Post by Carolyn Levett on Jul 11, 2006 15:14:22 GMT -5
I am posting this here on the announcements board so it is easy to find and adding it to the general board. Feel free to add your own views on this topic - a bit of healthy debate - in the general board area.
THE ESTROGEN DEBATE
There seems to be some confusion or contradictory ideas about the role of estrogen in relation to endometriosis.
This topic is very complex and you need to do extensive research on the subject, firstly to get an over-view of the role of estrogen in this disease; secondly to understand the various ‘forms’ of estrogen and how they affect the body. Finally, you need to understand that there is no empirical evidence that can state which type of estrogen has which effect on the body.
But by researching further and further, a pattern can start to emerge of who has produced a logical statement; which medical report starts to ring true, which hypothesis seems to sit well.
BUT, there is no way to state as fact, which type of estrogen is actually triggering or feeding endometriosis. The only way to know this, is by extensive experimentation using healthy members of the female population, and induce excess estrogen into the body under controlled conditions. The next best solution is to use a closely related species, like monkeys, and test the results for emerging endometriosis caused by excess estrogen.
Many of you may have read of the research done by Dr Rier (I think that is the correct spelling) of the effects of dioxin on monkeys. It was found that the higher the levels of dioxins introduced into their bodies via diet – Dioxins have xenoestrogenic effects on the body – then higher levels of endometriosis were found. However, some researchers and scientists have refuted this research as the numbers of monkeys used in this trial was seen to be too small. But I feel the results talk for themselves - the higher the levels of dioxins, the higher the incidence of endometriosis; and of course scientists can be far too pragmatic for their own good.
The relationship between estrogen and endometriosis is complex, and more importantly, the chemical structure of the body is VERY complex and also very subtle.
This is why, in my own belief, it is very difficult to successfully treat the body with man-made chemically based compounds that try to mimic the same chemical structures/compounds of the body.
A major confusion for many women is WHICH FORM OF ESTROGEN IS FEEDING ENDOMETRIOSIS!
You are very unlikely to find any concrete and experiential proof anywhere which can state without doubt which estrogens are feeding endometriosis - whether it is the bodies own estrogens, phytoestrogens from diet or xenoestrogens from chemicals; or a combination of any of the above.
There is lots of supposition and speculation written in medical texts and on the internet on medical websites, but there is no undeniable proof.
I personally believe that the body is affected by exterior/man-made forms of estrogen. The environment in the northern hemisphere seems to be awash with estrogens. We have evidence with mutations in fish in our rivers, and the ever growing numbers of women suffering infertility, male infertility, and huge numbers of women being diagnosed with endometriosis.
I think the debate will continue as to which form of estrogen is feeding endometriosis unless extensive testing and research is done on the subject.
***************************************
ESTROGEN IN DIFFERENT GUISES
Then we have the confusion about the different estrogens and how they affect the body.
There are 3 types of estrogens to take into consideration:
• the natural estrogens of the body
• the phytoestrogens that are found in plant matter, which we eat in many of our foods
• finally there are the xenoestrogens which are man-made chemically based compounds that are not made intentionally to act as estrogens, but unfortunately when these compounds enter the body they have estrogenic effects – like dioxins and some of the chemicals found in everyday toiletries.
Some women feel that it is the bodies own estrogens that are the strongest, and it is an excess of these hormones that are feeding endometriosis. They also feel that by eating foods rich in phyto estrogens, they can block the receptors in the body that help the estrogen molecule to bind and be synthesized by the body. The thinking is that in turn this will stop the ‘strong’ natural estrogens produced in the body from entering the estrogen receptors, and thus lowering the body’s own estrogen levels. Hmmm complex, yes.
OK. Mother Nature did not make us to have estrogens that were ‘too strong’. What millions of women are suffering from today is estrogen dominance. And this comes about from our environment, our diet, our water pollution, and air pollution.
This is where the excess estrogen is coming from, and is likely to be the culprit that is either directly or indirectly feeding endometriosis. Notice the use of the word ‘likely’ in the previous sentence. Why? Because I cannot prove it. But having researched and read on this particular subject quite extensively, then it just rings true that it is:
1. Not the bodies own estrogens causing or feeding endometriosis
2. That it is un-natural, chemically based estrogens – dioxins, crop sprays, convenience foods loaded with soy products (soy contains high levels of phytoestrogens) – that are causing the hormonal upset.
BUT, I am not saying here what the cause of endometriosis is, only what is helping to feed it. However, I am cautious enough to say that maybe it is the bodies own estrogen that is feeding endometriosis. Maybe the excess estrogens from external sources are actually causing the bodies own estrogen to go on the rampage and do this damage.
No-one can answer this question with confidence. A lot of what you read about endometriosis, even from medical sources, is based on supposition, assumptions and theories … but NOT based on know fact.
**********************
BCP AND ESTROGEN
Another piece of the estrogen puzzle is the role of the BCP when used to manage/treat endometriosis.
