Counseling & therapy for psychological stress caused by endometriosis

Perhaps you know these or similar thoughts related to menstrual cramps?

"Why does everyone think that menstrual cramps this severe are normal?"

"I wonder why it took my doctor so long to figure out that I might be suffering from endometriosis?"

"My colleagues are beginning to have no understanding of my constant sick leave."

"The constant pain is putting a strain on my partnership and sexuality."

"My partner suffers from endometriosis and I don't know how to help her."

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecologic conditions in women of reproductive age. Tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus settles outside the uterus in the abdomen and pelvic cavity. Similar to the endometrium, this builds up during the hormonal cycle, bleeds off with the onset of menstruation, and inflammation, adhesions, and scarring can form.

Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, are not necessarily directly related to the extent of the finding, and can even vary greatly in a woman as the disease progresses.  Major symptoms include menstrual pain, nonspecific cycle-related lower abdominal pain, and pain during sexual intercourse.

Other symptoms may include bleeding disorders, pain during urination and/or defecation, and infertility. Despite increasing awareness, the condition continues to be diagnosed often only after a long period of suffering, and only then is appropriate treatment initiated.
 

How is endometriosis treated?

If persistent and recurring pain occurs, endometriosis is to be counted among the chronic pain diseases and a multidisciplinary, holistic treatment is required. In addition to the medical options of surgery and drug treatment in the form of hormonal therapy and pain medication, those affected can benefit from other treatment options such as physiotherapy, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy and socio-legal support.

The holistic treatment approach enables those affected to try out which measures help to alleviate their complaints and problems, in order to find a "tailor-made" treatment combination that is suitable for them. The partnership can often benefit from this as well.
 

Why psychotherapeutic support for endometriosis?

Affected persons sometimes react "frightened" when it is suggested that they accept psychotherapeutic support. They often fear that they might be accused of imagining their symptoms, of faking them, of being too sensitive or psychologically unstable. To counter these worries, it should be said that in psychotherapeutic support, the physical causation of the complaints is clearly assumed.

Thus, the goal of treatment is not to find psychological factors and make them responsible for the symptomatology. Rather, psychotherapy should clarify the connections between body and psyche and jointly consider whether and to what extent psychological factors also influence the pain.

In addition, ways should be found together to deal with the restrictions and difficulties that may exist in various areas of life - such as work, family, partnership, desire to have children and sexuality. The psychological sequelae that exist in some cases, such as depression and anxiety, can also be identified and treated.

We would like to encourage you to contact us should you find yourself in the described aspects, have questions or simply want to inform yourself.

At the Institute of Medical Psychology of the University Hospital in Heidelberg, we offer all those affected the possibility of psychotherapeutic support. This offer is independent of whether and with whom they are undergoing medical treatment.

We can offer up to three consultation appointments of 50 minutes each. You can take advantage of these alone or as a couple. If further support is then necessary, a psychotherapy can be applied for. The costs are covered by the health insurance.

If necessary, you can also participate in a psychotherapeutic group. In this group, you can discuss the above-mentioned topics with other affected persons in a protected and professional setting.