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Endometriosis
 Endometriosis
is a painful condition in which fragments of endometrial tissue are
present in areas where they do not belong: the fallopian tubes,
uterine musculature (adenomyosis), and often on the outer surface of
the uterus and other pelvic organs, the colon, the bladder, and the
sides of the pelvic cavity. With each monthly cycle, the endometrial
fragments respond to ovarian hormones by building up the endometrial
tissue within the uterus. They increase in size, swell with blood,
and bleed into the surrounding tissue at menstruation. The bleeding
accumulates into the pelvic cavity, forms cysts and exerts pressure.
The surrounding tissue becomes inflamed and very painful. Symptoms
begin 7 to 12 days before menstruation and then can become
excruciatingly painful during menstruation. The pain may be diffuse
depending on the sites involved. Diagnosis is not easily established
as there is no lab test to identify endometrial fragments nor are
they large enough to show on an X-ray or sonogram. Laproscopy is
useful because it enables a doctor to look into the abdomen with a
small scope.
The cause of
endometriosis is unclear. Some argue that endometrial cells wander
through the fallopian tubes while others suggest they are displaced
through an embryological mix-up when an embryo is just forming its
tissues. The fact is, endometriosis seems to be a disease of the
20th century. Now that we know about xenoestrogens and the fact that
the tissues of the developing embryo are especially sensitive to the
toxic effects of xenoestrogens. It may be that endometriosis is
related to an estrogen dominant situation in the body.
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Direct
Quote from Dr. Lee
"This
treatment requires patience. Over time (four to six
months), however, the monthly, the monthly pains
gradually subside as monthly bleeding in the islets
becomes less and healing of the inflammatory sites
occurs. The monthly discomfort may not disappear
entirely but becomes more tolerable." |
Treatment of
endometriosis is difficult. Surgical attempts at removing each
endometrial implant are only temporarily successful because many of
the fragments are too small to see, and eventually they can enlarge
and the condition recurs. Other surgical options that aim to remove
or reduce hormone levels include: the removal of ovaries, the uterus
and the fallopian tubes, drastic measures according to Dr. Lee.
Pregnancy often
retards endometriosis and occasionally cures it. With this in mind,
other medical treatments attempt to create a state of
pseudopregnancy. Physicians often prescribe a long period of
supplemented progestins to simulate the high progesterone levels of
pregnancy. Unfortunately, the high doses are often accompanied by
side effects of the progestin and breakthrough bleeding. Also,
progestins are synthetic and have a host of negative side effects,
including breast cancer.
Natural Progesterone &
Endometriosis
Dr. Lee treated a
number of endometriosis patient with natural progesterone and
observed considerable success. Since estrogen initiates endometrial
cell proliferation, natural progesterone blocks the monthly estrogen
stimulus to the abnormal endometrial fragments and can stop further
proliferation of endometrial cells.
Dr. Lee recommended
women use natural progesterone cream from day 6 - 26 of the cycle
each month. This treatment requires patience and over time the
monthly pains can gradually subside as monthly bleeding become less
and healing of the inflammatory sites occur. According to Dr. Lee,
many women successfully alleviate the pain and suffering of
endometriosis through the use of natural progesterone.
According to Dr. Lee
in his book, The Multiple Roles of A Remarkable Hormone, over time,
most patients find reduction of pain in 3-4 months and continued
relief as time goes by. When endometriosis pains have subsided, the
dose can be reduced gradually to find the level that keeps the pains
away. Endometriosis is cured by menopause, when estrogen levels
decline. It was a mystery to Dr. Lee why synthetic progestins are
recommended when the natural progesterone is available, cheaper, and
safer. |