Endometriosis is a condition many women live with for years before receiving answers. For some, it shows up as persistent pelvic pain. For others, it can involve painful periods, fertility challenges or gastrointestinal symptoms that disrupt everyday life.

It is also more common than many people realise, with research suggesting around 10% of women of reproductive age are affected by endometriosis globally.

A recent scientific review, ‘Endometriosis and Nutrition: Therapeutic Perspectives’ (Martire et al., 2025), explores how diet and nutritional patterns may influence inflammation, symptom severity and overall health in women living with the condition.

But, the takeaway is an important one: nutrition is not a cure for endometriosis, but it may play a supportive role in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Understanding how nutrition interacts with inflammation and hormonal health can give women another practical tool in navigating the condition, alongside medical care.

Understanding Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic, hormone-dependent inflammatory disease. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often attaching itself to organs within the pelvis.

These growths can respond to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, leading to inflammation, irritation and pain.

Common symptoms may include:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea)
• Fertility challenges
• fGastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, constipation or abdominal pain

Because endometriosis involves inflammatory and hormonal processes, researchers have increasingly explored whether lifestyle factors, including diet, may influence how the condition manifests in the body.

Why Nutrition Is Being Studied

Chronic inflammation is considered a key feature of endometriosis. Inflammatory signalling and immune activation can contribute to pain, tissue changes and the progression of endometriotic lesions.

The review highlights that dietary patterns can influence inflammatory pathways throughout the body. Some dietary patterns may contribute to increased systemic inflammation, while others may support anti-inflammatory processes.

This doesn’t mean food can reverse the condition. Endometriosis is a chronic condition, therefore women live and manage it for many years, often decades/life. However, nutrition plays a role in supporting overall health.

What the Research Suggests

The 2025 review synthesised evidence from observational studies, mechanistic research and nutritional epidemiology exploring the relationship between diet and endometriosis. Several nutritional patterns and nutrients were identified as areas of interest.

Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns

Dietary patterns rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats have been associated with lower inflammatory markers.

In particular, Mediterranean-style diets, which emphasise plant foods, olive oil and fish, have been linked with reduced inflammation in broader research. Some observational studies suggest these patterns may also correlate with lower symptom severity in women with endometriosis.

Antioxidant-rich foods

The review highlights the potential role of antioxidants, including Vitamins C and E and plant-derived polyphenols, which may help counter oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in the development and progression of endometriotic lesions. Diets rich in colourful fruits and vegetables may therefore support the body’s natural antioxidant defences.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fats, commonly found in fatty fish, flaxseeds and certain plant oils, have recognised anti-inflammatory properties. These nutrients have been explored as a potential supportive strategy for inflammatory conditions, including endometriosis, though evidence is still emerging.

Dietary inflammatory index

Some research has used a tool called the dietary inflammatory index, which estimates how pro- or anti-inflammatory a person’s diet may be. Higher scores (reflecting diets higher in processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sugars) have been associated with increased endometriosis risk in observational studies.

The Gut Connection

Another area gaining attention is the relationship between gut health and systemic inflammation. Many women with endometriosis experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. Researchers are increasingly exploring how the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria in the digestive tract) may interact with immune and inflammatory processes.

Dietary fibre, particularly from whole plant foods such as legumes, vegetables and whole grains, supports gut microbiota balance. In turn, this may influence broader immune and inflammatory responses within the body.

While this area of research is still developing, it highlights how nutrition may influence multiple systems connected to endometriosis.

What the Evidence Doesn’t Show

Despite growing interest in diet and endometriosis, the research landscape still has limitations. Much of the current evidence comes from observational studies, meaning researchers can identify associations but cannot confirm direct cause-and-effect relationships. Randomised controlled trials (the gold standard of clinical research) are still limited in this field.

For this reason, researchers emphasise that there is currently no single “endometriosis diet” supported by definitive evidence. Nutrition should be considered a supportive strategy alongside medical care, not a replacement for clinical treatment.

How Nutrition May Fit Into Management

The review positions nutrition as an adjunctive component of endometriosis management. In practical terms, this means dietary strategies may help support overall wellbeing, inflammation balance and digestive comfort while medical and clinical care address the underlying condition.

Because individual responses to dietary changes can vary significantly, personalised guidance from healthcare professionals (such as registered dieticians or nutritionists) may help women identify strategies that work best for them.

Practical Nutrition Strategies

While research continues to evolve, several dietary patterns align with the current understanding of inflammation and metabolic health.

Focus on anti-inflammatory foods

Prioritising nutrient-dense foods may support inflammatory balance, including:

• Colourful fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and seeds
• Omega-3 sources like fatty fish

These patterns are broadly consistent with Mediterranean-style diets, which are widely associated with cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Prioritise antioxidant intake

Foods rich in antioxidants, including vitamins C and E and plant polyphenols, may help counter oxidative stress associated with inflammatory processes. These nutrients are abundant in berries, leafy greens, citrus fruits, nuts and seeds.

Support gut health

Dietary fibre from legumes, whole grains and plant foods supports a diverse gut microbiome, which may influence immune signalling and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Reduce highly processed foods

Limiting intake of ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates and high glycaemic foods may help reduce dietary inflammatory load, although responses vary between individuals.

Consider supplements carefully

Some nutrients explored in endometriosis research include Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and antioxidant compounds. However, supplementation should be approached thoughtfully and ideally discussed with healthcare professionals, particularly as robust clinical trial evidence continues to develop.

The Bigger Picture

Endometriosis is a complex chronic condition shaped by hormonal, immune and inflammatory processes. While nutrition alone cannot cure or reverse the condition, research suggests that dietary patterns may influence inflammatory signalling, digestive health and overall wellbeing.

For women living with endometriosis, this means nutrition may become one part of a broader approach to managing overall health; alongside medical care, lifestyle support and personalised guidance. As research continues to evolve, understanding the relationship between diet and women’s health conditions like endometriosis may help women feel more informed, supported and empowered in their daily choices.