What causes endometriosis?

What causes endometriosis? You may not know much about endometriosis, but it is a common gynecological disease in clinical practice. The lesions can affect all pelvic tissues and organs, with the ovaries, rectouterine pouch, uterosacral ligament and other parts being the most common. So, what causes endometriosis?

1. Implantation theory: retrograde menstrual blood and endometrial implantation. During menstruation, menstrual blood flows downstream from the cervix and vagina, but a small part of the menstrual blood or other reasons mixed with shed endometrial fragments flow into the abdominal cavity through the fallopian tubes and implant on the surface of the pelvic organs to form endometriosis lesions.

2. Metaplastic endometrium: serosal epithelium, metaplastic endometrium. During the embryonic development of the human body, the ovarian surface epithelium, peritoneum, vaginal rectal diaphragm, and umbilicus are all metaplastic from the coelomic epithelium. These tissues can be transformed under the stimulation of gonadal hormones, inflammation, and mechanical factors to form another type of tissue, which can also metaplasia into the endometrium.

3. Benign metastasis: benign metastasis of blood and lymph. This is a relatively rare cause of disease. Endometriosis that occurs in the lungs, meninges, pericardium, limbs and other distal parts is caused by the transfer of endometrial debris through the blood circulation or lymphatic system and retention in certain organs or tissues.

4. Defective immune defense function: The endometrium that flows back into the abdominal cavity with menstrual blood is like a foreign body, which will activate the body's immune system and mobilize a large number of immune cells and body fluids to encircle and eliminate it. If the body's immune function is defective, it will develop into endometriosis.

5. Genetic factors: Endometriosis has a certain genetic tendency and familial clustering, and people with a family history are more likely to suffer from the disease.

To prevent the occurrence of endometriosis, women who are late in childbearing, especially those with dysmenorrhea, should give birth as early as possible. Women who already have children or have no plans to have children, if they have dysmenorrhea, can choose oral contraceptives, which can prevent pregnancy and reduce the occurrence of endometriosis. During menstruation, all intense sports and heavy physical labor are prohibited, sexual intercourse should be avoided during menstruation, and diseases such as cervical adhesions that cause menstrual blood retention should be treated as soon as possible.