Endometriosis and the Endocrine System
The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and organs that have incredibly important body and immunilogical functions. It uses hormones to control and coordinate your body's metabolism, energy level, reproduction, growth and development, as well as responses to injury, stress, and mood. The following are integral parts of the endocrine system:
"Although endometriotic stromal cells, which compose the bulk of endometriotic lesions, do not carry somatic mutations, they demonstrate specific epigenetic abnormalities that alter expression of key transcription factors such as excessive production of GATA-binding factor-6, steroidogenic factor-1, and estrogen receptor-β, which collectively cause estrogen-dependent inflammation, and deficient expression of progesterone receptor, which causes progesterone resistance." — Source: 2019, Endocrine Review, Endometriosis Edition https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/40/4/1048/5469279
It is well-documented that estrogen levels can have both indirect and direct effects on thyroid function. Estrogen is a highly bioactive hormone. Excess or insufficient levels in the body can have far-reaching effects. Your body requires just the right amount, and any deviation can affect the subtle relationship between estrogen and thyroid function.
Too much estrogen can interfere with your thyroid health. That’s because high blood levels of estrogen signal the liver to increase the production of thyroid-binding globulin (TBG). This is an inhibitor protein that binds to the thyroid hormone, reducing the amount of T3 and T4 available for use by cells. In response, the thyroid gland cranks up production to compensate for the deficit.
Estrogen can also affect thyroid function in other ways:
2003, Endometriosis: interaction of immune and endocrine systems, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12917783/
"There is nearly a 40% increased risk for endometrial or thyroid cancer among women with endometriosis, according to a systematic literature review and meta-analysis in Clinical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology."— Source: https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/risk-cancer-women-endometriosis and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040842818304608?via%3Dihub