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by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.
A True Help for Adenomyosis
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Natural Hormone Treatment of Adenomyosis
In adenomyosis, the endometrium invades the uterine muscle. Simply explained, there are two parts of the uterus. One part is the outside muscle. The second part, the endometrium, is the lining on the inside of the uterus. The endometrium bleeds and sheds every menstrual cycle. Adenomyosis is when the endometrium grows deep into the uterine muscle and bleeds there. The  endometrial cells deep in the uterine muscle bleed every month and cause cramping pain that varies with the menstrual cycle. The blood and the endometrial cells that usually go out of the uterus with the period every month are trapped deep within the muscle and cannot escape. The result is cramping uterine pain that usually occurs after age 35. Endometriosis is endometrium in the abdominal cavity on the outside of the uterus, on the bowels, on the ovary, or on the tubes. Adenomyosis is endometrium trapped within the uterine muscular wall. Adenomyosis can cause many patients to have severe pain, prolonged or excessive menstrual periods and an enlarged uterus.
Pregnancy produces large amounts of Natural Progesterone and usually makes adenomyosis better. Natural Progesterone opposes estrogen. Also, adenomyosis disappears after menopause. What does that tell you about the cause of adenomyosis? Excess estrogen causes adenomyosis!
What is the source of excess estrogen? First, there are chemicals that act like estrogen. See xenoestrogens. These are called xenoestrogens. Endometriosis [ adenomyosis ] was virtually unknown 150 years ago. Second, low level stress and anxiety may impair the excretion of chemical estrogens (xenoestrogens). This is what I call a "clogged toilet syndrome." Third, after the age of 35, the ovary is just producing estrogen hormone, not Natural Progesterone. Before the age of 35, the ovary produces both estrogen and Natural Progesterone. The first part of the cycle is dominated by Natural Estradiol and the latter part of the cycle is dominated by Natural Progesterone. The follicle comes up while releasing estradiol and releases the egg. The spent follicle then becomes known as the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum then produces Natural Progesterone.
However, after the age of 35, the follicle comes up, BUT does NOT release the egg. No corpus luteum is produced and thus NO Natural Progesterone is produced. This anovulatory cycle (no ovulation cycle) does not produce Natural Progesterone. Thus, after the age of 35, anovulatory cycles happen without the production of Natural Progesterone just estradiol. Anovulatory cycles may also be caused by xenoestrogens.
Natural Progesterone opposes the effect of estradiol and xenoestrogens. Estrogen tells the cells to reproduce and proliferate. Natural Progesterone tells the cells to stop reproducing and grow up and mature. Excess estrogen or estrogen dominance encourages endometrial growth! Thus, excess estrogen in the form of estradiol and chemical estrogens will cause adenomyosis and endometriosis to get worse.
The solution for adenomyosis is to avoid xenoestrogens ( chemical estrogens ) and then take Natural Progesterone. By taking Natural Progesterone, we are creating what is known in the mainstream medicine as a "pseudo pregnancy" or false or fake pregnancy.
Natural Progesterone is NOT the same as the synthetic prescription Progestin that your doctor may give you such as Megestrol or Provera. These synthetic prescription Progestins are chemically modified from Natural Progesterone. This is because any hormone found in nature, by law, cannot be patented. Thus, if something cannot be patented, then there are 30 competitors. The price goes down. Patented Progestins are patented. Patented prescription Progestins can be sold for lots of profit. The large profits may then be used to hire $60,000-$100,000 per year salesmen. These rich salesmen can then push the drugs on unsuspecting physicians. These high profit patented synthetic Progestins cause cancer. There is now a class action lawsuit against Premarin. See QandA and Progestins.
In contrast, Natural Progesterone does NOT cause cancer. Natural Progesterone PREVENTS cancer. Natural Progesterone can be bought without a prescription over the counter. See QandA.
