Endometriosis Awareness Month: factors and possible causes

Endometriosis is the leading cause of infertility in the US and affects more than five million women. Researchers and doctors alike don’t understand why some women acquire endometriosis and others do not but there do seem to be common threads and interesting theories.

There does seem to be some genetic component since endometriosis does run in families.
Heavy menstrual cycles lasting more than a week and any kind of obstruction or malformation in the uterus or vagina that might stop menstrual flow can lead to increased odds of endometriosis.

Often women with endometriosis have allergies, chemical sensitivities and frequent yeast infections. There are factors that increase the odds of being diagnosed with the disease and early treatment often times can relieve symptoms.

The cause of the disease could simply be endometrial cells backing up through the fallopian tubes during a menstrual cycle. Cells that get lost on the way out. It could also be that the tissue or cells are somehow distributed by the lymph system or through the blood system to other parts of the body. Another interesting theory is that remnants of tissue from when the woman was an embryo develop in the wrong areas of the body.

Research by the Endometriosis Association has also revealed a link between dioxin exposure and the development of the disease. Dioxin is the byproduct of a once common pesticide.

If you have any of these things that may predispose you to endometriosis or any of the symptoms mentioned in other posts, you should talk to your doctor. If you are trying to become pregnant you may consider seeing a reproductive endocrinologist or gynecologist who has experience with endometriosis.

Source: AFA, Endometriosis Association