Disclaimer: I am over the age of 21. I do not condone underage drinking.

If you are over 21, I am sure there has been a time when you drank a little too much and woke up feeling like absolute garbage. 

Now, imagine drinking as much as your friends, they wake up a little hungover and you feel like you got hit by a train. That's how myself and many endo warriors feel when they drink too much. When I am hungover, I have pelvic pain, cramping, acid reflux, gastrointestinal issues for days after, headache, and extreme fatigue. It makes it hard to want to have fun. 

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You're probably wondering, why exactly alcohol does this to those with endometriosis and other gynecological disorders?

I am not a health professional, but I have read a couple of articles about this. Not only is alcohol super inflammatory to the body it also raises estrogen levels and throws off our gut microbiome. 

We know that endometriosis is negatively affected by high estrogen levels. Too much estrogen can throw off your menstrual cycle, increase chronic pain, wreak havoc on your bladder and digestive system, and cause migraines. Increasing estrogen levels is not recommended for many women (unless you have a hormone imbalance). Estrogen plays a big factor in many forms of cancer and other health problems. 

The other thing alcohol does is affect your digestive system, by completely butchering your gut microbiome. Alcohol puts your gut into a super acidic state, killing off all the good bacteria housed in there. It also weakens your gut lining which can lead to ulcers and/or leaky gut syndrome. Endometriosis often affects your digestive system already, adding alcohol to the mix can just make it worse. 

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The best solution according to many health professionals is to either cut alcohol out of your diet completely or significantly limit your consumption. 

Some endo warriors do not want to cut alcohol out completely because they enjoy drinking with friends and family, it's cultural for them, they like the taste of it, they like making fun cocktails, they work at a bar, etc. If that sounds like you, here are some recommendations for alcohol consumption. 

-Stick to wine and seltzers 

-Stay away from sugary drinks (sugar is also inflammatory) 

-Alternate with water after each drink 

-Try drinking hard kombucha 

-Try non-alcoholic spirits, wine, and beer

You can still have a good time when you have endometriosis without suffering the next week. Take care of your body first and foremost, you can't have fun if you're in pain all the time. 

Happy Menstruating! 

Sources: 

Drinking Alcohol When You Have Endometriosis

A Metaanalysis on Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Endometriosis 

Alcohol and Endometriosis

MAST Scores, Alcohol Consumption, and Gynecological Symptoms in Endometriosis Patients