Genetics Endometriosis is a heritable condition that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Children or siblings of people with endometriosis are at higher risk of developing endometriosis themselves; low progesterone levels may be genetic, and may contribute to a hormone imbalance. There is an approximate six-fold increased incidence in individuals with an affected first-degree relative. It has been proposed that endometriosis results from a series of multiple hits within target genes, in a mechanism similar to the development of cancer. In this<unk> , the initial mutation may be either somatic or heritable. Individual genomic changes (found by genotyping including genome-wide association studies) that have been associated with endometriosis include 9 locis robustly replicated in various MNAs reaching genome-wide significance : Chromosome Gene/cytoband Gene Product Function 1 WNT4/1p36.12 Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 4 Vital for development of the female reproductive organs 2 GREB1/2p25.1 Growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1/Fibronectin 1 Early response gene in the estrogen regulation pathway/Cell adhesion and migration processes 2 ETAA1/2p14 (ETAA1 Activator Of ATR Kinase) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with ETAA1 include Adult Lymphoma and Restless Legs Syndrome 2 IL1A/2q13 Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α) is encoded by the IL1A gene. Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α) is encoded by the IL1A gene. 4 KDR/4q12 KDR is the human gene encoding kinase insert domain receptor also known as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) KDR is the human gene encoding kinase insert domain receptor also known as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) 6 ID4/6p22.3 Inhibitor of DNA binding 4 Ovarian oncogene, biological function unknown 7 7p15.2 Transcription factors Influence transcriptional regulation of uterine development 9 CDKN2BAS/9p21.3 Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense RNA Regulation of tumour suppressor genes 12 VEZT/12q22 Vezatin, an adherens junction transmembrane protein Tumor suppressor gene There are many findings of altered gene expression and epigenetics, but both of these can also be a secondary result of, for example, environmental factors and altered metabolism. Examples of altered gene expression include that of miRNAs. Environmental toxins Some factors associated with endometriosis include: * prolonged exposure to estrogen; for example, in late menopause or early menarche * obstruction of menstrual outflow; for example, in Müllerian anomalies Several studies have investigated the potential link between exposure to dioxins and endometriosis, but the evidence is equivocal and potential mechanisms are poorly understood. A 2004 review of studies of dioxin and endometriosis concluded that "the human data supporting the dioxin-endometriosis association are scanty and conflicting", and a 2009 follow-up review also found that there was "insufficient evidence" in support of a link between dioxin exposure and developing endometriosis. A 2008 review concluded that more work was needed, stating that "although preliminary work suggests a potential involvement of exposure to dioxins in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, much work remains to clearly define<unk>  and effect and to understand the potential mechanism of toxicity".
medical cause of Dysmenorrhea
medical cause of Vaginitis
symptom of Urethral cancer
symptom of Vaginal yeast infection
symptom of Pelvic inflammatory disease
symptom of Epididymitis
symptom of Vaginitis
symptom of Endometritis