Endometriosis - What Causes It? - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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Endometriosis - What Causes It?

Endometriosis - What Causes It?

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What causes endometriosis?

Trying to find the answer to your question has to lead to a lot of research and debate among scientists, researchers, doctors, and other professionals. If we only knew for sure what caused it, we could be better with diagnosing and treating it. We might even be able to prevent the condition altogether!

Endometriosis is endometrial like cells that have implanted outside the uterus. Where those cells originated and how they spread has led to a lot of ideas and hypothesis. Some of the most common theories involving the causes of endometriosis include Retrograde Menstruation, Metaplasia, spreading through the Lymphatic and Circulatory System, Genetics, Immune Dysfunction, and the Environment.

Some believe endometriosis cells originate in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. During retrograde menstruation (where the blood flows backward out of the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity), cells them implant in various places in the pelvic and abdominal region, becoming endometriosis. There are a few issues with this particular theory and hard evidence showing the cells can even implant doesn't really exist. First, about 90% of menstruating women experience retrograde menstruation, but only 10% of women have endometriosis. Additionally, endometriosis has been found in women following a tubal ligation and even hysterectomy when retrograde menstruation would no longer have been possible. Also, infants who have never experienced menstruation have been found to have endometriosis. Finally, men who have undergone estrogen treatment for cancer concerns have been diagnosed with endometriosis. They never had a uterus so the cells could not have originated with the endometrium nor could they have spread through any type of menstruation.

There are also some problems with any theory that suggests endometriosis is simply misplaced endometrium that could be spread with retrograde menstruation. The cells of endometriosis and the endometrium are actually different and can act and respond differently. Endometriosis cells have low and varying amounts of hormone receptors unlike the endometrium. This can cause endometriosis to act unpredictably and at time quite unlike the endometrium. While endometriosis is believed to respond to estrogen just like the endometrium, sometimes endometriosis may not even attempt to shed monthly or cyclically along with the endometrium, and may not respond the same to hormonal treatments.

Dysfunction of the immune system is another idea regarding the cause of endometriosis. The theory is that women with endometriosis have a more compromised immune system that may not be able to fight off endometriosis. This theory seems to imply that endometriosis originates with retrograde menstruation. Often women with endometriosis do have co-existing diagnoses of autoimmune disorders, but whether or not endometriosis is an autoimmune disorder is still being researched.

One theory suggests the cells travel through the lymphatic and/or circulatory system which could explain why endometriosis has been found in the brain, eye, and lungs. Again, this theory seemingly suggests that endometriosis does originate from the endometrium which opens the door to several questions.

Another theory about the origin of endometriosis revolves around metaplasia. Metaplasia means tissue changes from one type to another. This change could occur during the development of an embryo, meaning endometriosis could begin even before birth, or it could occur in adults.

Endometriosis may be a genetic condition. Many women do seem to have multiple other female family members with the same diagnosis, it has been found in identical twins, and first degree female relatives of someone diagnosed with endometriosis are six to nine times more likely to develop the disease.

Another theory is that environmental toxins such as dioxin could be responsible for causing endometriosis. Rather than cause endometriosis, some professionals believe environmental issues may only aggravate the condition.

Many other theories exist for what causes endometriosis and how it may be spread throughout the body. Some scientists, researchers, and doctors who believe it may take a combination of factors to allow for the existence of endometriosis, rather than any one factor being the sole culprit. Hopefully more research and study will soon offer us more definite answers which can then lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and even prevention of endometriosis.

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Charles Miller, M.D. 120 Osler Drive Suite 100 Naperville IL 60540 630-428-2229	Aram Bonni, M.D. 25108 Marguerite Parkway Suite A-259 Mission Viejo CA 92692 949-916-2100	Debra Richardson, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673
Emily Cunningham, M.D. 1720 Nicholasville Road Suite 702 Lexington KY 40503 859-264-8811	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633	Susan D. Hunter, M.D. 626 Ed Carey Dr Harlingen TX 78550 956-428-4868
Megan Bird, M.D. 364 SE 8th Ave, Suite 205 Hillsboro OR 97202 503-681-4145	Megan Daw, M.D. Western Carolina Women's Specialty Center 2100 Ridgefield Blvd Asheville NC 28806 828-670-5665	Amie Napier, M.D. Medical City Hospital 7777 Forest Lane Suite A331 Dallas TX 75230 9725667760

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