Hormone Replacement Therapy
A Highly Effective Treatment for Endometriosis
A disorder involving abnormal development of endometrial implants outside the uterus, endometriosis affects about one out of every 11 American women between the ages of 15 and 45. The U.S. Office on Woman’s Health reports it is more commonly diagnosed in women during their 30s and 40s who may be entering perimenopause. In addition to producing pelvic pain, heavy periods, gastrointestinal problems and discomfort during sex, endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility among reproductive-aged women.1
What is Endometrial Implants?
Tissues lining the inside of the uterus are collectively called the endometrium. Although it is not unusual for a minimal amount of endometrium to spread beyond the uterus into the pelvic area, it becomes problematic when misplaced tissue thickens and spreads over time. Endometrial implants are clumps of broken-down endometrium that becomes painful and inflamed. If severe enough, endometriosis may lead to scarring and adhesions that bind pelvic organs together.2
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine describes the four stages of endometriosis:3
Stage 1: Few endometrial implants, no scarring, no symptoms.
Stage 2: More implants found, mild scarring, mild symptoms.
Stage 3: Numerous deep endometrial implants accompanied by ovarian cysts and adhesions.
Stage 4: Widespread implants, thick adhesions and large ovarian cysts will cause noticeable symptoms at this stage.
In some cases, endometriosis may remain at one stage and never worsen. Other times, endometriosis may improve on its own. Doctors aren’t sure why women experience different stages of endometriosis but believe it involves hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycles and perimenopause.
Doctors usually treat Stage 1 or 2 endometriosis with prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers to ease painful menstrual cramps. Women with Stage 3 or 4 endometriosis may need laparoscopic surgery to remove endometrial implants. For women who do not want to get pregnant, hysterectomy is an option to completely eliminate endometriosis symptoms.4
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for Treating Endometriosis
Since many women diagnosed with endometriosis are in their 30s and trying to get pregnant, BHRT is highly recommended for reducing symptoms and slowing growth of endometrial tissue. Research has shown that stabilizing hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle not only prevents development of new endometrial implants but could help support successful outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies like IVF or IUI.5
Women opting for standard hormone therapy to treat endometriosis will be at an increased risk for breast cancer, blood clots and heart disease. Longitudinal research indicates that women taking synthetic hormones for endometriosis or menopause symptoms experience more incidences of stroke, vaginal bleeding and loss of bone density.6
Extracted from plant estrogens composed of molecules chemically identical to hormones produces by your body, bioidentical hormones do not increase your risk of cancer, stroke or heart disease. Doctors think this is due to how easily bioidentical hormone molecules are acquired by cells containing receptors meant to accept naturally made hormones.7
Premarin and other popularly prescribed replacement hormones contain estrogens derived from the urine of pregnant mares. These types of estrogens are not found in the human body and, therefore, are not made to be “accepted” by cells. Although research is ongoing, endocrinologists speculate that the inability of cell receptors to readily accept synthetic hormones causes systemic inflammation and development of chronic diseases.
If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, call us today to learn more about the benefits of BHRT for treating endometriosis and infertility caused by endometriosis.
References
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis
- https://www.medicinenet.com/endometriosis/article.htm
- https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/endometriosis_infertility.pdf
- https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tv7242
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/4/1318/2804494
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/pht_facts.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127562/
A disorder involving abnormal development of endometrial implants outside the uterus, endometriosis affects about one out of every 11 American women between the ages of 15 and 45. The U.S. Office on Woman’s Health reports it is more commonly diagnosed in women during their 30s and 40s who may be entering perimenopause. In addition to producing pelvic pain, heavy periods, gastrointestinal problems and discomfort during sex, endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility among reproductive-aged women.1
What are Endometrial Implants?
Tissues lining the inside of the uterus are collectively called the endometrium. Although it is not unusual for a minimal amount of endometrium to spread beyond the uterus into the pelvic area, it becomes problematic when misplaced tissue thickens and spreads over time. Endometrial implants are clumps of broken-down endometrium that becomes painful and inflamed. If severe enough, endometriosis may lead to scarring and adhesions that bind pelvic organs together.2
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine describes the four stages of endometriosis:3
Stage 1: Few endometrial implants, no scarring, no symptoms.
Stage 2: More implants found, mild scarring, mild symptoms.
Stage 3: Numerous deep endometrial implants accompanied by ovarian cysts and adhesions.
Stage 4: Widespread implants, thick adhesions and large ovarian cysts will cause noticeable symptoms at this stage.
In some cases, endometriosis may remain at one stage and never worsen. Other times, endometriosis may improve on its own. Doctors aren’t sure why women experience different stages of endometriosis but believe it involves hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycles and perimenopause.
Doctors usually treat Stage 1 or 2 endometriosis with prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers to ease painful menstrual cramps. Women with Stage 3 or 4 endometriosis may need laparoscopic surgery to remove endometrial implants. For women who do not want to get pregnant, hysterectomy is an option to completely eliminate endometriosis symptoms.4
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for Treating Endometriosis
Since many women diagnosed with endometriosis are in their 30s and trying to get pregnant, BHRT is highly recommended for reducing symptoms and slowing growth of endometrial tissue. Research has shown that stabilizing hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle not only prevents development of new endometrial implants but could help support successful outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies like IVF or IUI.5
Women opting for standard hormone therapy to treat endometriosis will be at an increased risk for breast cancer, blood clots and heart disease. Longitudinal research indicates that women taking synthetic hormones for endometriosis or menopause symptoms experience more incidences of stroke, vaginal bleeding and loss of bone density.6
Extracted from plant estrogens composed of molecules chemically identical to hormones produces by your body, bioidentical hormones do not increase your risk of cancer, stroke or heart disease. Doctors think this is due to how easily bioidentical hormone molecules are acquired by cells containing receptors meant to accept naturally made hormones.7
Premarin and other popularly prescribed replacement hormones contain estrogens derived from the urine of pregnant mares. These types of estrogens are not found in the human body and, therefore, are not made to be “accepted” by cells. Although research is ongoing, endocrinologists speculate that the inability of cell receptors to readily accept synthetic hormones causes systemic inflammation and development of chronic diseases.
If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, call us today to learn more about the benefits of BHRT for treating endometriosis and infertility caused by endometriosis.
References
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis
- https://www.medicinenet.com/endometriosis/article.htm
- https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/endometriosis_infertility.pdf
- https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tv7242
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/4/1318/2804494
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/pht_facts.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127562/
