When They Keep Coming Back: A Deeper Dive into Healing Endometriosis, PCOS, and Ovarian Cysts

May 22

But we’re here not to dismiss the necessary medical care or surgery; we rather want to empower you with the knowledge that your body possesses an incredible, often untapped, capacity for self-healing. It's about revealing a deeper, more integrated path where you can holistically support your body and, in many cases, move towards truly healing from these recurring conditions, reclaiming your vitality and your life.

Why Do Endometriosis, PCOS, and Ovarian Cysts Keep Coming Back?

The experience of having conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, or ovarian cysts return, sometimes with a vengeance, after significant medical intervention can feel like a cruel paradox. You've done everything "right"—followed doctor's orders, undergone procedures like endometriosis surgery, yet the pain persists, new cysts form, or the hormonal chaos of PCOS continues to disrupt your life.

This journey, unfortunately, is a shared one for many. Consider this personal account:

"I was 16 when I had my first surgery. Cysts on my ovaries - it’s normal, they said. No one told me why they were there. No one explained what they meant. I just knew something was wrong inside my body, and I trusted the grown-ups in the room to make it right. My gynaecologist at the time was a man. Kind, but clinical. I was advised to get a Mirena implanted because it would “help my skin.” That was all. No mention of what had caused the cysts and no warning about what I should watch for. No name for the condition growing quietly inside me. I didn’t know how to ask questions. I was a teenager. I didn’t know there were questions to ask."

This highlights a common narrative: being treated, but not truly informed. For endometriosis, despite surgical excision, a significant percentage of women experience recurrence of symptoms within five years (Vercellini et al, 2009). While surgery can remove visible lesions, it often doesn't address the underlying systemic issues that contribute to the disease's development in the first place. These can include chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, estrogen dominance, and environmental toxin burden. If these root causes aren't identified and managed, the environment ripe for endometriosis growth can persist.

Similarly, ovarian cysts often have a tendency to recur. While a single functional cyst might resolve on its own, for women who experience repeated cysts, especially those causing significant ovarian cyst pain, it often points to an ongoing hormonal imbalance or an overwhelmed detoxification system (Trinh & Kennedy, 2015). Many conventional treatments focus on managing the symptoms or removing the cyst, but without addressing the deeper hormonal communication within the body, new cysts are likely to form. This is where an ovarian cyst supportive therapy focused on systemic balance becomes invaluable.

For PCOS, while it's considered a chronic condition, the severity of symptoms and the overall impact on health are highly variable and largely influenced by lifestyle. Women often report that despite medication (like metformin or birth control), they still struggle with persistent symptoms such as pcos acne, pcos weight gain, pcos fatigue, or irregular cycles. This highlights that while medication can offer relief, it doesn't necessarily address the complex interplay of insulin resistance pcos, chronic inflammation, and hormonal dysregulation that drive the condition for many (Bai, 2024). The recurring nature of these symptoms, even with treatment, underscores the need for a more comprehensive and sustainable strategy.

The crucial takeaway here is that recurrence is rarely a personal failing. Instead, it's often your body's continued attempt to signal that deeper imbalances are at play. It's a call to look beyond the surface and understand the whole system, not just the isolated symptoms or removed growths.

The Weight of a Diagnosis Unexplained

For many, the initial diagnosis itself can be a confusing and isolating experience, leaving them grappling with big questions without proper guidance. The personal story continues:

"Fast forward five years. The Mirena is removed. I’m older, but still learning how to live in my body. I’m sitting across from a new gynaecologist - a woman this time, someone who spoke with warmth and gave me options. We were discussing birth control when she said it casually, as if it were a given: “Because of your PCOS…” My what? I brushed it off at the time, figuring if it was anything serious, I would know about it… right? But something about those four letters felt familiar. I’d heard of it before. So, I Googled it. Infertility. Diabetes. Acne. Weight gain… And then I cried. Curled into myself, shaking, I cried on my bedroom floor. I thought my life was over. I read all the horror stories. The words blurred together in a panic of what-ifs. What if I can’t have children? Am I a broken woman? Am I stuck in a body I don’t understand or feel safe in? My mother found me there, and held me. Let me cry. Let me be small for a moment. The next day, I called my gynaecologist and told her: “No one ever told me I had PCOS.” That was the first time anyone ever actually explained it to me, or made me feel that my body was worth understanding and caring for."