Usually, I recommend my patients to make a change to avoid xenoestrogens in their soaps, shampoos and laundry detergent, etc. for 1-2 months, and THEN take Natural Progesterone. This waiting time allows the xenoestrogens to wash out of the body. Chronic excess estrogen exposure makes the human body desensitized to estrogen. It is sort of like going to a rock concert. In the beginning, the music is loud, but after half an hour, the music seems not so loud. The music loudness has NOT changed, your body has just tried to become less sensitive to the noise. Similarly, the body becomes less sensitive to estrogen because of the chronic excess estrogen exposure.
Natural Progesterone resensitizes the estrogen receptors back to normal. And it seems like you are getting more estrogen when you are really not.
For most cases, cutting out the xenoestrogens for 1-2 months and THEN taking Natural Progesterone works well for adenomyosis. This allows time for the xenoestrogens to wash out of the body. The rare exceptions to this rule are women with chronic levels of anxiety or fear that retain xenoestrogens and have an extreme "clogged toilet" syndrome. In other words, these women have more difficulty getting rid of xenoestrogens because chronic anxiety/fear. This chronic anxiety and fear may manifest as a hypersensitivity to smell or positive Rhomburg test. A Rhomburg test is where you put your feet together, stand on your tip toes, and close your eyes. You have a positive Rhomburg test if you cannot keep your balance. However, avoiding xenoestrogens and taking Natural Progesterone still works for the vast majority of women that have a "clogged toilet" syndrome.
Chemical estrogens known as xenoestrogens (xeno means foreign) first came to widespread scientific attention in the early 1990�s. The cover story of TIME magazine October 30, 2000 told of young girls going through early puberty. The famous 1997 Herman-Giddens study showed that out of 17,000 girls aged 8, 15% of these girls aged 8 were sprouting breast buds and pubic hair. TIME magazine blamed chemicals that act like estrogen or xenoestrogens for causing the early puberty. These same chemical estrogens, xenoestrogens, that are causing early puberty in girls are now being blamed as the cause of adenomyosis as well as endometriosis, breast cancer and cervical cancer. See xenoestrogens and adenomyosis.
Here is an excerpt from John Lee, MD's book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer":
"Gerhard and Runnebaum (1992) first brought attention to the link between the high levels of dioxins in blood and endometriosis ( adenomyosis is similar to endometriosis ). Scientific research with female rhesus monkeys fed different amounts of dioxin in their diet for four years. One group of seven animals was fed as usual without dioxin in their food, a second group had 5 parts per trillion dioxin, a third group was fed 25 parts per trillion dioxin. Ten years following dioxin administration, five of the seven animals (71 percent) given the high does of dioxin developed moderate to severe endometriosis [ adenomyosis ]. In the group receiving the intermediate dose three of the seven animals (43 percent) developed endometriosis [ adenomyosis ]. And in the group receiving no dioxin only about 33 percent developed any level of endometriosis [ adenomyosis ], which is consistent with the expected frequency of endometriosis [ adenomyosis ] in rhesus monkeys in captivity."
John Lee, MD
See a new website on Adenomyosis and Alternative Medicine Treatment
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Get Rid of Adenomyosis!
NO Surgery!
John Lee, MD Treats Adenomyosis Successfully
WITHOUT SURGERY
John Lee, MD and Zava, PhD further writes in their book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer page 224
"Endometriosis [ adenomyosis ] involves small islets of endometrial tissue scattered here and there about the uterus, other pelvic organs, the wall of the colon, and even in the lungs. While the cause isn�t clear, these islets of endometrial tissue respond to estrogen  just as the cells in the uterus do - they fill with blood each month, causing severe pain that recurs monthly. During pregnancy, endometriosis [ adenomyosis ] recedes, only to recur after the pregnancy when normal periods return. This suggests that the higher levels of progesterone during pregnancy inhibit estrogen stimulated endometriosis [ adenomyosis ].
During regular menstrual cycles, estrogen production rises around day 7 to 8 of the cycle and falls a day or so before your period begins. Progesterone production, on the other hand starts after ovulation (around day 12), reaching levels several hundred times greater than estrogen, and falls abruptly a day or so before your period. Using this concept as a model for treating endometriosis [ adenomyosis ], progesterone can be given in doses similar to that of early pregnancy, starting at day 8 and continuing until day 26 of a usual 28-day cycle. Experience show that this treatment is often effective in relieving the symptoms of endometriosis [ adenomyosis ]. Your goal is to find the lowest dose of Natural Progesterone necessary to control endometrial stimulation.
