Study Finds a Link between Sunscreen Ingredient and Endometriosis
Posted by on July 20, 2012 - 10:59am

A recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology tied a group of chemicals called benzophenones to an increased risk of endometriosis.  The study measured the amount of benzophenones in the urine of 600 women who were tested for endometriosis.  One particular benzophenone, benzophenone-1, showed a significant association with the condition.  Compared to women with low levels, women who had the highest concentration of this chemical in their urine showed a 65% greater chance of having the condition.  In a separate study, the CDC found benzophenones in the urine of 97% of people tested.  With one in ten women having endometriosis, benzophenone-1 may be the cause.

Benzophenones protect against UV light.  In small quantities, like nail polish, it stabilizes compounds that are stored in clear containers.  When used in a higher concentration, such as on the skin, it becomes a good sunscreen.  Benzophenone-1 in particular can be produced from oxybenzone (or benzophenone-3), a chemical penetration enhancer found in sunscreen, when the body breaks it down.

Interestingly, the CDC also linked benzophenone-3 to many other health issues such as allergies, hormone disruption, cell damage and low birth weight in female babies.  Among sunscreen, the chemical can also be found in facial cleansers/treatments, lip balm, lipstick, anti-aging creams, conditioners and perfume.

Endometriosis, a gynecological condition, occurs when tissue from the uterus grows outside of the uterus instead of inside it.  The tissue can start to grow in other places such as into the abdomen, outside the ovaries and around the fallopian tubes.  It thickens and sheds simultaneously with the tissue inside of the uterus during the menstrual cycle.  The condition causes pain, irregular bleeding, scarring and can cause infertility.

The group of chemicals mimics estrogen, and while researchers cannot definitively pinpoint the cause of the condition, they do know that estrogen enhances the condition.  Treatment usually involves medications to lower the amount of estrogen in the body.

The Personal Care Products Council, which represents cosmetics manufacturers, said that the study was weak and unconvincing and should not be a deterrent from sunscreen or safe-sun practices.  The group says the study did not ask participants if (or how much) sunscreen they wore, therefore they couldn’t attribute the results directly to sunscreen.

Conversely, women in California had higher concentrations of the chemical when tested during the summer, suggesting that sunscreen is the culprit, according to Sonya Lunder, MPH of the Environmental Working Group.  The CDC found similar results in light-skinned women who were tested, further confirming Lunder’s theory.

Many of the findings seem conflicting. The best advice may be to find a sunscreen without the chemical, such as one that is mineral-based, containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.  These varieties block the sun naturally, so you can protect yourself against both the condition and the harmful UV rays.

 

Sunscreens without Oxybenzone:

Natural Sun SPF 30 Sunscreen for Active Lifestyles

Oat Protein Sunscreen SPF 30 by Kiss My Face

SPF 30 Sunscreen by Vanicream

 

Read more about the topic here or here.

 

Protein Helps Pregnancy Proceed
Posted by on March 11, 2011 - 1:01pm

Researchers have identified a key step in the establishment of a pregnancy. The discovery may shed light on fertility disorders and diseases of the uterus, including endometrial cancer. At the start of each menstrual cycle, levels of the hormone estrogen begin to rise, which causes the uterine lining to grow and thicken. When the ovary releases an egg, levels of another hormone, progesterone, increase. Higher progesterone levels put the brakes on the estrogen-driven growth of the uterine lining, allowing the lining to mature and egg implantation to take place. Because of this function, progesterone is sometimes given to women to treat infertility and prevent premature birth. However, it carries some unpleasant side effects. A greater understanding of how progesterone works could lead to better treatments. It could also shed light on disorders such as endometrial cancer and endometriosis, which is marked by uncontrolled growth of the uterine lining. To clarify how progesterone stops the growth of the uterine lining, the study's first author, Dr. Quanxi Li of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led a group of researchers from several institutions. Their findings were published in the February 28, 2011, issue of Science. The team focused on the role of a protein called Hand2 in halting the growth of the uterine lining. They had previously found that blocking the progesterone receptor decreased Hand2 expression in uterine cells, indicating a link between Hand2 and progesterone.In their new study, the team genetically engineered mice to lack Hand2 in the uterus, and then gave them progesterone. They then stimulated uterine lining growth with estrogen. In normal mice, progesterone prevents the uterine lining from growing. In the mice without Hand2, however, the lining grew in spite of the progesterone treatment. The scientists found that uterine cells beneath the lining express Hand2 during egg implantation. Further experiments revealed that estrogen stimulates the production of molecules called growth factors, which cause the uterine lining to grow. High levels of Hand2, brought on by progesterone, stop the production of these growth factors. Therefore, the uterine lining stops growing, allowing egg implantation. The discovery of Hand2's role in halting growth of the uterine lining may spur development of treatments for diseases like endometriosis and endometrial cancer. "This information helps us understand how the interplay of hormones prepares the uterus to host and support the embryo as it grows," says Dr. Milan Bagchi, a senior author of the study. "Our next priority will be to examine whether Hand2 plays a critical role in the human uterus as well." Related Links: Pregnancy Infertility Endometriosis Source:  National Institutes of Health

