What Causes Endometriosis?
The exact cause of Endometriosis is not known. There are several theories I shall list a few of them here but to date there is no official known cause of Endometriosis. It could be possible that there is more than one cause of Endometriosis or a mixture of theories. If you have come across a theory that I have not mentioned then please email me and I shall take a look and add it to my list.
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Retrograde Menstruation.
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Retrograde Menstruation is the most commonly accepted theory in the medical profession. However, like many of the other theories it does have its flaws such as if this is the case why do women that have had a hysterectomy get Endometriosis. I am talking about those women that got Endometriosis after the hysterectomy not before the hysterectomy.
Retrograde Menstruation happens when instead of leaving the body as a period the endometrium flows backwards, going up the fallopian tubes and into the abdomen. Then embedding itself on the organs in the pelvic area growing and spreading. It is thought that Retrograde Menstruation happens in the majority of women, many of them can clear this tissue naturally without it becoming a problem. However, women with Endometriosis for some reason can not clear this tissue naturally. |
Environmental Factors.
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Some people think that Endometriosis is caused by certain toxins in the environment, such as dioxins. These dioxins are known to affect the body, immune system as well as the reproductive system. Research has shown that there is a link between Endometriosis and high levels of dioxin exposure in animals, however this research has not yet shown a definite conclusion if this is the case in humans. My query on this theory is if this is the case how come that you do not get whole streets, cities, towns or villages where all the women suffer from Endometriosis as surely they have been exposed to the same environmental factors as their neighbours.
On top of the Environmental factors some women feel that Endometriosis can be caused by chemicals in beauty products. Again I ask a few questions about this such as how come all women who use a particular beauty product do not have Endometriosis? What about those women that do not wear makeup etc. and what about men that use beauty products these days how come they are not getting Endometriosis. |
Bloodstream or Lymphatic System.
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This is more of a theory on how Endometriosis is spread around the body rather than what causes it. It is believed that the Endometriosis cells somehow get into the bloodstream or lymphatic system (a network of tubes, glands and organs that are a part of the bodies defence system against an infection). The theory of Endometriosis spreading through these systems could possibly explain how in very rare cases the Endometriosis cells have been found in other parts of the body other than just the abdominal/pelvic area.
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Problems with the immune system.
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This theory says that research has shown that women with Endometriosis have been found to have a lower immunity to other conditions. Being more prone to infections for example. It is believed that some women's immune systems are not able to fight of the Endometriosis effectively. Again I would not class this as a cause because it is just saying that once the Endometriosis is there your immune system is not then able to fight it.
It has been mentioned that the problems with the immune system could be a result of the Endometriosis rather than a cause of the disease. |
Genetic .
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This is a theory that I do believe in as in my family problems with the genealogical area is very common although I was the first one to be diagnosed with Endometriosis. I am aware that in some cases some women are the only person in her family with Endometriosis. It could be hereditary, even if you do not have Endometriosis you could be a carrier.
Endometriosis affects women of every ethnicity. It has been shown to be less common in women of African-Caribbean origin (I am not saying it does not occur in these women just that it is less common). Endometriosis has been seen to be more common in Asian woman than in white women. This could show that genetics may possibly play a part in whether a woman has Endometriosis or not. |
Metaplasia.
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Metaplasia is where one type of cell changes into another to adapt to its environment. It is this development that makes the human body grow in the womb. This could also be a feasible Theory as it suggests that for some reason unknown that in some adults the cells could retain this ability to change. Where the blood starts the shed in the abdominal area may stimulate the cells to transform into endometrial cells. Therefore the more cells that transform the more menstrual blood shed causing more cells to transform.
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