This raw vulnerability highlights the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and empathetic care. "This story is mine, but I know I’m not the only one. There are so many of us walking around with wombs full of silence. Diagnosed, but not informed. Treated, but not taught." This is the gap that holistic healing aims to bridge. It's about giving you the tools to understand your own body, beyond a casual diagnosis, and to feel safe and empowered within it.

Beyond Symptoms and Towards Root Healing

This understanding of recurrence and the need for deeper clarity naturally leads us to the holistic paradigm. Instead of viewing endometriosis, PCOS, or ovarian cysts as isolated diseases that happen to specific organs, a holistic approach sees them as manifestations of a systemic imbalance within the body. We treat the whole person – acknowledging that your physical symptoms are intricately linked to your emotional state, stress levels, nutritional intake, environmental exposures, gut health, and even past experiences.

The core principle here is to create an internal environment where these conditions simply cannot thrive. Imagine a garden: if you only prune the weeds (the symptoms), but never improve the soil (your internal environment), the weeds will inevitably return. Holistic healing focuses on enriching the soil, so to speak. This involves:

Nutritional Foundations: What you eat directly impacts your hormones, inflammation, gut health, and detoxification pathways. A personalized approach can be transformative.
Stress & Emotional Well-being: Chronic stress and unprocessed emotional experiences can profoundly impact hormonal balance and immune function, exacerbating conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. The mind-body connection is not just philosophical; it's physiological (Benson & Proctor, 2017).
Toxin Burden: Our modern environment exposes us to endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can mimic hormones and contribute to conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, and PCOS. Reducing this burden is key.
Gut Health: The gut microbiome plays a critical role in hormone metabolism, immune regulation, and inflammation. An unhealthy gut can contribute significantly to the persistence of gynecological conditions.
Movement & Sleep: These fundamental pillars often get overlooked but are crucial for hormonal rhythm, detoxification, and stress reduction.

By addressing these interconnected pillars, we don't just manage symptoms; we cultivate profound internal shifts that can lead to lasting remission and, for many, full healing. This empowers you to move beyond the cycle of recurrence and truly reclaim your health.

Targeted Holistic Strategies for Lasting Change

Embracing this holistic philosophy translates into concrete, actionable strategies tailored to your unique body and condition.

Natural Remedies for Endometriosis

For women battling endometriosis, the focus is often on reducing inflammation, modulating estrogen, and supporting immune function. Exploring natural remedies for endometriosis can involve a multi-pronged approach:

Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Shifting to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats (like omega-3s), and lean proteins, while reducing inflammatory triggers like processed foods, refined sugars, and sometimes gluten and dairy, can significantly ease endometriosis pain (Nirgianakis et al, 2022). This dietary strategy aims to calm the systemic inflammation that fuels endometriosis growth.

Gut Healing: Addressing dysbiosis and leaky gut is crucial, as a healthy gut helps metabolize and excrete excess hormones and reduces systemic inflammation. This often involves probiotics, prebiotics, and identifying food sensitivities.
Herbal Allies: Herbs like turmeric, ginger, vitex (chasteberry), and milk thistle can offer powerful anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing support. These act synergistically to calm the body's inflammatory response and support detoxification pathways.
Stress Reduction: Chronic stress exacerbates inflammation and hormonal imbalances. Practices like yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and spending time in nature are vital for managing endometriosis pain and overall well-being.
Pelvic Physiotherapy: Working with a specialized pelvic floor therapist can help release tension, improve blood flow, and reduce pain associated with endometriosis, often overlooked but incredibly effective. We highly recommend connecting with Fem First Health in NYC for expert pelvic floor therapy. Visit their website to learn more

Navigating PCOS with Diet and Lifestyle: Rebalancing from Within

For individuals living with PCOS, understanding and addressing insulin resistance pcos is often the cornerstone of holistic management. This is where a targeted pcos diet truly shines.

