Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
What is endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common and a benign estrogen dependent, inflammatory gynecological condition. It affects about 10% of females of reproductive age worldwide. It involves growth of endometrial tissue beyond the uterus. While many cases may be asymptomatic, it can results in significant morbidity including but not limited to endometriosis-associated pain.
Studies also indicate link of gut to endometriosis in view of presence of clinical features like abdominal pain, gut blockage and intestinal bleeding, Because of many of these features, endometriosis is sometimes misdiagnosed as Crohn's disease.
What causes endometriosis
Cause of endometriosis is controversial and remains to be established. Multiple factors are involved including but not limited to:
- Presence of stem cells in endometrium
- Autoimmune dysfunction
- Neuro-inflammation
- Unhealthy immune system: Whether the migrated endometrial cells from uterus invade and implant may depend upon whether the woman has disordered immune function.
Clinical features
These are diverse and include:
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Painful menstrual cycle
- Fertility issues
- Intestinal bleeding (rare)
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Role of gut bacteria or microbiome
Gut and its bacteria play an important role in regulating inflammation in the body. Gut bacteria are also involved in estrogen metabolism. Endometriosis is characterized by both inflammation and estrogen dependence.
Drs. Bailey and Coe from the University of Wisconsin sought to examine if the endometriosis is associated with altered pattern of gut bacteria. They compared gut bacteria in rhesus monkeys with and without endometriosis with particular focus on lactobacilli, the good bacteria.
Eighteen female rhesus monkeys were studied. 8 had endometriosis based on clinical and imaging studies as well histology of implants during prior surgery
Gut bacterial patterns were also studied from necropsy specimens of monkey who had died over previous 3 decades due to various causes. 413 monkeys met inclusion criteria and 100 of them had endometriosis.
Results of Bailey study
- Endometriosis monkeys had significantly fewer lactobacilli (good bacteria) and significantly more Gram negative bacteria.
- Alteration in bacterial patterns is consistent with intestinal inflammation seen in 38% of monkeys on autopsy which was significantly more common than the healthy controls.
Dr. Minocha's Comments
Above results are consistent with studies by Mathias and colleagues from the Woman's Hospital in Houston Texas who demonstrated that 80% of women with endometriosis have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth as determined by hydrogen breath test.
Endometrial cells secrete inflammation inducing biochemicals. The gut inflammation may in part be responsible for increased prevalence of e of food allergies and infections in patients with endometriosis.
Laschke and Menger from the Saarland University in Germany wrote a article recently with the provocative title, “The gut microbiota: A puppet master in the pathogenesis of endometriosis?”. They argue that intestinal bacteria are critical to development and progression of endometriosis.
If indeed above links are not just an association but actually a causative factors, use of probiotics might be a great therapeutic option.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
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