I have heard or read somewhere that endo itself does indeed create its own estrogen....this is how women who have gone thru menopause can still end up with endo. I do think though that if you are no longer making estrogen yourself...the endo can't sustain itself for a long period of time on its own estrogen production.

Christine, I agree that the knowledge that seems to be out there is that the endo cells cant sustain themselves if there were no other source of estrogen....similar to estrogen-fed cancers.

I might be reading this wrong so I apologise in advance if I am taking it differently to how you mean it :)

Endometriosis is outside of the uterus, Adenomyosis is Endometriosis inside the uterus walls and we then also have an Endometrium which is the lining of the uterus. (just wanted to clarify that...it sounded like you were saying "when it's found outside the uterus"...Endometriosis is always found outside the uterus...however, it is made up of a similar if not almost identical "build" as our Endometrium), again sorry if I am misreading it and you intended it the way I said it all along!!!

To answer your question. Yes, Endometriosis generates its own Oestrogen which is why post menopause and even post total hysterectomy it can continue to grow and thrive. It is also why the many contraceptives we are offered are in fact offered as their intention is to shut down the natural made supply. Ironically though, most have oestrogen in them (except of course progesterone only medications), however the thought is they don't contain as much oestrogen as the natural supply we create or the supply Hormone Replacement Therapy provides...But alas, in my mind oestrogen is oestrogen...no matter how big or small the dose.

Hope I was helpful! :)

Yeah, there's seems to be a lot of differing opinions about endometriosis and estrogen.

I had one doctor that put me on an AI, which shuts down 98% of the bodies estrogen. Even male body builders use AIs to shut the estrogen down in their fat so that they can get really cut muscles. I personally didn't notice a difference in my endo pain, even with minimal estrogen.

I know some doctors claim women with endo have higher levels of estrogen, but every time I get my hormone levels tested I fall into the boringly normal range. So I don't know.

interesting thread and informative conversation. I've recently found out following my surgery with Dr. Dulemba in May that not only does estrogen seem to be fueling our endo and/or scar tissue but that progesterone seems to being so also. Both estrogen and progesterone??? The proof was right there in my pathology report. I was astounded that my scar tissue was not only reactive to progesterone but that more so than even estrogen in some samples. That's food for thought. I'm on Lupron ( 3rd round of it and just got my shot on thursday) and i asked for progesterone pills to help with the side effects but now i'm only taking half a tab a day to hopefully minimize the endo/scar tissue from recurring and i've done lupron both with and without progesterone. In looking back on the treatment without it...i did have a longer period of remission afterward. It was hell, and i'm not about to do it again, but i am reducing my add-back dosage to see if it makes a difference. i'm sorry...this is not an answer to the above question you posted marlaina but thought i'd share what i recently learned. In answer to your post tho...my understanding is that endo like tate said, does indeed thrive off of itself. Anyways, I'd love some feedback on the whole progesterone thing... Luv and hugs to all~Jenny