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BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a gynecologic disorder affecting 8-10% of reproductive-age women in the United States, is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and is linked to pelvic [...]

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue. In industrialized countries, it affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Its etiology is [...]

Background: Endometriosis is a gynecological disease affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis incidence has risen; however, whether this rise is due to disease awareness or environmental contamination is not known. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol AF (BPAF) potentiate the development of endometriosis and if hormonal status alters how toxicant exposure affects disease. Methods: A mouse model of endometriosis, where minced uterine tissue is injected into the peritoneal cavity of a host mouse, was used to examine the effects of BPA and BPAF on endometriosis lesion development in ovariectomized and hormonally intact mice. BPA and BPAF were delivered through diet to include no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and the low-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) exposure levels. After six weeks (at necropsy), lesions, ovaries, and blood were collected to examine characteristics, gene expression, and hormonal regulation. Results: BPA and BPAF treatments affected endometriosis in a manner specific to dose and hormonal status of the host mouse. Estrogen and endometriosis-mediated differences in lesion target gene expression also depended on hormonal status. In intact mice, ovarian steroidogenic pathways were disrupted, progesterone levels were lowered, and atretic oocyte numbers were higher with toxicant exposure. BPAF, more so than BPA, resulted in more endometriosis lesion growth, but both toxicants disrupted normal ovarian signaling. Conclusion: These findings further our understanding of the effects and hormonal impacts of BPA and BPAF on endometriosis perturbation in ovariectomized and hormonally intact mice. BPAF appeared to be similar if not more estrogenic than BPA and may be affecting an environmental contribution of the increased incidence of endometriosis. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3802, Introduction Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental toxicants that interfere with the endocrine system and can do so at various doses. Essentially, these EDCs disrupt normal hormone function by either mimicking [...]

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is considered an estrogen-dependent disease. Persistent environmental chemicals that exhibit hormonal properties, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), may affect endometriosis risk. OBJECTIVE: We investigated endometriosis risk in relation to environmental exposure to OCPs. METHODS: We conducted the present analyses using data from the Women's Risk of Endometriosis (WREN) study, a population-based case--control study of endometriosis conducted among 18- to 49-year-old female enrollees of a large health care system in western Washington State. OCP concentrations were measured in sera from surgically confirmed endometriosis cases (n = 248) first diagnosed between 1996 and 2001 and from population-based controls (n = 538). We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for age, reference date year, serum lipids, education, race/ethnicity, smoking, and alcohol intake. RESULTS: Our data suggested increased endometriosis risk associated with serum concentrations of [beta]-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (third vs. lowest quartile: OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.8; highest vs. lowest quartile OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 0.8, 2.4) and mirex (highest vs. lowest category: OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.2). The association between serum [beta]-HCH concentrations and endometriosis was stronger in analyses restricting cases to those with ovarian endometriosis (third vs. lowest quartile: OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 5.2; highest vs. lowest quartile: OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.3). CONCLUSIONS: In our case--control study of women enrolled in a large health care system in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, serum concentrations of [beta]-HCH and mirex were positively associated with endometriosis. Extensive past use of environmentally persistent OCPs in the United States or present use in other countries may affect the health of reproductive-age women. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306648, Introduction Endometriosis, characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterus, is associated with substantial morbidity, including severe, chronic pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility [...]

* Context.--Although there is evidence that endometriosis results from basal endometrium dislocation, the underlying biology is not fully understood. One protein that plays an important role in regulating epithelial proliferation and differentiation is the 63-kDa membrane protein (p63), which is also a marker of basal and reserve cells in the female genital tract. Objective.--To determine whether p63 is expressed differently in peritoneal endometriosis, endometriomas, and adenomyosis, as well as in deep endometriotic nodules of the rectovaginal septum and abdominal wall. Design.--This study includes a prospective series of consecutive patients (Canadian Task Force classification II-2) from a tertiary care university hospital. Specimens collected from 83 patients (15 peritoneal endometriosis specimens, 22 endometrioma specimens, 36 adenomyosis specimens, and 10 rectovaginal septum/abdominal wall specimens) were evaluated. Diagnostic and operative laparoscopies or laparotomies were performed, and tissue samples were obtained. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate p63 expression. Results.--Positivity for p63 was detected in 93.3% of the peritoneal endometriosis specimens, 81.8% of the endometrioma specimens, 36.1% of the adenomyosis specimens, and none of the rectovaginal/abdominal wall endometriosis specimens (P < .001). Distribution of p63 immunostaining in the positive specimens was homogeneous. Conclusions.--Endometriotic lesions express p63 differently, and some retain the basal/reserve cell immunophenotype. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the lack of p63 expression in some lesions is related to the extent of the disease, to its clinical behavior, or to exacerbation of the accompanying symptoms. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007;131:1099-1102), Endometriosis is defined as the occurrence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity and, histologically, consists of glands and stroma. (1) Such tissue can be found in the peritoneum, ovaries, [...]

Laura Taylor knows exactly what patients are talking about when they complain about the debilitation of endometriosis, a condition in which uterine tissue is misplaced in the body. Ms Taylor [...]

Endometriosis is defined as a growth of ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity that responds to hormonal stimulation. It occurs most commonly in pelvic sites such as the ovaries, [...]

Abstract Case-control and cohort studies have suggested an association between melanoma and endometriosis. A prospective study of over 90,000 patients in the French national health care system, is the largest [...]