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Invisible endometriosis
Medical and natural treatments for endometriosis
In episode 4, Carole Minker explains the four pillars of endometriosis, why some treatments don't work for all, and how diet and lifestyle can make a difference.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Carole Minker explains why endometriosis is a psycho-neuroimmuno-endocrine disease. A complicated word for a simple reality: these four systems constantly influence each other. Understanding their role allows us to better understand why certain treatments work for some women. and not in others, and where to start taking concrete action.
The endocrine pillar
Endometriotic lesions are estrogen dependent, just like normal endometrium. What is less well known is that these lesions can acquire the ability to make their own estrogens themselves. In other words, even if their food is cut off elsewhere, some lesions can continue to maintain themselves. This is one reason why treatments that pause the cycle don't work the same for all women.
The immune pillar
Excess estrogen feeds an inflammatory state, and lesions develop precisely in this inflammatory environment. Moreover, specialists refer to endometriosis as a macrophage disease. The macrophage is a cell of the immune system whose role is to eliminate abnormal cells. In endometriosis, these macrophages can unwittingly collaborate, and help the lesions stay in place rather than eliminate them.
💡 Key figures
Scientific studies show that high exposure to BPA, an endocrine disruptor found in many plastics and food packaging, is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis.
Source: Caserta et al., EndeA study, PubMed, 2020.
The neurological pillar
Active damage can create new nerves that didn't exist before. These nerves participate in so-called neuropathic pain. But there is more: inflammation can sensitize the surrounding nerves, and this sensitization is not visible on an MRI. This is why a woman may experience pain in a specific location when no lesion is visible there.
It's not “in the head” in the sense that we often hear it. It's in the nervous system, in the literal sense.
There may also be central sensitization, that is, a change in the functioning of the nervous system at the level of the brain itself. This mechanism may explain the depression, anxiety, and mental fog present in some affected women.
The psychological pillar
Chronic stress is experienced as aggression by the body. It generates low-grade inflammation, and the lesions feed on it. Working on the state of mind, reducing sources of stress, and maintaining joy and social ties is therefore an integral part of the approach. Carole reminds us: chronically negative people have a poorer immune system. It is not a judgment, it is a scientific fact.
Conventional treatments
The treatments recommended by the HAS are so-called cycle suspensive treatments. Their principle is based on a simple observation: the lesions feed on the estrogens produced by the ovaries. If we reduce this production, we deprive the lesions of their main fuel.
In practice, this can take several forms:
- The contraceptive pill, including some estrogen-progestational formulas. Carole warns: these pills themselves contain estrogenic molecules, sometimes more estrogenizing than natural estradiol. For some women, they can therefore worsen the situation rather than alleviate it.
- Other hormonal treatments such as dienogest, a progestin used specifically in endometriosis.
- In the most severe cases, surgery to remove the accessible lesions.
What Carole insists on: these treatments work well for some women, and that's good. But they only deal with part of the problem. Because some lesions have acquired the ability to make their own estrogens, regardless of the cycle. In this case, suspending the cycle is not enough. That's why some women try three, four, five pills in a row with no results.
Adapt your diet
Food is a concrete and accessible tool. The 80/20 rule applies: 80% of the time the cleanest food possible, 20% occasional differences, without guilt. In concrete terms, this means:
- Reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol
- Increase vegetables and high-quality proteins
- Give priority to sources of omega-3, in particular via small fatty fish, eggs from the Bleu-Blanc-Coeur sector, or adapted supplementation. Carole recalls that we humans transform very little vegetable omega-3 into active omega-3 (EPA, DHA). Animals do it for us. An entire episode will be dedicated to them in this program.
Avoid endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors mainly have an estrogenic effect, which makes them particularly problematic in endometriosis. They are found in industrial foods, household products and everyday cosmetics. Concrete and realistic actions exist:
- Choose natural cosmetics with as few ingredients as possible
- Prefer raw foods and limit plastic packaging
- Ventilate your home twice a day
🔎 Useful definitions
Macrophage : cell of the immune system whose role is to eliminate abnormal or unwanted cells. In endometriosis, these cells can unwittingly collaborate and help the lesions stay in place.
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Endocrine disruptors : chemical substances found in the environment that mimic the action of estrogens in the body. They are found in some industrial foods, plastic packaging, cosmetics and household products. In endometriosis, they can worsen the hyperestrogenic condition that feeds the lesions.
🎯 Actions concrètes
- If I take the pill and it doesn't work after 3 or 4 tries, I talk frankly to my doctor. Suspending the cycle is not the only possible approach and it is not suitable for all
- Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet gradually
- Reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol.
- Increase vegetables, good proteins and omega-3 sources; the 80/20 rule applies: no guilt for one-time differences.
- Reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors
- Choose natural cosmetics with as few ingredients as possible
- Prefer raw food products and avoid plastic packaging as much as possible
- Ventilate your home twice a day.
- Work on the three S
- Gentle and regular sport
- Quality sleep
- Reduction in sources of stress.
