Is There a New Way to Save Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease caused by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which affects up to 10% of women. It is the leading cause of dysmenorrhea and can also lead to inflammation and infertility. What's important is that the treatment of this very distressing disease is complicated because of the lack of medical understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease. Now, researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada have put forward a new theory about the occurrence of endometriosis. They believe that testosterone, a hormone that has been ignored before, plays a crucial role in its occurrence and development. This new theory may directly impact the diagnosis and treatment of the disease and bring hope to women who have endometriosis all over the world. Why do some women get endometriosis while others don't? This new study explores this issue from the perspective of post evolutionary biology. Recent studies have found that women with endometriosis are in a lower testosterone environment during their mother's intrauterine development than those without endometriosis. Based on this finding, the new theory holds that the low testosterone in the uterine development stage "plans" the development of the female reproductive system, leading to the occurrence of endometriosis. And a series of characteristics including early menarche, short menstrual cycle, high pain sensitivity, high inflammatory activity, and changes in hormone levels that control ovulation and menstrual cycle. The researchers pointed out that their theory was supported by much data in the medical literature from genetics, development, endocrinology, morphology, life history, and evolutionary biology. Thus, they provided extensive evidence for a more comprehensive and reasonable explanation of endometriosis-related characteristics. In conclusion, the researchers believe that almost all symptoms of endometriosis are downstream effects of low testosterone levels in the early life development stage of the uterus. The researchers pointed out that this new theory may directly impact the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and help produce new prevention and treatment programs. The treatment of endometriosis should be selected according to the patient's age, symptoms, lesion location, and scope, as well as the requirements for fertility to reduce and remove the lesions, reduce and control pain, treat and promote fertility, prevent and reduce recurrence. The lesions can be resected by surgical means, and drugs can also control the disease. Expectant therapy is the first choice for patients with mild endometriosis. The patients should do regular follow-up and symptomatic treatment of mild menstrual abdominal pain caused by lesions, like prostaglandin synthase inhibitors, such as indomethacin, naproxen, ibuprofen, etc. Women who are preparing to be pregnant should avoid hormone drugs due to possible side effects of long-term use.  On the contrary, they can choose traditional Chinese medicine for treatment without side effects and reduced recurrence, such as Fuyan Pill. It can eliminate the symptoms and cause, and it will not cause drug resistance. Moreover, it can clean up the uterine environment to improve the chance of pregnancy. In general, testosterone is a "male hormone," while estrogen is a "female hormone." In fact, both male and female, there are these two hormones in the body. They have a vital role for all people, including a direct impact on fetal development. In other words, this new theory confirms that endometriosis is a developmental endocrine disease, which originates in the early stage of life development. Another disease related to testosterone levels in the early life development environment is a polycystic ovarian syndrome. Studies have shown that, contrary to endometriosis, the polycystic ovarian syndrome is a disease caused by high prenatal testosterone levels rather than too low. In other words, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome are two extreme developmental endocrine diseases in terms of etiology, related factors, and main symptoms.