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:

Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is located at the base of the brain, near the optic chiasm where the optic nerves behind each eye cross and meet. The hypothalamus secretes hormones that stimulate or suppress the release of hormones in the pituitary gland, in addition to controlling water balance, sleep, temperature, appetite, and blood pressure.
Pineal body: The pineal body is located below the corpus callosum, in the middle of the brain. It produces the hormone melatonin, which helps the body know when it's time to sleep.
Pituitary gland: "The Control Center" of the endocrine system. The pituitary gland is located below the brain. Usually no larger than a pea, the gland controls many functions of the other endocrine glands.
Thyroid and parathyroid: The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands are located in front of the neck, below the larynx (voice box). The thyroid plays an important role in the body's metabolism. The parathyroid glands play an important role in the regulation of the body's calcium balance.
Thymus: The thymus is located in the upper part of the chest and produces white blood cells that fight infections and destroy abnormal cells.
Adrenal gland: An adrenal gland is located on top of each kidney. Like many glands, the adrenal glands work hand-in-hand with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The adrenal glands make and release corticosteroid hormones and epinephrine that maintain blood pressure and regulate metabolism.
Pancreas: The pancreas is located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The pancreas plays a role in digestion, as well as hormone production. Hormones produced by the pancreas include insulin and glucagon, which regulate levels of blood sugar.
Ovaries: In addition to containing the egg cells necessary for reproduction, the ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone.
Testes (only affects intersex women and gender-variant people, who usually have androgen insensitivity syndrome — as they (probably) would have shown up on one of the dozens of CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds I've had in my life, I have not researched this modality for the purposes of this document.)

"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

Chronic Inflammation

Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, leading to a chronic inflammatory reaction. It is one of the most widespread gynecological diseases with a 10-15% prevalence in the general female population, rising up to 30-45% in patients with infertility. Although it was first described in 1860, its etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. It is now accepted that inflammation plays a central role in the development and progression of endometriosis. In particular, it is marked by an inflammatory process associated with the overproduction of an array of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, metalloproteinases, cytokines, and chemokines. In addition, the growth and adhesion of endometrial cells in the peritoneal cavity due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals lead to disease onset, its ensuing symptoms-among which pain and infertility. The aim of our review is to evaluate the role of oxidative stress and ROS in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and the efficacy of antioxidant therapy in the treatment and mitigation of its symptoms.
— Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29743986/

Estrogen and Thyroid Function

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:

Estrogen stimulates the growth of the thyroid gland. As a consequence, excess estrogen can lead to an enlarged thyroid (goiter); inadequate thyroid tissue results from too little estrogen.
Estrogen regulates the protein that binds to the thyroid hormone (TBG) in the bloodstream. Too much can result in inadequate unbound thyroid hormones, which cause symptoms of underactive thyroid. These symptoms of hypothyroidism and menopause can magnify one another.
Estrogen is also responsible for stimulating thyroglobulin, a thyroid hormone precursor. Excess estrogen causes goiter because of high levels of thyroglobulin. Likewise, too little estrogen results in low thyroglobulin, which reduces thyroid function.‍
2011: Role of Estrogen in Thyroid Function and Growth Regulation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113168/
1998: Thyroid hormone stimulates progesterone release from human luteal cells by generating a proteinaceous factor https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9846161/
1988: Effect of estrogen on the synthesis and secretion of thyroxine-binding globulin by a human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2837662/

Immune System and Endometriosis

2003, Endometriosis: interaction of immune and endocrine systems, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12917783/

Cancer and Endometriosis

"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