Endometriosis: avenues that seem to work

Endometriosis affects more than 10% of women. This figure could even be revised upwards since the disease is still underdiagnosed. Little is known about the causes of this disease. No action today, other than surgery, can provide a definitive solution ...

However, at Fertil-In we are optimistic! We seek out and use leads whose results seem promising.

We tell you here about our observations, but also about the main axes that we use in our programs to help our users to improve their fertility, their symptoms and the health that they pass on to their children.

1. Immunity

It is difficult to certify to this day that endometriosis is an autoimmune disease, but it does have a few features.

It was observed, in a group of women suffering from endometriosis and in comparison with a group of women who did not have this pathology, immune variations^[1].

In women with endometriosis, a higher ratio between TH17 lymphocytes and CD25 + lymphocytes was observed, especially in the blood. A configuration prevalent in most autoimmune diseases.

We can therefore suspect an anarchic immune activity in endometriosis. However, there is a curiosity. This previously cited ratio seems to be completely reversed in the peritoneal fluid level near the areas affected by endometriosis^[2].

In this tissue, immunity would seem more to allow an anarchic proliferation of cells with greatly increased CD25 +.

Endometriosis is therefore an immune curiosity. In nutrition, there are certain attitudes that allow us to balance immunity one way or other. This is exactly what we offer in our programs.

Anne, for example, with endometriosis, was able to observe that the pain had disappeared a month after starting the InConcept program and made her dream of becoming a mother come true after several years of infertility! Watch his testimony here.

2. Excessive inflammation

Endometrial tissue is inflammatory. It's not a revelation, do you know that? However, the question that can be asked is: why does it inflame?

Inflammation in the body is initially a benign process, aimed at recruiting cells to repair tissue.
Once the tissue goes into "repair" mode, through molecules like resolvins for example, the inflammation stops.

So why does the inflammation become chronic in the endometriosis? We have followed two major leads.

The first is a lack of repair "material". Knowing that resolvins are produced from omega 3 fatty acids, we immediately acted on this path, which, moreover has been strongly supported by the science^[3].

The second: endometrial tissue is tissue infiltrated by immune cells, mast cells^[4]which themselves produce molecules that are pro-inflammatory and decongestant for the tissue^[5]. This tissue is therefore poorly drained and has little chance of becoming without specific immune action. Therefore, we offer strict, but short actions aimed at reducing immune infiltration and helping tissue to drainage.

3. The way out

In our programs, we put in place the most reliable avenues to improve the condition of the endometrial tissue according to each individual's profile.

We know that endometriosis has a potential way out, which is pregnancy!
With endometriosis, pregnancy and breastfeeding tend to bring a calming and sometimes healing effect, probably through their immune and hormonal action^[6].

The goal is therefore clear: to decrease the activity of endometrial tissue, until a first pregnancy. Then, recommend prolonged breastfeeding to follow on a second pregnancy, then prolonged breastfeeding .... and so on. There is therefore a chance, later, that the endometrial tissue becomes "inactive" and in this case, it is victory!

Beyond having beneficial effects on the mother's endometriosis, breastfeeding also seems to reduce the risk of developing this disease in the child by 3, if it is a girl^[7].

What if reducing endometriosis over several generations was due to lifestyle factors?

Of course, if this is not an option for you and the pain becomes unbearable, then you could discuss potential surgery or other treatments with your gynecologist.

A big question to which we already have a piece of the answer: trying to change doesn't cost anything!

We believe that endometriosis is a condition that is also regulated by the field. Although it is not completely reversible by the lifestyle changes, it is controllable! Taking back the reins of such an invasive pathology feels good!

I want to take control of my endometriosis!

Notes :

[1] Khan, K. N., Yamamoto, K., Fujishita, A., Muto, H., Koshiba, A., Kuroboshi, H., Saito, S., Teramukai, S., Nakashima, M., & Kitawaki, J. (2019). Differential Levels of Regulatory T Cells and T-Helper-17 Cells in Women With Early and Advanced Endometriosis. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 104(10), 4715–4729. doi.org/10.1210/jc.2019-00350

[2] Podgaec, S., Rizzo, L. V., Fernandes, L. F., Baracat, E. C., & Abrao, M. S. (2012). CD4(+) CD25(high) Foxp3(+) cells increased in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis. American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 68(4), 301–308. doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2012.01173.x

[3] Akyol, A., Şimşek, M., İlhan, R., Can, B., Baspinar, M., Akyol, H., Gül, H. F., Gürsu, F., Kavak, B., & Akın, M. (2016). Efficacies of vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on experimental endometriosis. Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology, 55(6), 835–839. doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.018

[4] Binda, M. M., Donnez, J., & Dolmans, M. M. (2017). Targeting mast cells: a new way to treat endometriosis. Expert opinion on therapeutic targets, 21(1), 67–75. doi.org/10.1080/14728222.2017.1260548

[5] Sugamata M, Ihara T, Uchiide I. Increase of activated mast cells in human endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2005 Mar;53(3):120-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2005.00254.x. PMID: 15727565.

[6] Farland LV, Eliassen AH, Tamimi RM, Spiegelman D, Michels KB, Missmer SA. History of breast feeding and risk of incident endometriosis: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2017 Aug 29;358:j3778. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j3778. PMID: 28851765; PMCID: PMC5574033.

[7] Liu, S., Cui, H., Zhang, Q., & Hua, K. (2019). Influence of early-life factors on the development of endometriosis. The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception, 24(3), 216–221. doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2019.1602723