ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Endometriosis is a condition that happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes the painful condition, but a new study is shedding light.
About one in every 10 women will experience a painful condition called Endometriosis during their reproductive years. It happens when tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside of the uterus.
Latasha Murphy, MD, Gynecological Surgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, says, “Since it’s not supposed to be there it creates a lot of inflammation, and inflammation ultimately leads to pain and scar the tissue.”
And that pain can be extreme.
Doctor Murphy says, “I would say cycle pain times a hundred. I mean it is extremely unbearable, the type of pain people with endometriosis endure.”
While scientists don’t know exactly what causes it, a recent study offers new clues. Researchers found that 64 percent of patients with it also tested positive for a common bacteria called fusobacterium, which typically lives in the mouth and gastro tract. Less than 10 percent of the participants without its tested positive for it.
Some other risk factors are: having a family history of the disease, being diagnosed with an immune system problem, having too much of the hormone estrogen, and undergoing abdominal surgery, such as a c-section. Retrograde menstrual flow is another likely cause.
“Some of that tissue flows out of the fallopian tubes into the pelvis.” Explains Doctor Murphy.
Helping you understand the risk factors that could be to blame for endometriosis.
Some ways to lower your risk of endometriosis include: being pregnant, breastfeeding, having your first period after age 14, and eating fruits, particularly citrus fruits.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.add1531
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/endometriosis)
NEW CAUSE FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS?
REPORT #3111
BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic medical condition that affects millions of individuals, primarily women, around the world. It is a complex and often painful disorder characterized by the growth of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus outside the uterus. This tissue, known as endometrial implants, can be found on various organs within the pelvic region, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and even in rare cases, distant organs like the lungs. The exact cause remains unclear, but several theories exist. One common theory is retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood and tissue flow backward into the pelvic cavity instead of exiting the body. Genetics, hormonal factors, immune system dysfunction, and environmental factors may also play a role. It may affect more than 11 percent of women in America between the ages of 15 and 44.
THE STUDY: A new study showed that 64 percent of endometriosis patients also tested positive for a common bacteria called fusobacterium. This bacterium normally resides in the mouth and gut. Less than 10 percent of patients who participated in the study without endometriosis tested positive for fusobacterium. The bacteria were found in over 60 percent of the women in the study who suffered from it. The research team also tested their treatments in mice and discovered that antibiotics that targeted fusobacterium could reduce the size and frequency levels of lesions that are associated with endometriosis.
(Source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/endometriosis-may-be-caused-by-this-bacteria
NEW REGULATIONS: When it comes to treatments, a new 2022 guideline recommends the usage of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists as an additional second treatment option. Groundbreaking studies in Edinburgh and London also assessed whether a drug called dichloroacetate helped relieve pain in women experiencing it. If it is successful, it would be the first-ever non-hormonal and nonsurgical treatment.
* For More Information, Contact:
Latasha Murphy, MD
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