Upplevelser av kostförändringar vid endometrios

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of health after diet changes in persons with endometriosis. Background: Endometriosis is a condition that affects about 10 procent of all persons with female genital. The most dominant symptom is pain during menstruation. Other symptoms are deep pain during intercourse, pain from the bladder and pain at defecation. Infertility is also a common condition. Endometriosis pain affects the health by interfering with both physical and psychological aspects of everyday life. Persons with endometriosis uses alternative methods together with conventional treatments. Alternative methods can include lifestyle changes as exercise and diet. Research on endometriosis and diet changes and the effect on the health are limited. Method: Interviews were conducted with six persons with endometriosis. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed in full. Thematic analysis was used. Results: The data is presented in five main categories: Experiencing an active choice, Experiencing decreased symptoms, Experiencing the body, Experiencing energy to normal life, Experiencing difficulties with dietary change. The persons with endometriosis described decreased symptoms in form of less pain at menstruation but also in form of decreased bleeding at menstruation, less swollen belly, fewer skin complaint and a better mood. The diet change become a way to listen to the own body and it´s needs. After the diet change the persons with endometriosis got more energy and could live a normal everyday life with family and work. Despite positive experience with change of diet there were also difficulties, for example that it could be hard to eat together with the family or at a restaurant. Conclusion: Persons with endometriosis who make their own dietary changes feel that health is positively influenced. This makes it possible for them to be a part of the social context on equal terms as other people. They have less pain problems and more energy. This leads them to live a normal life and they have the energy to cope with the family, work and an active leisure time.