| Endometriosis Common in ME/CFIDS/FMS By Cheryl Tai Endometriosis, a painful condition that is the leading cause of infertility has been found to be more common in ME/CFIDS as well as other diseases including lupus, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The October issue (17/10, "High rates of autoimmiune and endocrine disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: a survey analysis") of the medical journal, Human Reproduction, reported on a study the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at George Washington University along with the Endometriosis Association. A high 20% of the women afflicted had another disease and a third of this percentage had either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFIDS/ME)! It is the first study to finally document what women with these diseases have noticed for many painful years. Endometriosis is when the endometrial tissue grows outside of its normal location lining the uterus. Symptoms include painful menstruation, painful coitus, and, at times, painful urination and defecation along with premenstrual staining. The British researchers found that their study is suggestive of an immune system abnormality that could underlie this condition. This study as well as other studies suggest the cytokines, chemicals that be malfunctioning, may be responsible. An Associated Press article written by Emma Ross said "Chronic fatigue syndrome was more than 100 times more common than among the general population" while "Fibromyalgia...was twice as common among women with endometriosis." Other diseases that it occurred more frequently in were multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus and allergy sufferers were also found to be higher from a low of 18 percent in U.S. women and a high 61% of women with endometriosis. Excessive pain during or preceding menstruation is common along with pain during or after sex. The same hormones that cause the uterus to shed the endometrial lining also trigger the endometrial tissue that grows outside of the uterus to break apart and bleed. Instead of the blood having a way to leave the body as in menstruation, this blood has no means of elimination and it is assumed that the surrounding areas become inflamed. When I first heard this report, I remembered what first alerted David Berg, the Hemex researcher who found blood coagulation in ME/CFIDS and was funded by The National CFIDS Foundation, to do a retrospective study.....infertility! Indeed, he found the women in the study fit the criteria for ME/CFIDS! Another dot has been connected! |
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