What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder that affects a woman’s reproductive organs. It causes the tissue that lines the uterus (which is known as the endometrium) to grow outside of the uterus. This can cause scar tissue to form, can be painful and affect fertility.
During menstruation the lining of the uterus is shed. However in endometriosis instead of expelling this lining from the body, it becomes attached to other parts of the reproductive system, pelvis, and in some cases even distant organs of a woman’s body.
What Causes Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is not known. Some scientists believe that genetics may play an important role[1]”Lu H, Yang X, Zhang Y, Lu R, Wang X. Epigenetic disorder may cause downregulation of HOXA10 in the eutopic endometrium of fertile women with endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2013; 20 (1): … Continue reading. Women have a greater risk of developing endometriosis if they have a family history of the condition.
How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility?
Endometriosis, which can be very painful[2]”Smorgick N, Marsh CA, As-Sanie S, Smith YR, Quint EH. Prevalence of pain syndromes, mood conditions, and asthma in adolescents and young women with endometriosis. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. … Continue reading, can affect in a number of ways:
- The scar tissue caused by the condition can hinder sperm travelling through a woman’s reproductive system.
- Scar tissue may prevent a fertilised egg implanting properly. In some cases the scar tissue can block fallopian tubes.
- It is also possible that the fallopian tubes are not in the proper position, due to scarring and adhesions. This alteration can prevent the egg being transferred to a woman’s uterus.
Endometriosis Statistics
178
million women worldwide suffer from Endometriosis
According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, many women have symptoms of endometriosis for up to a decade before being diagnosed. Women are typically not diagnosed until they are around 27 years old.
Endometriosis is not an uncommon disorder. Statistic show that it affects 178 million women worldwide. Nearly 8.5 million women of childbearing age in the United States have been diagnosed with the condition.
Endometriosis is considered to be one of the top three causes of infertility, and it can be treated.
If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, have a family history of it, or are experiencing some of the symptoms, you should speak to your gynocologist or fertility specialist immediately. Treating endometriosis early could help to prevent further scarring and damage.
Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis
Some women experience many signs and symptoms of endometriosis, while others have none.
- The main complaint is pelvic pain during menses.
- Cramping can be a normal occurrence for most women during their period. Women with endometriosis often experience particularly painful cramping.
- Women may also have severe back pain during menstruation, and painful bowel movements.
- Another sign is experiencing pelvic pain during intimacy.
- Aggravated pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms are also common with this disorder.
Suggested Natural Treatments for Endometriosis
Some fertility specialists believe that endometriosis is caused by a hormone disorder[3]”Lessey BA, Young SL. Homeostasis imbalance in the endometrium of women with implantation defects: the role of oestrogen and progesterone. Semin Reprod Med. 2014; 32 (5): 365-75. The theory is that women with endometriosis may be producing irregular amounts of oestrogen and/or progesterone.
It has also been claimed that endometriosis could be caused by an impairment of the liver’s cleansing function. The liver may not be breaking down active oestrogen properly, creating oestrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency. For these reasons, some natural therapy fertility specialists suggest treatments to promote a healthier “liver cleansing” system, as well as treatments to balance reproductive hormonal levels.
Additionally, using castor oil packs on the abdominal area may improve circulation and break up congestion caused by the scar tissue.
Supplements that can benefit women with endometriosis include the following:
- Fish oil: (with olive polyphenols and sesame lignans): providing 1400 mg EPA and 1000 mg DHA daily
- Vitamin D: 5000 – 8000 IU daily; depending on blood levels of 25-OH-vitamin D
- Vitamin E: 400 IU with at least 200 mg gamma tocopherol daily
- Vitamin C: 500 – 1000 mg daily
- Selenium: 200 mcg daily
- Zinc: 30 mg one to three times daily
- N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC): 600 mg one to three times daily
- Green tea extract (std. to 98% polyphenols): 725 mg daily
- Resveratrol: 250 mg daily
- Curcumin (as highly absorbed BCM-95®): 400 mg daily
The Best Diet For Endometriosis
There are many dietary factors that may influence the risk of developing endometriosis. Consuming red meat increases endometriosis risk[4]”Parazzini F, Vigano P, Candiani M, Fedele L. Diet and endometriosis risk: a literature review. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013; 26 (4): 323-36″. Conversely, increased consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (prevalent in fatty, cold-water fish) is associated with a lower risk of endometriosis. Women consuming a diet rich in trans fats are also at a higher risk of being diagnosed with endometriosis[5]”Missmer SA, Chavarro JE, Malspeis S, Bertone-Johnson ER, Hornstein MD, Spiegelman D, Barbieri RL, Willett WC. Hankinson SE. A prospective study of dietary fat consumption and endometriosis … Continue reading.
Other foods may also play an important role. Increased consumption of dairy products may reduce the risk of endometriosis[6]”Trabert B, Peters U, De Roos AJ, Scholes D, Holt VL. Diet and risk of endometriosis in a population-based case-control study. Br J Nutr. 2011; 105 (3): 459-67″. Dairy products may also provide the body with vitamin D. High vitamin D levels are associated with reductions in endometriosis risk[7]”Harris HR, Chavarro JE, Malspeis S, Willett WC, Missmer SA. Dairy-food, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D intake and endometriosis: a prospective cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2013; 177 (5): … Continue reading.
In addition, eating more fruits and vegetables may also play a protective role.
Dr. Kooner is Deputy Director of The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago and has been a Specialist in Fertility Treatment since 1999.
As well as the areas that the clinic specialises in general, he is particularly interested in managing oocyte donation, female same-sex couples, single women having sperm donation and those considering egg freezing.
Dr. Kooner regularly speaks at fertility meetings. He has published in national journals and constantly contributes to the fertility research and publications from Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago.
www.amitamin.com/en/fertilsan-m New life deserves the best possible start!
References
| ↑1 | ”Lu H, Yang X, Zhang Y, Lu R, Wang X. Epigenetic disorder may cause downregulation of HOXA10 in the eutopic endometrium of fertile women with endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2013; 20 (1): 78-84.” |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | ”Smorgick N, Marsh CA, As-Sanie S, Smith YR, Quint EH. Prevalence of pain syndromes, mood conditions, and asthma in adolescents and young women with endometriosis. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013; 26 (3): 171-5″ |
| ↑3 | ”Lessey BA, Young SL. Homeostasis imbalance in the endometrium of women with implantation defects: the role of oestrogen and progesterone. Semin Reprod Med. 2014; 32 (5): 365-75 |
| ↑4 | ”Parazzini F, Vigano P, Candiani M, Fedele L. Diet and endometriosis risk: a literature review. Reprod Biomed Online. 2013; 26 (4): 323-36″ |
| ↑5 | ”Missmer SA, Chavarro JE, Malspeis S, Bertone-Johnson ER, Hornstein MD, Spiegelman D, Barbieri RL, Willett WC. Hankinson SE. A prospective study of dietary fat consumption and endometriosis risk. Hum Reprod. 2010; 1-8″ |
| ↑6 | ”Trabert B, Peters U, De Roos AJ, Scholes D, Holt VL. Diet and risk of endometriosis in a population-based case-control study. Br J Nutr. 2011; 105 (3): 459-67″ |
| ↑7 | ”Harris HR, Chavarro JE, Malspeis S, Willett WC, Missmer SA. Dairy-food, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D intake and endometriosis: a prospective cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2013; 177 (5): 420-30″ |
