Treating Endometriosis-Associated Dysmenorrhea from the Perspective of Stasis: An Integrated Approach of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

Abstract

Endometriosis (EMs) is a common gynecological disorder characterized primarily by dysmenorrhea, which significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and daily activities. Current mainstream Western medical treatments primarily involve surgical lesion removal and hormonal interventions. While these approaches can alleviate symptoms in the short term, issues such as high recurrence rates and notable side effects persist. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) posits that the core pathogenesis of endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea is “stasis” (blood stasis) obstructing the uterine palace, leading to impaired qi and blood circulation, thereby causing pain from obstruction (“obstruction leads to pain”). Based on this pathogenesis, TCM has established a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic system featuring syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment. Due to the limitations of any single therapeutic modality, integrated Chinese and Western medicine has become a research focus in this field. From an integrative perspective, this paper proposes a treatment model of “Western medicine for rapid symptom control, Chinese medicine for long-term root treatment,” aiming to provide a theoretical basis and new practical insights for the clinical management of endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea.