Epidemiology Overview According to the Womenshealth.gov, researchers think 11 percent of American women may be affected by Endometriosis, which is about 6.5 million women. Endometriosis usually affects women who are in their reproductive ages (15-44) but commonly it affects women in their 30s and 40s (Office on Women’s Health, 2018). The purpose of this paper is to explain what endometriosis is, and dioxins and to look at two conflicting articles that focus on the association of endometriosis and dioxins. Endometriosis Endometriosis is when the tissue of the uterus grows on the outside of the uterus and other area of the body. Some of those other areas are the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the vagina, the tissue that holds the uterus in place …show more content…
The second study showed there was no statistically significant association between exposure to dioxin like compounds and the occurrence of endometriosis in infertile women. Both studies were case control experiments. Study 1 The first study had a sample size of 200 patients. The cases (n=96) are women that have had laparoscopy surgery where it provided proof of endometriosis. The controls (n=106) are the women who also had the surgery and showed there was no evidence of endometriosis. The cases were later split into 4 groups: minimal, mild, moderate, and severe endometriosis. To measure the concentration of dioxins like compounds, plasma samples were collected during the laparoscopic surgery and measured in a dioxin-responsive chemical-activated luciferase expression bioassay. The measurements were analyzed in SPSS. The odds ratio was age adjusted which was 2.44 of women with a high concentration would have endometriosis ad 3.01 with high concentration would have a risk of having moderate to severe endometriosis. The results indicated that women with more exposure to dioxin like compounds are 2.5 times likely to have endometriosis and 3 times likely to have severe endometriosis than those with less exposure (Simsa, et al., …show more content…
For example, Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors and Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) are all regulations used to control dioxin exposure. The Safe Drinking Water Act established a maximum contaminant level for dioxin in water. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act required manufacturers to release what chemicals they are using. Toxic Substances Control Act requires any person in manufacturing that knows of anyone using toxic substances must repot it to the EPA. Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors and Clean Air Act is used to control emissions from combustion (Environmental Protection Agency,
Therefore, the scope of information provided is limited to essential information directly related the purpose providing women facts about endometriosis. The facts are brief enough to what the health consumer can reasonably learn in the time allowed. The headings are clearly stated which makes the information provided on this pamphlet easy to follow and promotes learning and interaction among women. This information can aid women to understand about their diagnosis and empower them to make an informed decision. 1,2,2
Janet presented with uterine fibroids, otherwise referred to as leiomyomas. These tumours are composed of muscular tissue and are found within the uterus. Research has found no direct cause of leiomyomas however, it is known that the development and growth are dependent on ovarian hormones (Brown, Edwards, Seaton, & Buckley, 2015). Levels of these hormones vary throughout a woman’s life depending on her age and genetic predisposition; risk of developing leiomyomas is lowest in prepubescent and post-menopausal women and highest during pregnancy (Tinelli & Malvasi, 2014). An increase in hormone production causes these fibroids to grow rapidly.
to have a higher risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer because there are no
Uterine leiomyoma also known as uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors in women during childbearing age. The tumors come from smooth muscle cells of the myometrium within the uterus that changes in size and cellular properties during the reproductive years of a woman. The change in size and cellular property with hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells normally happen during pregnancy and also occur with uterine fibroids. The development of the tumors is dependent upon estrogen and progesterone and interaction with growth factors, cytokines and extracellular matrix components (Taylor, Holthouser,
In endometriosis, this endometrial tissue begins to grow in places outside the uterus. Typical sites include the fallopian tubes, intestines, vagina, and on scars that my form after abdominal surgery. The misplaced endometrial tissue thickens, engorges with blood and bleeds during the menstrual cycle, just like the normal tissue in the uterus. However, there is no place for the abnormally placed endometrial tissue outside the uterus to shed blood. This results in the formation of cysts, scars, and adhesions. This process can also block or affect the fallopian tubes so that conception and pregnancy are less likely to happen. It can also result in complete infertility. Other symptoms of endometriosis are often associated with heavy or painful periods. Risk factors for the development of endometriosis include having a mother or sister with the disorder, never having children, starting the menstrual period at an early age, and frequent or long periods. According to Dr. Camron Nezhat, Laparoscopic Surgeon at Stanford University, 5.5% of women in the U.S are infected with Endometriosis and 30% to 40% are infertile as a result of it.
chemicals. Many women, who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriages, increased the risk for breat cancer in their children.
