Can Red Light Therapy Help with Endometriosis?
Some early research suggests red light therapy may help support pelvic comfort for people living with endometriosis, though the evidence base is still limited. Some people use it as a gentle, non-invasive complement to medical care, with the goal of supporting comfort and reducing sensitivity in the surrounding pelvic tissues. Red light therapy is not a treatment or cure for endometriosis.
How Red Light Therapy May Help
Endometriosis involves chronic inflammation, pelvic floor tension, irritation of the surrounding tissues, and often persistent pain that can radiate through the abdomen, pelvis, and lower back. These changes can make the pelvic region highly sensitive and can contribute to muscle guarding, pressure, and discomfort.
Red and near infrared light have been shown in laboratory and clinical studies to reduce inflammation, support mitochondrial function, and increase blood flow through vasodilation. These mechanisms have been proposed as plausible reasons why light therapy might help with endometriosis-related pelvic discomfort. Some patients report that internal use feels relaxing to the pelvic floor, and that external application over the lower abdomen, pelvis, or lower back can be soothing.
What the Research Actually Shows
At Fringe, we are committed to being evidence informed and not exaggerating research findings. That means being honest about what is known and what is not. Here's where the evidence on red light therapy and endometriosis currently demonstrates:
The Most Compelling Human Data
The most directly relevant research is a 2022 conference abstract from Ajewole and colleagues at the University of Central Florida and Orlando VA, which followed 48 women with confirmed endometriosis who received transvaginal photobiomodulation over 8 weeks (Ajewole et al., Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, 2022). The investigators reported a meaningful reduction in pain in this group. However, it is important to note that this is a conference abstract rather than a full peer-reviewed paper, and it used a single-arm before-after design with no control group, so it cannot distinguish light therapy effects from placebo or natural variation in pelvic pain over time. The study used a clinical laser device, though laser and LED light therapy generally produce comparable biological effects when wavelength and dosing are matched (Heiskanen & Hamblin, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2018).
A few related studies have looked at transvaginal light therapy for chronic pelvic pain more broadly, in populations that included some endometriosis patients. A 2021 pilot study by Zipper and colleagues followed 13 women with chronic pelvic pain and reported reduced pain scores after nine treatments, though this too was a single-arm study with no placebo comparison (Zipper et al., 2021; PMC8617585). A larger observational cohort of 144 women with chronic pelvic pain has also been described in industry-affiliated reports, with most participants reporting pain improvement; however, the relevance to endometriosis specifically is uncertain because endometriosis was only one of several diagnoses included, and the evidence remains observational. (See: Contemporary OB/GYN report.) None of these studies were randomized or placebo-controlled.
While each individual study has limitations, the pattern across them is encouraging. Several independent investigators, working with different patient populations and protocols, have observed that women with chronic pelvic pain — including those with endometriosis — tend to report less pain after transvaginal red light therapy. These patient-reported improvements, even in the absence of controlled comparisons, are meaningful to the people who experienced them. Larger and better-controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings, but the consistency of the early results is part of why this approach is gaining clinical attention.
How It Works at the Cellular Level
Although clinical research is limited, these observations align with what laboratory and animal research has shown about how red and near infrared light works in the body. Red light is absorbed by mitochondria and modulates inflammatory signaling — two mechanisms that are highly relevant to endometriosis, which is fundamentally an inflammatory condition.
Animal and cell studies have shown that red light can reduce pro-inflammatory mediators, calm nociceptive (pain-sensing) nerve signaling, and lower levels of prostaglandins, which are the inflammatory lipids that drive uterine pain (Fu et al., Journal of Biophotonics, 2024). This research was conducted in a primary dysmenorrhea model, which is a related condition that shares key features with endometriosis: both involve cyclical pelvic pain, both involve elevated prostaglandins, and both involve the same inflammatory pathways in pelvic tissue. While dysmenorrhea and endometriosis are distinct diagnoses, the overlap in mechanism is part of why researchers are interested in red light therapy for endometriosis-related pain.
The same anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial mechanisms have been demonstrated across many tissue types and pain conditions. Whether they translate into meaningful symptom relief for endometriosis specifically is what current and future human research is working to establish.
The Honest Gaps in the Evidence
It’s important to also acknowledge the gaps in the current evidence base. Large scale randomized controlled trials specifically designed for endometriosis have not yet been conducted. Also, most existing research has used laser devices rather than LED systems, though evidence suggests the therapeutic effects are comparable when dosing is properly managed. We also lack human data on whether light therapy can reduce the endometrial lesions themselves, rather than just managing symptoms.
These gaps don't invalidate the existing evidence, but they do mean we should view red light therapy as a supportive tool rather than a primary treatment. We always recommend using light therapy for endometriosis with the guidance of a health care provider.
How to Use Red Light Therapy for Endometriosis
If you and your healthcare provider decide to try red light therapy for endometriosis-related pelvic discomfort, the Fringe Pelvic Wand may be used internally for ten minutes per session, three to five times per week. Internal use delivers light to the tissues of the pelvic region. Mode 1 (red + near infrared light) is the typical setting; Mode 3 (red only) may be preferred by people who are heat sensitive or who want a gentler session. Ensure the device is clean and follow the step-by-step instructions provided.

External light may also be supportive. Apply the Fringe Wrap over the lower abdomen, pelvis, or lower back to help soothe irritation and support relaxation throughout the broader pelvic area. For more detailed guidance, you can read our comprehensive guide on Light Therapy and Vibration for Female Pelvic Health.
Light therapy works best when combined with other supportive strategies, including pelvic floor physiotherapy, movement, and stress reduction techniques.
Important Disclaimer
This information is for general wellness and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Red light therapy is not a treatment or cure for endometriosis, and the available evidence is preliminary. Light therapy should never replace medical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult a healthcare provider familiar with endometriosis before starting a light therapy regimen, especially if you have complex symptoms, are pregnant or trying to conceive, are on hormonal treatments, or have concerns about how light therapy may interact with your current care plan.
