Can years of ibuprofen use damage your stomach?

Yes. Years of ibuprofen (an NSAID) use can damage the stomach and upper GI tract by weakening the protective lining, which can lead to gastritis, ulcers, and bleeding—sometimes gradually and sometimes suddenly. The risk tends to be higher with frequent dosing, higher doses, taking it on an empty stomach, or combining it with other NSAIDs.

For many people with endometriosis or adenomyosis, long-term NSAID use becomes a “band-aid” for pain control while the underlying disease remains untreated—so the medication burden (and side effects) can keep escalating. If you’re noticing burning pain, nausea, reflux, dark stools, anemia, or pain that feels higher in the abdomen, we take that seriously and can help you think through safer, more sustainable pain strategies.

Our team can review what you’re taking, your symptom patterns, and what’s driving your pain, then build a plan that balances symptom relief with treating the root cause when appropriate. If NSAIDs have become a long-term routine, reach out to schedule a consultation so we can help you protect your GI health while targeting the source of pelvic pain.