Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

Risk factors for endometriosis

Symptoms of endometriosis

Stages of endometriosis

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for endometriosis

References

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that starts in a woman's reproductive organs. It occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus and is normally flushed out during each monthly period, instead starts to grow outside of the uterus. This new growth is called endometrial implant.

In a normal menstrual cycle, the tissue on the surface of the uterus thickens, and then later breaks down and is flushed out in the menstrual blood. However, if this endometrial tissue has migrated elsewhere, this transplanted tissue has no way to exit the body. Wherever it is located, this trapped tissue (endometrial implant) continues to respond to the monthly flow of hormones in the menstrual cycle.

The endometrial implant may start to grow and may form patches, cysts or nodules, depending on where it is located. It can grow on the surface of organs, or even inside organs in the pelvic region. It can locate on the peritoneum (the membrane lining the abdomen and pelvis), the ovaries, bowel or tissue lining the pelvis. Adenomyosis is when endometrial tissue is found in the muscular walls of the uterus, and occurs in about 10% of cases.

Endometriosis rarely goes beyond the pelvic region.

Endometriosis occurs in 6-10% of women. (1) It is most common in those aged in their thirties and forties. An increasing number of younger women are affected.

Diagnosis is usually based on the symptoms, followed by medical imaging. Laparoscopy and a biopsy is the most reliable diagnosis.

Doctors and scientists have not agreed on the cause of endometriosis. It is probably a dysfunction of the immune system and the hormonal system controlling the female menstrual cycle.

Usually, endometriosis disappears after menopause. It can occur in postmenopausal women, but is not common.

Risk factors for endometriosis

• Vitamin D deficiency. (8, 9, 10, 11)
• Estrogen dominance or the accumulation of xenoestrogens in the body. (3, 6, 7)
• Consumption of dairy products (which are high in bovine estrogens). (6, 7)
• History of pelvic inflammation and uterine abnormalities.
• Gardasil vaccine. This is a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine given to young adults. No published studies show the damage from this vaccine but there is much heresay evidence among holistic health professionals.
• Environmental toxins. (3)
• Lack of exercise, inactivity.
• Never giving vaginal birth. (5)
• High alcohol consumption.
• Having a family history of the condition.
• First period before 11 years of age.
• Regularly less than 27 days between periods.
• Low body weight.
• Genetic predisposition (the cause that pharmaceutical companies always love to find).

Symptoms of endometriosis

About 25% of women with endometriosis have no symptoms. (1)

• The most common symptom is recurring pelvic pain, ranging from mild to severe cramping or stabbing pain on both sides of the pelvis, in the lower back and rectal area, and down the legs. It usually starts immediately before and during the period. Pain can occur with a bowel movement, passing wind or urine, with ovulation, or during or after intercourse. (2)
• Periods. Heavy bleeding with or without clots. Spotting before the menstrual period.
• Infertility. This occurs in up to half of women suffering endometriosis. (1)
• Discomfort with bowel movements and urination. Bloating. Constipation or diarrhoea. Feeling the need to urinate more frequently at different times in the menstrual period.
• Fatigue, feeling tired.
• Migraines.

Stages of endometriosis

1. Minimal. Small superficial lesions /endometrial patches and possibly a few filmy adhesions (sticky deposits).
2. Mild. Many deep lesions / endometrial patches. Adhesions between the uterus and the rectum (this area is called the Pouch of Douglas).
3. Moderate. Adhesions migrate to the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
4. Severe. A large number of implanted endometrial patches; scars and nodules; adhesions to other organs such as the bladder and the bowel; changes to the shape of pelvic organs. Fallopian tubes, ovaries, the uterus, the bowels and the bladder can be bound together in ways that are painful on a daily basis, not just during menstrual periods.

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for endometriosis

• Vitamin D. I recommend a high dose of vitamin D3 up to 50,000 IU per day to treat endometriosis and / or fibroids. To prevent the accumulation of calcium outside of the bones when using high-dose vitamin D supplementation, also supplement with vitamin K2, vitamin B6, Magnesium, Zinc and boron. vitamin D supplementation details, warnings and contraindications are discussed on the Grow Youthful vitamin D web page. (8, 9, 10, 11)
• Avoid products with xenoestrogens.
• Avoid dairy products. Dairy products are high in prolactin, estrogen and other steroid hormones. In Grow Youthful I generally recommend low or no consumption of milk and yogurt. Grass-fed butter, strong home-made kefir and strong raw smelly cheeses contain many valuable nutrients, but if you are suffering from cancer, BPH or endometriosis it may be wise to avoid them. (6, 7)
• General health. Gentle exercise and activity for at least 30 minutes per day. Avoid inactivity. Get regular and deep sleep every night. Find ways to manage stress - see meditation.
• Avoid Gardasil vaccine.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Progesterone (natural, NOT pharmaceutical look-alikes). (4)

If you use any of these remedies, please come back next week (or whenever you have an outcome) and let us know about your experience. Please leave a comment as many people are interested.

See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.

References

1. Bulletti C, Coccia ME, Battistoni S, Borini A. Endometriosis and infertility. August 2010. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 27 (8): 441-7.

2. Ballard K, Lane H, Hudelist G, Banerjee S, Wright J. Can specific pain symptoms help in the diagnosis of endometriosis? A cohort study of women with chronic pelvic pain. June 2010. Fertil. Steril. 94 (1): 20-7.

3. Anger DL, Foster WG. The link between environmental toxicant exposure and endometriosis. Frontiers in Bioscience, 2008. 13: 1578-93. doi:10.2741/2782. PMID 17981650.

4. Patel B, Elguero S, Thakore S et al. Role of nuclear progesterone receptor isoforms in uterine pathophysiology. Human Reproduction Update, 2014. 21 (2): 155-173. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmu056. ISSN 1355-4786.

5. Bulletti C, Montini A, Setti PL et al. Vaginal parturition decreases recurrence of endometriosis. Fertil. Steril. June 2009. 94 (3): 850-5. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04.012. PMID 19524893.

6. Hassan Malekinejad, Aysa Rezabakhsh. Hormones in Dairy Foods and Their Impact on Public Health - A Narrative Review Article. Iran J Public Health. 2015 Jun; 44(6): 742-758.

7. van Haaften M, Donker GH, Haspels AA, Thijssen JH. Oestrogen concentrations in plasma, endometrium, myometrium and vagina of post-menopausal women, and effects of vaginal oestriol (E3) and oestradiol (E2) applications. J Steroid Biochem, 1989. 33 (4A): 647-653.

8. Ritterhouse LL, Crowe SR, Niewold TB, et al. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased autoimmune response in healthy individuals and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2011;70:1569-1574.

9. Xie B, Liao M, Huang Y, Hang F, Ma N, Hu Q, Wang J, Jin Y, Qin A. Association between vitamin D and endometriosis among American women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PLoS One. 2024 Jan 12;19(1):e0296190. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296190. PMID: 38215179; PMCID: PMC10786361.

10. Halder SK, Osteen KG, Al-Hendy A. ,25-dihydroxyvitamin d3 reduces extracellular matrix-associated protein expression in human uterine fibroid cells. Biol Reprod. 2013 Dec 26;89(6):150. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.107714. PMID: 24174578; PMCID: PMC4076359.

11. Markowska A, Kurzawa P, Bednarek W, Grybos A, Mardas M, Krzyzaniak M, Majewski J, Markowska J, Grybos M, Zurawski J. Immunohistochemical Expression of Vitamin D Receptor in Uterine Fibroids. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 17;14(16):3371. doi: 10.3390/nu14163371. PMID: 36014877; PMCID: PMC9415784.