- Without these foundations, no other approach will have its full effect.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
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⭐ La série Invisible endométriose est possible grâce à la participation de Norsan. L'épisode Bonus leur est dédié, et vous en apprendrez plus sur les Oméga 3 dans l'épisode 9. Norsan, entreprise spécialiste en production d'Oméga 3 depuis 2013 sont le plus grand distributeurs d'Oméga 3 en pharmacie car leur Oméga 3 naturels et de haute qualité font partie aujourd'hui des meilleurs Oméga 3 disponibles sur le marché.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Carole Minker explains why endometriosis is a psycho-neuroimmuno-endocrine disease. A complicated word for a simple reality: these four systems constantly influence each other. Understanding their role allows us to better understand why certain treatments work for some women. and not in others, and where to start taking concrete action.
The endocrine pillar
Endometriotic lesions are estrogen dependent, just like normal endometrium. What is less well known is that these lesions can acquire the ability to make their own estrogens themselves. In other words, even if their food is cut off elsewhere, some lesions can continue to maintain themselves. This is one reason why treatments that pause the cycle don't work the same for all women.
The immune pillar
Excess estrogen feeds an inflammatory state, and lesions develop precisely in this inflammatory environment. Moreover, specialists refer to endometriosis as a macrophage disease. The macrophage is a cell of the immune system whose role is to eliminate abnormal cells. In endometriosis, these macrophages can unwittingly collaborate, and help the lesions stay in place rather than eliminate them.
💡 Key figures
Scientific studies show that high exposure to BPA, an endocrine disruptor found in many plastics and food packaging, is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis.
Source: Caserta et al., EndeA study, PubMed, 2020.
The neurological pillar
Active damage can create new nerves that didn't exist before. These nerves participate in so-called neuropathic pain. But there is more: inflammation can sensitize the surrounding nerves, and this sensitization is not visible on an MRI. This is why a woman may experience pain in a specific location when no lesion is visible there.
It's not “in the head” in the sense that we often hear it. It's in the nervous system, in the literal sense.
There may also be central sensitization, that is, a change in the functioning of the nervous system at the level of the brain itself. This mechanism may explain the depression, anxiety, and mental fog present in some affected women.
The psychological pillar
Chronic stress is experienced as aggression by the body. It generates low-grade inflammation, and the lesions feed on it. Working on the state of mind, reducing sources of stress, and maintaining joy and social ties is therefore an integral part of the approach. Carole reminds us: chronically negative people have a poorer immune system. It is not a judgment, it is a scientific fact.
Conventional treatments
The treatments recommended by the HAS are so-called cycle suspensive treatments. Their principle is based on a simple observation: the lesions feed on the estrogens produced by the ovaries. If we reduce this production, we deprive the lesions of their main fuel.
In practice, this can take several forms:
- The contraceptive pill, including some estrogen-progestational formulas. Carole warns: these pills themselves contain estrogenic molecules, sometimes more estrogenizing than natural estradiol. For some women, they can therefore worsen the situation rather than alleviate it.
- Other hormonal treatments such as dienogest, a progestin used specifically in endometriosis.
- In the most severe cases, surgery to remove the accessible lesions.
What Carole insists on: these treatments work well for some women, and that's good. But they only deal with part of the problem. Because some lesions have acquired the ability to make their own estrogens, regardless of the cycle. In this case, suspending the cycle is not enough. That's why some women try three, four, five pills in a row with no results.
Adapt your diet
Food is a concrete and accessible tool. The 80/20 rule applies: 80% of the time the cleanest food possible, 20% occasional differences, without guilt. In concrete terms, this means:
- Reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol
- Increase vegetables and high-quality proteins
- Give priority to sources of omega-3, in particular via small fatty fish, eggs from the Bleu-Blanc-Coeur sector, or adapted supplementation. Carole recalls that we humans transform very little vegetable omega-3 into active omega-3 (EPA, DHA). Animals do it for us. An entire episode will be dedicated to them in this program.
Avoid endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors mainly have an estrogenic effect, which makes them particularly problematic in endometriosis. They are found in industrial foods, household products and everyday cosmetics. Concrete and realistic actions exist:
- Choose natural cosmetics with as few ingredients as possible
- Prefer raw foods and limit plastic packaging
- Ventilate your home twice a day
🎯 Concrete actions
- If I take the pill and it doesn't work after 3 or 4 tries, I talk frankly to my doctor. Suspending the cycle is not the only possible approach and it is not suitable for all
- Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet gradually
- Reduce ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol.
- Increase vegetables, good proteins and omega-3 sources; the 80/20 rule applies: no guilt for one-time differences.
- Reducing your exposure to endocrine disruptors
- Choose natural cosmetics with as few ingredients as possible
- Prefer raw food products and avoid plastic packaging as much as possible
- Ventilate your home twice a day.
- Work on the three S
- Gentle and regular sport
- Quality sleep
- Reduction in sources of stress.
- Without these foundations, no other approach will have its full effect.
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