Endometriosis is classified into different stages such as I- minimal, II- mild, III- moderate and IV- severe. Most cases of endometriosis are classified as minimal or mild which means that there is mild scarring. Moderate and severe endometriosis typically results in cysts and severe scarring. During stage IV infertility is common. Some studies are proposing that women with endometriosis have an increased risk for developing different types of ovarian cancer known as epithelial ovarian cancer. This is the highest risk in women with both endometriosis and primary infertility. The combination of oral contraceptive pills are sometimes used as a treatment for endometriosis and it appears to significantly reduce the risk of endometriosis. The doctors at Mayo Clinic stated that the treatment for endometriosis is surgery or medications.
Endometriosis is a common but often underdiagnosed disease in women during active reproductive years of 25 to 35 years. Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent chronic pelvic disorder that can cause severe pain and adversely affect fertility. Endometriosis is described as the occurrence of endometrial glands and connective tissue called stroma in the extra uterine mucosa located throughout the pelvis (Solnik, 2015). Therefore, as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) accurately diagnoses this disease, this patient population can increase the awareness become educated about endometriosis treatment options.
In the story The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, women are infertile because of pollution, STD’s, and radiation. If in fact, radiation caused the women of Gilead to be infertile it could possible because the radiation caused a chemical or hormonal imbalance. With that being said, the world we live in today, the leading causes of infertility in the U.S. is endometriosis. Infertile women are 6 to 8 times more likely to have endometriosis than fertile women (Verkauf BS). This syndrome is found mostly in women because this is where the endometrial tissue grows outside of
Uterine Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develops in the myometrium layer of the uterus. A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue (EA, 2013). There are different types of growth patterns to uterine fibroids. Sometimes they are small and in some cases they are extremely large. Woman between the ages of 30-and 40 years old are more at risk of developing uterine fibroids. They develop mostly in the child bearing years of a woman’s life. African American women have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids at a younger age than any other race. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas or myomas. Uterine Fibroids can develop on the inside or outside of the uterus.
Ovariectomized mice were used to avoid the potential confound of various circulating sex hormones especially estrogen. Moreover, we find out lack of estrogen causes more extensive EAE and different doses of estrogen could protect against EAE. We demonstrated intermediate dose of estrogen (5 fold lower than pregnancy level) could reduce the incidence and severity of clinical disease similar to pregnancy level of estrogen but also lower side effects than high dose estrogen therapy. Further, we discovered administration of low dose estrogen has a beneficial efficiency in treatment of EAE condition, although it will be necessary to perform supplementary investigations in the future
During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems
The impact of certain estrogenic xenobiotics on the reproductive system development and health of animals has been clearly documented. Findings, such as ours demonstrate thathumans are also exposed at risk. As data accumulate regarding to infertility, genital tract malformations and increasing cancer rates in estrogen target tissues (especially the breast),
Infertility and ovarian cancer are very serious problems that can be developed in women with endometriosis. Infertility is the main problem associated with endometriosis. It can be a major setback for seemingly healthy couples that want to start a family. “Endometriosis is associated with infertility in 30-40% of sufferers (World Endometriosis, 2011)” “The presence of endometriosis may involve masses of tissue or scarring (adhesions) within the pelvis that may distort normal anatomical structures, such as Fallopian tubes, which transport the eggs from the ovaries. Alternatively, endometriosis may affect fertility through the production of hormones and other substances that have a negative effect on ovulation, fertilization of the egg, and/or implantation of the embryo” (MedicineNet, 2013). Although
Background: Endometrial polyps are the most common endometrial pathology associated with postmenopausal tamoxifen exposure. Up to 3% of these polyp may show malignant changes. Objective is the endometrial cancer has predisposition or risk factors in postmenpausal tamoxifen receiving breast cancer patients risk factors for endometrial polyps. Methods: This is prospective study done at El-Hussien and Sayed Galal University hospitals the data were collected from medical records after the patient consent to be involved in this study we have two groups group I in which the hystrescope reveals the endometrial polyp at 6 months of tamoxifen receiving in