More on Endometriosis
Posted by on September 21, 2010 - 9:27am

For some unknown reason, we are suddenly receiving a lot of comments on our March 2010 posting on Endometriosis.    Maybe it is because endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, affecting more that 5.5 million women in North America alone.   There is a comprehensive fact sheet available from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on this topic that is very helpful.    Click here to view the information.

March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month!
Posted by on March 2, 2010 - 2:18pm

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disorder in which the endometrial tissue, or the inner lining of the uterus, migrates to areas outside the uterus, most commonly the ovaries and Fallopian tubes.  The endometrial tissue is the same tissue that thickens throughout the menstrual cycle and sheds (bleeds) causing the menstrual period.  When this process occurs outside the uterus, the blood has nowhere to go causing pain in the pelvic region and sometimes cysts or adhesions.

The symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, heavy menstrual periods, bleeding between periods and infertility.  Because many other conditions can cause these symptoms, endometriosis is often difficult to diagnose.  The causes of endometriosis are uncertain, but it does tend to run in families, and having children likely reduces the risk of endometriosis.  Treatment for endometriosis ranges from symptom management with pain medication and hormone therapy such as oral contraceptives to surgical treatment.  Conservative surgery involves removing the misplaced endometrial tissue while preserving the uterus.  In severe cases and in cases where women are not hoping to reproduce in the future, a hysterectomy may be performed.  Endometriosis is not the same as endometrial cancer, which is cancer of the uterine lining, although the two conditions do share many similar symptoms, often allowing for early detection of endometrial cancer.

Resources at Northwestern for Treatment of Endometriosis:

The Prentice Women’s Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital provides comprehensive gynecologic services from some of the best Chicago gynecologic clinicians.  The hospital provides gynecological services that span a woman’s lifetime from well woman care, routine examinations and screenings to contraceptive management, menopause-related care, and incontinence and bladder care.

To request a first-time appointment, call 1-877-926-4664 or go online at http://ww2.nmh.org/contact/request_appointment/new_patient

Research at Northwestern in Endometriosis:

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine is comprised of eleven different divisions pertaining to women’s obstetric and gynecological health.  The department has several full-time research faculty whose research projects focus on an array of disorders including endometriosis, gynecological cancers, HIV, and maternal-fetal health.  With over 50 current research projects and 4 active clinical trials, the department is a dynamic leader in women’s gynecological research.

For more information on clinical trials through the Department of OB/Gyn, see their website at http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/obgyn/research/clinical-trials/

IWHR Highlighted Researcher:

Serdar E. Bulun, MD is the Director of the Division of Reproductive Biology Research and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.   Dr. Bulun’s translational research interests are focused on estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism in diseases such as breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.  Specifically Dr. Bulun has studied aromatase expression in these hormone-related diseases and is responsible for the introduction of aromatase inhibitors as a treatment for endometriosis.  His translational research in endometriosis and fibroids has made a significant contribution both to the body of research in obstetric and gynecological disorders and to the health of millions of women suffering from these conditions.  Since his seminal paper in 1996, more than 300 articles have been published in the area of aromatase and endometriosis; this exceptional achievement earned him a NIH-MERIT award in 2010.  His current focus in endometriosis research is on retinoid production and action.  Dr. Bulun is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, and the Society for Gynecologic Investigation and has served on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals including the Endocrine Reviews and is the U.S. Editor for the Journal of Molecular Endocrinology.