Effects of manual therapy on pain management in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease that occurs when the endometrium layer responsible for forming the innermost part of the uterus grows outside the uterus, resulting in a condition that is often painful. Endometriosis is most commonly seen in the lower abdominal region. While this disease affects approximately 5-10% of women, it is noted to be one of the most important factors causing infertility. In the abnormal progression of endometriosis, painful endometrial growth, microscopic internal bleeding, inflammation, adhesions, and fibrotic scarring may occur. Endometriosis causes inflammation in the uterine cavity, attaches to the ovaries and fallopian tubes causing inflammation, and disrupts the suitability of the uterine inner wall for pregnancy, potentially leading to infertility by reducing ovarian reserve. Manual therapy, one of the methods for pain control in endometriosis, is preferred due to its lower cost, absence of surgical risks, and the ability to achieve rapid and effective results. Manual therapy can be practically performed without the need for devices or machines and contributes to the pain control of endometriosis patients. Manual therapy also aims to identify and correct dysfunctions in joints and muscle imbalances that do not function properly. This thesis includes findings and evaluations regarding the use of effective and relatively short-term manual therapy, in the pain control of endometriosis. Different techniques are used in manual therapy compared to other methods, and achieving more effective results is expected by applying stretching, pushing, and bending movements to the pelvic muscles correctly.