Some women are thinking that the use of the BCP for the management of endometiosis is by means of increasing the levels of estrogen in the body so that these chemical estrogens will bind to the estrogen receptors in the body and in turn this will lower the levels of the bodies own estrogen. This is incorrect.
The use of the BCP for the treatment of endo is achieved by stopping ovulation and decreasing the endometrium's monthly cycle of growing, bleeding, and shedding. The BCP is also thought to affect the endometriosis growths (implants), making them shrink and bleed less.
There are different ways of using the BCP for endo, including taking the BCP continuously so that a woman does not have a period. This method of endometriosis management is similar to using other stronger hormone treatments like danazol that actually put the body into a state of psudo-menopause. The aim here is to stop the menstrual cycle from taking place at all, thus allowing any enometriotic implants and growths to shrink. This is common practice used by some doctors prior to surgery, to make the job easier for a surgeon to remove implants and growths.
If there are any other protocols in the use of the BCP for the treatment/management of endometriosis that I do not know about, or have got incorrect here, I would be glad to hear about it. But I think the explanation above is correct to the best of my knowledge.
********************************
Please be careful not to jump to conclusions about such a complicated subject as hormones and endometriosis. Also be careful about making sweeping statements that you have read elsewhere, as it may be incorrect.
I tried my best to write the content of the website at Endo Resolved to be objective. I will use words and statements like:
…. It could be that …
…. It has been speculated ….
…. It is possible that …
….. maybe … perhaps … it is possible
There are many women desperate for answers and solutions to this devastating disease so please be careful how you phrase any advice you give.
Hormones are powerful things and can easily be disrupted. Our emotions can quickly upset our levels of hormones and vice versa. With this in mind it is only common sense that disruptions to our hormones can take place due to external pollutants, bad diet, upset emotions, stress and so on.
MY own speculation and advice is to aim to get your hormones into as natural a balance as possible. My own journey of healing achieved this through homeopathy and the help of a well qualified homeopath. There are other alternative health practitioners who can help to get your hormones into a natural balance – Herbalist, Natural Chinese Medicine, Naturopath etc. Also try to avoid the xenoestrogens i.e from the chemicals in toiletries, sprayed foods etc. Not forgetting the successful use that some women have had by using natural progesterone cream to help deal with estrogen dominance.
I hope this brief posting helps to further your understanding about the complexity of estrogens in all their forms. Basically, there are NO DEFINITE ANSWERS. I’m sorry about that, but it is best for me to be honest, and not for women to be latching onto half-truths.
Yours with healing thoughts
Carolyn
www.endo-resolved.com
THE ESTROGEN DEBATE
There seems to be some confusion or contradictory ideas about the role of estrogen in relation to endometriosis.
This topic is very complex and you need to do extensive research on the subject, firstly to get an over-view of the role of estrogen in this disease; secondly to understand the various ‘forms’ of estrogen and how they affect the body. Finally, you need to understand that there is no empirical evidence that can state which type of estrogen has which effect on the body.
But by researching further and further, a pattern can start to emerge of who has produced a logical statement; which medical report starts to ring true, which hypothesis seems to sit well.
BUT, there is no way to state as fact, which type of estrogen is actually triggering or feeding endometriosis. The only way to know this, is by extensive experimentation using healthy members of the female population, and induce excess estrogen into the body under controlled conditions. The next best solution is to use a closely related species, like monkeys, and test the results for emerging endometriosis caused by excess estrogen.
Many of you may have read of the research done by Dr Rier (I think that is the correct spelling) of the effects of dioxin on monkeys. It was found that the higher the levels of dioxins introduced into their bodies via diet – Dioxins have xenoestrogenic effects on the body – then higher levels of endometriosis were found. However, some researchers and scientists have refuted this research as the numbers of monkeys used in this trial was seen to be too small. But I feel the results talk for themselves - the higher the levels of dioxins, the higher the incidence of endometriosis; and of course scientists can be far too pragmatic for their own good.
The relationship between estrogen and endometriosis is complex, and more importantly, the chemical structure of the body is VERY complex and also very subtle.
This is why, in my own belief, it is very difficult to successfully treat the body with man-made chemically based compounds that try to mimic the same chemical structures/compounds of the body.
A major confusion for many women is WHICH FORM OF ESTROGEN IS FEEDING ENDOMETRIOSIS!
You are very unlikely to find any concrete and experiential proof anywhere which can state without doubt which estrogens are feeding endometriosis - whether it is the bodies own estrogens, phytoestrogens from diet or xenoestrogens from chemicals; or a combination of any of the above.
There is lots of supposition and speculation written in medical texts and on the internet on medical websites, but there is no undeniable proof.
I personally believe that the body is affected by exterior/man-made forms of estrogen. The environment in the northern hemisphere seems to be awash with estrogens. We have evidence with mutations in fish in our rivers, and the ever growing numbers of women suffering infertility, male infertility, and huge numbers of women being diagnosed with endometriosis.
