Causes and Prevention
We don't yet fully understand what causes endometriosis,
so it's very difficult to prevent. We do know
that both family history and the immune system
can help predict who will develop it.
Several theories exist about its causes, but
none can fully explain all cases:
- Retrograde menstruation
- Metaplasia
- Vascular or lymphatic spread
- Immune system abnormalities
- Genetics
Retrograde menstruation
Normally, during the menstrual cycle, the endometrium
thickens to nourish a fertilized egg. If the egg
isn't fertilized, this uterine lining peels off
and is released from the body during the menstrual
period.
Sometimes, instead of leaving the body, the endometrium
travels in the other direction: up through the
uterus, into the fallopian tubes and out into
the pelvic area. It then attaches itself to other
organs and continues to act like the lining of
the womb. In other words, the body's hormones
continue to signal it to grow, thicken and bleed.
Often these stray pieces of the endometrium attach
to each other, causing painful adhesions (fibrous
tissue) and other symptoms.
This process is called retrograde menstruation,
and may explain why women who don't have menstrual
periods or have had their fallopian tubes tied
don't develop endometriosis as often.
Metaplasia
Some scientists theorize that another possible
cause of endometriosis -- called metaplasia --
actually begins long before a woman is born, when
she's in the very earliest stages of fetal development.
At this stage, the fetus' cells are able to change
into a variety of different types of cells. It's
possible that once the woman is an adult, some
of her cells retain the ability to change their
function and so act like the endometrium, even
outside the womb.
Vascular or lymphatic spread
Sometimes endometriosis occurs in areas of the
body other than the pelvic region. One possible
explanation is vascular or lymphatic spread --
meaning that the endometrium somehow reaches and
travels through the bloodstream or the lymph system
throughout the body.
Immune system abnormalities
Experts are now studying another possible cause
of endometriosis: a breakdown of the immune system,
which normally destroys leftover or misplaced
endometrial cells.
Genetics
Finally, endometriosis could be inherited. If
your mother or sister has the disorder, you have
a higher chance of suffering from it as well.
Genetic studies have found that daughters, sisters
or mothers of patients with endometriosis are
more likely than other women to have the disease.
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