Enviroment and Endometriosis: a toxic relationship

Endometriosis is a common, benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological disease that represents one of the main causes of hospitalization in industrialized countries. It is well established that a large amount of natural and man-made chemicals are present in the enviroment and both humans and animals are exposed to them. Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds have long biological half-life, can accumulate within organism and could negatively affect several physiological processes. The purposeof this reviwev is to provide an overview of the possible relationship between these chimicals and the pathogenesis of endometriosis.