Allergies and Endometriosis
Allergies and Endometriosis
Did you know that one out of every three people suffer from some type of allergy? We are also learning more about the relation between allergies and endometriosis. Recent studies have shown that women with endometriosis frequently suffer from autoimmune inflammatory diseases, allergies, and asthma. Although more research is needed to identify a direct correlation between allergies and endometriosis, as part of our mission to promote quality of life for our patients, we are pleased to offer convenient in-office allergy testing and treatment!
Identifying what you are allergic to is the first step in developing your treatment plan.
Our allergy testing panel involves 72 environmental and food antigens such as grasses, molds, trees, mites, and food items such as soy, milk, shrimp, peanuts, wheat, and more.
Tiny amounts of various allergens will be applied to your skin (usually on your arm) to see which types cause a reaction. There are no needles involved in the allergy testing process. The allergens are applied to the skin using a pointed device that does not puncture the skin.
If you are allergic to one of the allergens, you will have redness and swelling at the test spot.
After the allergy test is performed positive reactions usually appear within 20 minutes. Sometimes redness and swelling can occur several hours after skin testing. The delayed reaction usually disappears in 24 to 48 hours but should be reported to the allergy nurse.
Skin tests have little or no pain. Positive reactions can cause itching red bumps that look and feel like mosquito bites. The itching and bumps generally diminish in just a few short minutes or hours.
Sublingual immunotherapy, often called allergy drops, works like allergy shots by gradually helping your body build tolerance to the antigens or substance(s) that cause your allergies. The difference is that the antigen is placed under your tongue in a customized liquid form.
Most patients will require 1 or 2 treatments (12 weeks per treatment protocol)