Endometriosis: Etiology and Pathophysiology of Infertility
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⤵ 20 in-corpus citations
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This review examines the pathogenesis of endometriosis via retrograde menstruation and pelvic contamination, highlighting the immune system's role and the unclear mechanisms linking the disease to infertility.
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Abstract
The risk for developing endometriosis begins at puberty and extends to menopause in women of all races. The major pathway in the pathogenesis of this disease is the transplantation of endometrial cells to the pelvis and other abdominal organs via retrograde menstruation. Although retrograde menstruation appears to be a near universal occurrence, those women who are at particular risk for developing the disease have menstrual characteristics that increase the amount and duration of menstrual contamination of the pelvis. The ability of the body's immune system to remove this debris may play a significant independent role. In spite of the apparent association of infertility and endometriosis, there is a paucity of evidence to identify a clear cause-and-effect relationship or to clarify the specific mechanism(s) of infertility due to this enigmatic disease. Areas that warrant additional attention include the effect of endometriosis on ovulation, the impact of the immune system on the development of endometriosis, and the effect of peritoneal inflammation on reproduction. A better understanding of these areas will lead to more efficacious and specific therapies for endometriosis-associated infertility.
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Cited by (18)
- Role of Cytology in Scar Endometriosis: A Case Report 2023
- Surgical approach to coexistent inguinal endometriosis and inguinal hernial defect: a case report 2023
- The effect of pregnancy on endometriosis—facts or fiction? 2018
- Die Wirkung von hCG auf die Dezidualisierung ektoper endometrialer Läsionen als therapeutischer Ansatz zur Behandlung der Endometriose 2014
- Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of endometriosis of the abdominal wall: A potential diagnostic pitfall 2010
- Hydronephrosis due to ureteral endometriosis treated by transperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolysis 2004
- Salpingitis, Salpingoliths, and Serous Tumors of the Ovaries: Is There a Connection? 2002
- Pelvic endometriosis diagnosed on touch imprint cytology 2002
- Macrophage Secretory Products and Sperm Zona Pellucida Binding 2001
- Macrophage secretory products and sperm zona pellucida binding 2001
- A case of left inguinal endometriosis. 2000
- Antibodies to carbonic anhydrase in endometriosis: prevalence, specificity, and relationship to clinical and laboratory parameters 1996
- Human Peritoneal Macrophage and T Lymphocyte Populations in Mild and Severe Endometriosis 1995
- Treatment of Infertility Associated With Endometriosis 1995
- Premenarchal endometrial shedding revealed by peritoneal dialysis. 1995
- Histologic features associated with hormonal responsiveness of ectopic endometrium 1993
- Histologic features associated with hormonal responsiveness of ectopic endometrium 1993
- Gamete intrafallopian transfer as treatment for infertility associated with endometriosis 1990
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