Endometriosis
- Silent epidemics strike at heart of women's health- WHU Jan 2004
- Tampons safe say manufacturers- WHW Feb 2000
- Endometriosis activated by HRT - WHW Jan 1997
- Endometrial Resection- From Feeling Fabulous at 40, 50 and Beyond (1996)
- WHIS Factsheet: Endometriosis
Silent epidemics strike at heart of women's health
January 2004 Women's Health Update
Gill Sanson recently attended a Green Party forum in Wellington hosted and organised by MP Sue Kedgeley on 'Silent Epidemics: Breast Cancer, Endometriosis and Chemical Sensitivity'. Gill reports on the blunt and troubling message delivered by the expert speakers.
Evidence is growing that New Zealand's relatively high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) namely dioxins, PCBs, DDT, 24-D, DES, delivered to us via fuel emissions, incineration, household products, pesticides, cosmetics, glues, chemical sunscreens, plastic food containers and so on, are linked to endometriosis, breast and uterine cancers, heart disease, migraine, severe PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, fibroids and infertility....Read More
Tampons safe say manufacturers
February 2000 Women's Health Watch
New Zealand tampon manufacturers vehemently deny rumours about tampon safety which are being circulated on the Internet by an American manufacturer of cotton tampons.
Over the last couple of months Women's Health Action has received a number of queries from women concerned by allegations that tampons contain dangerous traces of asbestos and dioxin....Read More
Over the last couple of months Women's Health Action has received a number of queries from women concerned by allegations that tampons contain dangerous traces of asbestos and dioxin....Read More
Endometriosis activated by HRT
January 1997 Women's Health Watch
A recent edition of the British Medical Journal reported the case of a 47-year-old woman who was acutely admitted to hospital with loin pain, changes in bowel habits and general malaise. These symptoms had occurred for three months.
Six years previously she had had her uterus and ovaries removed because of endometriosis.
Two years after this operation she was put on oral oestrogen when she complained of hot flushes, irritability and vaginal soreness.
On admission to hospital she was found to have an abdominal mass, with an obstructed right kidney and partially obstructed left kidney. She had much reduced kidney function.
When a biopsy was taken of the abdominal mass it was found to be a re-occurrence of the endometriosis with no sign of malignancy. The woman was treated surgically and with goserelin injections to suppress oestrogen production. She was taken off the HRT.
Over a period of months her left kidney recovered but the right did not. The endometrial mass gradually reduced in size.
The authors concluded that HRT can reactivate endometriosis and that the re-occurrence can be more severe than the original disease with a greater chance of the ureters being obstructed. In patients with ureteric obstruction, as many as 25% will sustain irreversible renal damage because of the delay in diagnosis. Danazol is ineffective once fibrosis has occurred.
Ref: BMJ 1996; 312: 1221-2
Endometrial Resection and Endometrial Ablation - From Feeling Fabulous at 40, 50 and Beyond (1996) Read Here
Resources:
WHIS Factsheet: Endometriosis
Previous page: Eating disorders and body image
Next page: Female genital mutilation (FGM)