Iron Therapy Might Work Against Endometriosis

Easing iron overload in the womb might help women that suffer from severe pains caused by the endometriosis disorder. Endometriosis is a painful disorder that appears in women's bodies as a consequence of the presence of the uterine tissue in other parts of the pelvic area, womb or abdominal cavity. This tissue is called the endometrial tissue and regularly it must line the uterus, but may grow in other "abnormal" regions of the body.

The endometrial tissue affects monthly the onset of menses and results in irritations of the abdominal cavity and fallopian tubes. This abnormal growing tissue may also interfere with ovulation and the possible implantation of embryo, leading to infertility in women. Due to the fact that the endometrum interferes with the menses - bleeding when the woman is at menstrual period, exactly like the similar tissue in the uterus- it may also lead to heavy menstruation.

Endometriosis is a benign disorder, therefore not cancerous, but it brings about pains, which can range from milder to extremely severe. The pain usually results from the inflammation of the surrounding tissues and scar tissue.

Experts say that about 10 - 15% of the female population suffers from this tissue disorder. Up to now no exact treatment has been developed in order to reduce the symptoms or treat this painful impairment. However, Belgian researchers have recently carried out studies on mice and showed that reducing the iron overload in the affected regions of woman's body may bring about amelioration of endometriosis and the disorder will not need further surgical intervention.

Jacques Donnez, leader of the research, head of the department of gynecology at the Catholic University of Louvain, explained which is the main goal of the study: "Our findings represent a crucial step in finding the answer to endometriosis, because we are focusing our research more on the origins and causes of the disease in the context of prevention than on surgical treatment when the disease is already present."

The medical team discovered that it is quite easy to cut on cells proliferation in the damaged pelvic or abdominal areas by using an "iron chealater" therapy method - molecules that attach to metal ions and annihilate their harmful effects upon the body.

"We really hope that, in the future, genetics will help us to determine the population of young women at high risk of endometriosis, and that treatment, resulting from our findings, may then prevent the development or evolution of the disease," Dr. Donnez added.