population.
Anxiety: Chronic pain and uncertainty about the condition can lead to increased anxiety levels.
Mood swings: Hormonal fluctuations and pain can contribute to sudden changes in mood.
Feelings of isolation: The chronic nature of the condition can make some women feel isolated or misunderstood.
Irritability: Constant pain and discomfort can lead to increased irritability.
Low self-esteem: The impact on physical appearance and fertility can affect self-image.
Stress: Managing the condition and its symptoms can be a significant source of stress.
Frustration: Delays in diagnosis and ineffective treatments can cause frustration.
Fear and worry: Concerns about future fertility, relationships, and career impact are common.
Guilt: Some women feel guilty about the impact of their condition on their relationships or work life.
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.
Online Course - Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse
What My Clients Say
Through the healing sessions each week we released the trauma held in my body. We worked on my spine, arms, legs, root space, cranium, brain and much more. I discovered that my body was holding so much unconscious trauma - imprints of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I realised I also had trauma from in utero where I felt rejected and unwanted because of my mum's unresolved pain. This had
After the healing programme I was able to feel my spine and sacrum again. I felt reconnected to my pelvis and my womb. I felt like a woman! I had cleared the imprints of trauma held in my ovaries, womb, throat, heart, liver and energy field.
Safa helped me to clear all the trauma including from in utero. She also did big ancestral healing work on the masculine and feminine lines. Finally, I forgave.
In just 12 weeks I experienced a big shift in my consciousness. I can feel self love and I trust myself again. I am able to feel the power of my womb. I am able to clarify my energy field and my space, connect to my ancestors and feel love in my daily life. I have learnt the deeper art of embodiment. -Simone, USA
I came to see Safa after repeated physical and sexual trauma and a subsequent diagnosis of PTSD. I was stuck, in immense stress and depressed. I felt like I had hit a wall with no way around and this was a life I just had to make do with. I was experiencing brain fog, migraines, was locked and paralysed in my body and couldn't sleep. I was having trauma flashbacks and emotional memories were replaying on a mental loop. I was dissociated, disconnected and spiritually lost. I was really struggling.
After just 6 weeks I now have a wonderful connection with my body. I feel safe in my body now, rather than just in momentary experiences. It's been utterly beautiful coming to know my heart, my womb, and my inner child. These connections now feel embedded and at home. It's like a door has opened to a tender and caring new relationship with myself! Womb work was a whole new revelation and my relationship here is my gateway to empowerment. I am now embarking on a new journey within myself with fascination. I feel my potential has been unlocked and I am unravelling new ways of being. Throughout the programme I was held and supported in all my entirety. Kimiya Healing was an incredibly valuable and precious experience for me.
I now feel stronger with this inner trust with the ability to ride the storm. I feel the sessions have really embedded peace, trust, and knowing in my entire being."
-Caroline, UK
The healing sessions were extremely powerful, the most impactful I have experienced, unwinding long standing tensions and allowing me to feel more into the womb space.
One of the biggest effects so far has been getting to know my pelvic floor. Recognising the tension that was held there and seeing how I can soften here and begin a relationship of appreciation with it. This enabled feeling much more into the whole womb area and getting closer to sensations there.
Seeing and feeling into the link with the womb, heart and throat has also been incredibly enlightening and helpful. The space that Safa facilitates and holds so incredibly clearly and safely is phenomenal. It was beyond anything I could have imagined or expected. I feel so blessed that I found my way to you
-Belinda, USA
I unlocked a deep sexual trauma for the first time. I never before had any inclinations it existed within me. I will be forever in gratitude to Safa for guiding me through this. Safa thank you for bringing your unique ability and gift into this world, I am privileged and humble to have been touched my you. You are a star so bright and so potent in the realm of slaying the dark, no remorse and bringing the light into our bodies and setting our stars free to shine again. Thank You.
-Immie, Australia
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