An often used treatment for endometriosis is to lower the estrogen in a woman’s body via hormonal suppression. Birth control can mimic a pregnancy state, while other treatments, such as gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), can mimic a menopausal state. So
Estrogen has a protective effect on the heart, so low estrogen states induced by surgical menopause or long term estrogen suppression should be considered when considering treatment (Iorga et al., 2017). There is not much literature about endometriosis and heart
Is there a genetic component to endometriosis? According to various studies, there is. (You can find links to several of these studies, including the ones below, in Origin Theories of Endometriosis.) This past week someone asked if there is an increased
Can endometriosis persist after hysterectomy/ovary removal/menopause? Yes, it can: Endometriosis does not “die off” or go away with a hysterectomy or menopause. Some people do find some relief from their symptoms, but endometriosis can still persist. Endometriosis often has several related
Redwine, D. B. (2003). ‘Invisible’microscopic endometriosis: a review. Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 55(2), 63-67. Retrieved from https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/70176 “Endometriosis can have very subtle visual appearances. All theories of origin imply some early and presumably tiny form of the disease which potentially cannot be
Poole, E. M., Lin, W. T., Kvaskoff, M., De Vivo, I., Terry, K. L., & Missmer, S. A. (2017). Endometriosis and risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers in a large prospective cohort of US nurses. Cancer Causes & Control, 28(5), 437-445. Retrieved
Medical News Today. (2019). Is endometriosis an autoimmune disease?. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326108#summary “Experts do not classify endometriosis as an autoimmune disease. However, endometriosis may increase a person’s risk of developing an autoimmune disease, as well as other chronic conditions. The reason for the
There are several red flags of perpetual myths to watch for when evaluating information about endometriosis. Here are a few to be aware of: “Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment for endometriosis.” Or variations of this theme: “Removing your uterus and/or