Endometriosis & Hypnotherapy: the science behind it
While hypnotherapy isn’t a cure for endometriosis, there is growing evidence that it can play a meaningful role in helping manage the pain, emotional strain, and chronic stress that often accompanies it. Endo is now increasingly recognised as a complex chronic condition, not just a reproductive health issue, with wide-ranging impacts on the nervous system, gut health, and emotional wellbeing.
Hypnosis has been extensively researched in the context of chronic pain conditions such as chronic pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and migraines. These conditions share overlapping features with endo, including central sensitisation - where the nervous system becomes hypersensitive and amplifies pain signals over time. When this happens, the brain essentially ‘learns’ pain, making discomfort feel more intense and longer-lasting.
For many people living with endo, pain is not just physical. The emotional weight of navigating a complex diagnosis, dealing with flare-ups, and managing symptoms like fatigue or digestive issues can be overwhelming. Stress and anxiety are common, and both can worsen pain perception by keeping the nervous system in a heightened state of alert.
Clinical hypnotherapy offers a non-invasive and empowering way to shift this pattern. Research shows that hypnosis can help calm the nervous system, reduce the brain’s sensitivity to pain, and improve emotional regulation. Studies into chronic pelvic pain and IBS demonstrate that hypnotherapy can significantly reduce pain severity, lessen anxiety and depression, and improve overall quality of life.
In short, hypnotherapy helps regulate the mind-body connection. It supports the nervous system to step out of survival mode, reduces reactivity to stress, and fosters a sense of calm and control. While it’s not a cure, it can offer practical and measurable relief that enhances everyday coping and wellbeing.
If you’re living with endometriosis and are curious about how mind-body therapy might support your symptoms, reach out for a free consultation. Therapy should feel safe, empowering, and tailored to your experience. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Research Supporting Hypnotherapy for Endometriosis-Related Pain:
Gonçalves, A. V., Barros, N. F., & Bahamondes, L. (2017). The practice of hatha yoga for the treatment of pain associated with endometriosis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(1), 45–52.
Agarwal, S. K., Foster, W. G., & Groessl, E. J. (2019). Rethinking endometriosis care: applying the chronic care model via a multidisciplinary program for the care of women with endometriosis. International Journal of Women’s Health, 11, 405.
Hypnotherapy for chronic pelvic pain: A scoping systematic review and meta-analysis (2023) – European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Hudson et al. (2014). Psychological and mind-body interventions for endometriosis: A systematic review – International Journal of Women’s Health
Jensen & Patterson (2014). Hypnotic approaches for chronic pain management – American Psychologist
Whorwell et al. (1984). Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome – The Lancet
Monash University. Gut-directed hypnotherapy: An effective tool for IBS management