I think the debate will continue as to which form of estrogen is feeding endometriosis unless extensive testing and research is done on the subject.
***************************************
ESTROGEN IN DIFFERENT GUISES
Then we have the confusion about the different estrogens and how they affect the body.
There are 3 types of estrogens to take into consideration:
• the natural estrogens of the body
• the phytoestrogens that are found in plant matter, which we eat in many of our foods
• finally there are the xenoestrogens which are man-made chemically based compounds that are not made intentionally to act as estrogens, but unfortunately when these compounds enter the body they have estrogenic effects – like dioxins and some of the chemicals found in everyday toiletries.
Some women feel that it is the bodies own estrogens that are the strongest, and it is an excess of these hormones that are feeding endometriosis. They also feel that by eating foods rich in phyto estrogens, they can block the receptors in the body that help the estrogen molecule to bind and be synthesized by the body. The thinking is that in turn this will stop the ‘strong’ natural estrogens produced in the body from entering the estrogen receptors, and thus lowering the body’s own estrogen levels. Hmmm complex, yes.
OK. Mother Nature did not make us to have estrogens that were ‘too strong’. What millions of women are suffering from today is estrogen dominance. And this comes about from our environment, our diet, our water pollution, and air pollution.
This is where the excess estrogen is coming from, and is likely to be the culprit that is either directly or indirectly feeding endometriosis. Notice the use of the word ‘likely’ in the previous sentence. Why? Because I cannot prove it. But having researched and read on this particular subject quite extensively, then it just rings true that it is:
1. Not the bodies own estrogens causing or feeding endometriosis
2. That it is un-natural, chemically based estrogens – dioxins, crop sprays, convenience foods loaded with soy products (soy contains high levels of phytoestrogens) – that are causing the hormonal upset.
BUT, I am not saying here what the cause of endometriosis is, only what is helping to feed it. However, I am cautious enough to say that maybe it is the bodies own estrogen that is feeding endometriosis. Maybe the excess estrogens from external sources are actually causing the bodies own estrogen to go on the rampage and do this damage.
No-one can answer this question with confidence. A lot of what you read about endometriosis, even from medical sources, is based on supposition, assumptions and theories … but NOT based on know fact.
**********************
BCP AND ESTROGEN
Another piece of the estrogen puzzle is the role of the BCP when used to manage/treat endometriosis.
Some women are thinking that the use of the BCP for the management of endometiosis is by means of increasing the levels of estrogen in the body so that these chemical estrogens will bind to the estrogen receptors in the body and in turn this will lower the levels of the bodies own estrogen. This is incorrect.
The use of the BCP for the treatment of endo is achieved by stopping ovulation and decreasing the endometrium's monthly cycle of growing, bleeding, and shedding. The BCP is also thought to affect the endometriosis growths (implants), making them shrink and bleed less.
There are different ways of using the BCP for endo, including taking the BCP continuously so that a woman does not have a period. This method of endometriosis management is similar to using other stronger hormone treatments like danazol that actually put the body into a state of psudo-menopause. The aim here is to stop the menstrual cycle from taking place at all, thus allowing any enometriotic implants and growths to shrink. This is common practice used by some doctors prior to surgery, to make the job easier for a surgeon to remove implants and growths.
If there are any other protocols in the use of the BCP for the treatment/management of endometriosis that I do not know about, or have got incorrect here, I would be glad to hear about it. But I think the explanation above is correct to the best of my knowledge.
********************************
Please be careful not to jump to conclusions about such a complicated subject as hormones and endometriosis. Also be careful about making sweeping statements that you have read elsewhere, as it may be incorrect.
I tried my best to write the content of the website at Endo Resolved to be objective. I will use words and statements like:
…. It could be that …
…. It has been speculated ….
…. It is possible that …
….. maybe … perhaps … it is possible
There are many women desperate for answers and solutions to this devastating disease so please be careful how you phrase any advice you give.
Hormones are powerful things and can easily be disrupted. Our emotions can quickly upset our levels of hormones and vice versa. With this in mind it is only common sense that disruptions to our hormones can take place due to external pollutants, bad diet, upset emotions, stress and so on.
MY own speculation and advice is to aim to get your hormones into as natural a balance as possible. My own journey of healing achieved this through homeopathy and the help of a well qualified homeopath. There are other alternative health practitioners who can help to get your hormones into a natural balance – Herbalist, Natural Chinese Medicine, Naturopath etc. Also try to avoid the xenoestrogens i.e from the chemicals in toiletries, sprayed foods etc. Not forgetting the successful use that some women have had by using natural progesterone cream to help deal with estrogen dominance.
I hope this brief posting helps to further your understanding about the complexity of estrogens in all their forms. Basically, there are NO DEFINITE ANSWERS. I’m sorry about that, but it is best for me to be honest, and not for women to be latching onto half-truths.
Yours with healing thoughts
Carolyn
www.endo-resolved.com