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As a background summary, National Institute of Health (NIH) funded researchers are gaining a better understanding of some of the workings of the uterus. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, hormone levels are continually changing in the uterus. At the start of the cycle, the hormone estrogen gradually increases and encourages the thickening of the endometrium. Once the ovary releases an egg, levels of the hormone progesterone begin to increase. Progesterone counteracts the estrogen in relation to the endometrium, preventing the lining from getting too thick in the case of egg fertilization. If the uterine lining is too thick, a fertilized egg will have difficulty implanting itself.
What researchers have recently discovered is the role of a protein called Hand2 in the whole process of the menstrual cycle. It was previously recognized that Hand2 increases along with the levels of progesterone following the release of an egg. However, based on a study with female mice, it is now understood that Hand2 acts as a sort of switch to turn off the estrogen from stimulating the endometrium. Now plans are underway to continue the study in women to determine the effects on the human uterus.
As mentioned a bit earlier, the effects of this study could be helpful in terms of possibly finding treatment for endometriosis and female infertility treatment as well. Failure to produce Hand2 within the uterus could be a cause for infertility as well as, it is speculated, a cause for endometriosis, because the result of a lack of Hand2 is a thickened uterine lining. The thought is that maybe without the presence of Hand2 in a woman’s uterus, the endometrium continues to grow even to the point of growing outside of the uterus, as is the case, in a sense, with endometriosis. Obviously it is too early to tell what the findings will reveal, but the speculated findings could open up the door to exciting research and possible treatments in regards to female reproductive health.
As you can see, things are still being studied and developed in respect to endometriosis, but there are options available so please don’t continue to suffer with it unnecessarily. Consult your doctor to explore your options or set up an appointment with the specialists at Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, P.C.
