Hormonal treatments, such as reducing the level of estrogen, for endometriosis are not always effective, have side effects, and can make fertility problems worse
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a poorly understood disorder of the female reproductive system in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus also appears outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity. These deposits of abnormal tissue placed (called lesions) can cause pain and inflammation and may interfere with normal fertility. Hormonal treatments, such as reducing the level of estrogen, for endometriosis are not always effective, have side effects, and can make fertility problems worse. Recently, Dr. Katzenellenbogen and his team developed two compounds that bind to two different estrogen receptors (thereby blocking the action of estrogen) and tested them in a mouse model of endometriosis. They found that the new compounds prevented the establishment of new tissue growth or caused the regression of established tumors. The compounds also prevented/suppressed the nerve innervation and inflammation that accompany abnormal tissue growth. Interestingly, the treatments had no effect on reproductive cyclicity or fertility. These results provide a new approach to the safe and effective treatment of endometriosis in women without altering fertility http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/7/271/271ra9.full.pdf to external websites (PDF – 8.8 MB)