Insulin-Sensitizing Nutrition: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods, ample protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. This helps stabilize blood sugar, reduce insulin spikes, and directly improve hormone balance (Brown & Davis, 2023). Foods to limit often include refined sugars, processed grains, and excessive saturated fats that can worsen insulin resistance.
Managing PCOS Naturally Through Movement: Regular physical activity, especially a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise, is crucial for improving insulin sensitivity, aiding in weight management, and boosting mood.
Stress Resilience: Chronic stress can worsen insulin resistance and androgen levels in PCOS. Practices like mindfulness, ensuring adequate, restorative sleep, and setting healthy boundaries are essential for managing PCOS naturally and breaking the cycle of hormonal disruption.
Targeted Supplements: Nutrients like inositol, berberine, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids can play a supportive role in improving insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance (Chen & Wang, 2022). A qualified practitioner can help determine what's right for your unique PCOS profile.

Addressing Ovarian Cysts and Fibroids

For those experiencing recurring ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids, the holistic approach aims to disrupt the underlying patterns that cause them to reappear.

Hormonal Harmony: Both ovarian cysts and fibroids are often influenced by estrogen dominance or imbalances. Strategies focus on supporting the liver's detoxification pathways (as the liver processes excess hormones), optimizing gut health for proper hormone excretion, and promoting balanced ovulation (to ensure adequate progesterone production, which balances estrogen). This forms a key part of ovarian cyst supportive therapy.
Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation can contribute to the growth of both cysts and fibroids. An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle are fundamental to calming the body's inflammatory response, reducing the environment conducive to growth.
Addressing Fibroid Growth: If you're looking for how to shrink fibroids naturally, specific dietary changes (emphasizing fiber-rich foods, cruciferous vegetables, and avoiding processed foods and excessive red meat), targeted supplements (like DIM, indole-3-carbinol, and certain enzymes), and herbal remedies (such as vitex or red raspberry leaf) can be explored to support their regression (Garcia & Lee, 2024). Reducing environmental xenoestrogens (estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, and some personal care products) is also vital.
Emotional Release: For some, persistent cysts or fibroids may also hold an emotional component, and practices like emotional release techniques or therapy can be part of a comprehensive healing plan, acknowledging the body's ability to store emotional tension.

Healing Is Possible

The profound truth we want to share is this: a diagnosis of recurring endometriosis, PCOS, or persistent ovarian cysts does not have to define your future. You are not destined to live with chronic pain, hormonal chaos, or repeated surgeries. As our community member shared, "We deserve better. We deserve to understand our own bodies. We deserve to control our health."

By courageously embracing a holistic approach that truly supports your body's innate healing capabilities, you can interrupt the cycle of recurrence and shift the narrative of your health. You can learn to interpret what your body is trying to tell you, implement comprehensive lifestyle adjustments, and cultivate profound internal shifts that lead to sustained well-being and, for many, full healing. This journey is about empowerment, understanding, and finding deep trust in your own body's wisdom.

Ready to explore how holistic support can transform your journey with these conditions, especially when they keep making unwelcome returns? At Wise Womb, we're dedicated to guiding you toward lasting health and empowering you with the knowledge and tools to thrive. We believe in your body's ability to heal.

Take the first step towards a healthier, more vibrant you. Register to our womb library today to learn more about our personalized holistic programs and how you can embark on your healing journey. And keep an eye on our event schedule – we're excited to announce that a specialist from Fem First Health in NYC will be teaching a class with us soon, offering valuable insights into pelvic floor health as part of your holistic healing journey!

Olivia Dzumaga