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"Improvement [ in adenomyosis ] is usually noted after several months of using progesterone cream [ oil ]."
John Lee, M.D.
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High Natural Progesterone Levels during Pregnancy Stops Endometriosis [ Adenomyosis ]
During the early weeks of pregnancy, progesterone production doubles or triples, from the normal 12 to 24 mg per day to 40 to 60 mg per day. These levels are easily reached using � teaspoon of Natural Progesterone cream twice or three times a day during these 18 days of the cycle. Many women find success using a two-ounce jar or tube of the recommended cream each monthly cycle. Improvement is usually noted after several months of using progesterone cream in this manner. If improvement isn�t found in two months, the dose can be raised to one ounce per week. It can take up to six months for symptoms to be controlled, and even then they may not dissipate entirely. If symptoms eventually disappear, the progesterone dose can be decreased gradually to find the lowest effective dose. (Otherwise use the dose that�s most effective to control the symptoms.) This must be continued until menopause is passed, since recurrences are common if the progesterone protection is lowered too much. If a flare-up occurs, increase the dose to the previous effective level. If a high dose of progesterone cream make you sleepy, that�s an indication that your taking too much. Reduce the dose until the sleepiness goes away."
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"Over time (four to six months), however, the monthly pains gradually subside as monthly bleeding in the islets becomes less and healing  of the inflammatory sites occurs. The monthly discomfort may not disappear entirely but becomes more tolerable. Endometriosis [ adenomyosis ] is cured by menopause. This technique is surely worth a trial, since the alternatives are not all that successful and laden with undesirable consequences and side effects."
John Lee, M.D.
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"I also recommend adding vitamin E in dosages of 600 IU
at bedtime, supplemental magnesium (300 milligrams a day), and vitamin B6 (50 milligrams per day)*. This treatment
is simple, safe, inexpensive, successful, and natural." John Lee, MD
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3.0 or greater.
Indole-3-Carbinol is a dervative of brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. Indole-3-Carbinol
gives your body the raw material to inactivate estradiol. Take 200 mg/day of indole-3-carbinol.
Since indole-3-carbinol lowers estradiol levels you may or may not get hot flashes. However, you may only
need to take indole-3-carbinol for 2-3 months for your adenomyosis. Clinically, we seem to
get better results using indole-3-carbinol rather than DIM (Diiindolymethane). Indole-3-Carbinol lowers
estradiol. Estradiol stimulates adenomyosis. Thus, using indole-3-carbinol makes the adenomyosis better.
*Whole grains also regulate hormonal levels due to
their high levels of vitamin B and vitamin E, which have a beneficial effect on both the liver and the ovaries.
In 1942, a researcher named Biskind found that B vitamin deficiency hindered the liver's ability to metabolize
estrogen levels in both animal and human test subjects. The addition of B vitamin supplementation to the diet of
women suffering from PMS, heavy menstrual bleeding, and fibrocystic breast disease helped to decrease the severity
of their symptoms. Studies conducted at UCLA Medical School during the 1980s found that taking a specific B vitamin,
pyridoxine B6, helped to relieve symptoms of menstrual cramps and PMS.
Research also conducted during the 1980s at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center similarly found, in several
placebo controlled studies, that vitamin E is useful in reducing many PMS symptoms, as well as fibrocystic breast
discomfort. Other studies have found that vitamin E supplementation reduced menopause related hot flashes, fatigue,
and mood swings in 66 to 85 percent of the women tested, depending on the study. One additional study noted a decrease
in the symptoms of vaginal atrophy in 50 percent of the postmenopausal women volunteers.
© 2004 Adenomyosis Education,
Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, translated, transmitted, framed or stored
in a retrieval system for public or private use without the written permission of the publisher.
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