Origins of Western diseases

M.J. Quinn, MJ Quinn, Quinn M
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine · 2011 · vol. 104(11) , pp. 449–456 · doi:10.1258/jrsm.2011.110014 · PMID:22048676 · PMC3206721 · W2132644900
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 2 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper proposes that autonomic denervation, initiated by injuries in the female pelvis, underlies many Western diseases including endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, and extrapelvic conditions.

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Abstract

Recent gynaecological studies show that childbirth, constipation, trauma and surgery cause injuries to autonomic nerves at different anatomical sites in the female pelvis resulting in endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids. Re-growth of abnormal nerves causes allodynic symptoms ('light touch causing pain or discomfort') some years later including vulvodynia, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, irritative bladder and bowel symptoms. Further consequences of autonomic denervation include tissue hypoplasia and hyperplasia, visceral dysfunction, susceptibility to infection, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as well as pain with sensitization of the central nervous system. The 'autonomic denervation' view extrapolates these observations from the female pelvis to the varied anatomy of branches of the cardiac and coeliac plexi to provide primary mechanisms for many forms of Western disease. This account sets out the autonomic denervation view, identifies features of autonomic denervation in extrapelvic organs, and, contrasts it with prior accounts of chronic Western diseases including those of DP Burkitt, PRJ Burch and DP Barker.

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Condition tags

endometriosisadenomyosisdysmenorrheadyspareunia

MeSH descriptors

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Autonomic Pathways Cardiovascular Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Intestinal Diseases Autonomic Denervation Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Autonomic Pathways Cardiovascular Diseases Constipation Constipation Female Genital Diseases, Female Humans Hyperalgesia Hyperalgesia Intestinal Diseases Leiomyoma Leiomyoma

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Cites (3)

Cited by (1)

References (38)

Cited by (1)

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europepmc
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openalex
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK