[Potential links between endocrine disrupting compounds and endometriosis]

There is an increasing awareness of potential links between human health and environmental pollution. Endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs), such as dioxins, are exogenous chemicals that either imitate endogenous hormones, interfere with pharmacokinetics or act by other mechanisms. It is generally assumed that the number of patients with endometriosis have been increasing. Endometriosis is estimated to occur in approximately 7-10% of reproductive age women. Recently, much more attention has been paid to the relationship between endometriosis and EDCs, especially dioxins. Endometriosis is a common disease that can affect any menstruating woman, but the pathogenesis and pathophysiology are still poorly understood and there is no strategy for prevention. However, there are some new studies that have investigated biological activity and consequences of exposure to EDCs. Endometriosis is the disease in which genetic and environmental factors act together to produce the phenotypes. Findings for environmental factors as well as genetic variants have been reviewed, but the issue remains controversial. The findings of these studies would be a great help to understand the mechanisms of endometriosis.