Holistic healing

Can you beat endometriosis and infertility?

When Sara Bowen, 40, from Wakefield was diagnosed with endometriosis and told she was probably infertile, she turned to hypnotherapy and visualisation to help her beat the odds

“My dream, ever since I was little girl, was to have a house full of kids. I couldn’t wait to be a mum. So to be told at the age of 22 that I would probably never be able to have children, was devastating.

After suffering years of excruciatingly painful periods, to the point where I had to take sick days every month, I’d finally been diagnosed with endometriosis. This is a condition where the cells which line the inside of the womb grow in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and bleed each month when you have your period. It causes tremendous pain and inflammation, and leaves many women infertile.

I was desperate to start a family with my partner Philip, 46, so we started saving up for IVF treatment – I wasn’t going to give up on my dream of becoming a mum.

When I fell pregnant with twins after the first IVF attempt we were ecstatic, but sadly after nine weeks the doctors were unable to find a heartbeat and I had to undergo a medical termination. We were both heartbroken as it seemed that fate was really against us. It didn’t help that all my friends and colleagues were having babies – it just twisted the knife in even further. When the second IVF attempt failed we gave up for a while as the stress was just too much. It was a huge strain on us emotionally, psychologically and financially.

The desire to have a baby didn’t go away though and I knew we had to try again, but I also knew that something had to change. I’d always been interested in complementary therapies so I visited a hypnotherapist to help prepare me for the last IVF attempt. She guided me into a trance and then talked me through the IVF procedure, encouraging me to visualise it in a positive, successful way. I then visualised a baby growing and developing in my womb. Afterwards my whole outlook on life changed. I felt confident, happy, healthy and completely tuned in to my body. I went in for the IVF feeling positive and raring to go, rather than full of dread and worry.

Ten weeks later I found myself looking at the scan of my baby – moving, sucking his thumb, everything fine and well. I could hardly believe it. The months flew by in a blissful haze and in April I gave birth to a gorgeous, healthy baby boy who we called Benjamin Zeb. It was the most amazing experience of my life.

I still suffer with the endometriosis and I’ve undergone laser surgery to remove the patches of tissue, but it always grows back. Interestingly I’ve been able to control the pain through making changes to my diet. I’ve started drinking aloe vera juice regularly and I’ve found that eating cranberries is particularly helpful – I’ve been told that the proanthocyanidins in these berries help to reduce inflammation. My heart goes out to the many other women who have to live with this condition and the pain of infertility. I hope my story will give them hope.

Nutritional healing

Zeb is now three and not a day goes by when I don’t tell him how special and loved he is. He’s my miracle baby. It took 15 years of trying, and a lot of heartbreak along the way, but my dream of becoming a mum has finally come true.”

Dian Shepperson Mills is the founder and lead nutritionist at the Endometriosis and Fertility Clinic. Here she offers some nutritional advice on foods to eat and avoid to beat the pain of endometriosis and increase fertility

Foods to stock up on

Oily fish two to three times per week – a good source of omega 3 which helps to reduce pain and inflammation and helps to strengthen cell membranes.
Handful of nuts and seeds daily – a good source of protein and fibre. Also high in zinc which helps to boost fertility.
Two tablespoons of green veg daily – high in B vitamins, iron and magnesium which is crucial for the ovaries and the reproductive system.
Two tablespoons of red or orange veg daily – high in vitamin A which reduces period pain.
One tablespoon of berries daily – these contain proanthocyanidins which help reduce pain and inflammation.
Lean meat: organic/wild game – if you are slightly anaemic a bit of red meat just before your period will help to boost your iron levels.
Three organic eggs per week – a good source of iron, protein and sulphur which helps to boost the immune system.
Incorporate salad dressing made from two teaspoons of olive oil and two teaspoons of lemon juice – the oil helps to reduce inflammation.

Foods to avoid

Caffeine – it raises adrenaline levels and blood pressure. It’s also diuretic so it washes out the good minerals needed by the body.
Refined sugar and sugar substitutes – the body uses up lots of B vitamins in order to digest the refined sugar, and these are needed for good liver function. Too much sugar can also trigger hyperinsulinism where there is too much insulin in the blood stream which stops the ova maturing.
Trans fats – these weaken cell membranes that the endometriosis can grow on more easily.
Alcohol – this robs the body of vitamins A, D, E and K plus all the B vitamins and magnesium. It also disrupts the ability of the fertilised egg to implant itself in the womb.

Foods to reduce

Cut down on wheat and instead choose rye, oats, rice, millet, buckwheat, quinoa and corn.
Reduce your intake of cow’s dairy and instead go for goat’s, ewe’s and buffalo, dairy products or rice, soya, almond and oat milks.
Cut down on high calorie fats and sugars found in processed foods.

Supplements to boost fertility

Multi vitamin and mineral (make sure that vitamin A levels are below 2000iu)
Omega 3 fish oil 1,000mg
Magnesium citrate 200-300mg
Bioacidophilus

For sperm

Zinc, Panax Ginseng, Co Q10, vitamin C and fish oil

Supplements to reduce endometriosis pain

B Complex 50mg
Magnesium malate 200mg
Omega 3 fish oil 1,000mg
Vitamin E 300iu
Selenium 100mcg

Optional supplements

Slippery elm will help to ease bowel problems.
Chromium Polyniciotinate can help to reduce cravings for chocolate and sweets.
Manganese will support the ovaries if there are high levels of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland to signal the ovary).
Vitamin B5 will support theadrenals if you are highly stressed.
NB: A 20-minute walk each day in natural daylight will allow the retina of the eye to take up zinc and send messages to the ovary

Further info

For information, advice and help on fertility issues, visit makingbabies.com

Endometriosis She Trust UK provides help, information and support to women with endometriosis. Visit shetrust.org.uk Dian Shepperson Mills practises at the Hale Clinic in London and at the Endometriosis and Fertility Clinic in East Sussex. Call 020 7631 0156, email dian@endometriosis.co.uk or visit endometriosis.co.uk for more details.