I think this is some interesting news:

New Medication Helps Women’s Pain Problem
Pfizer Gets Approval For Endometriosis Drug

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST March 30, 2005

Women who suffer from endometriosis now have a medication that treats the painful problem.

Pfizer said it received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for depo-subQ-provera 104.

The medicine is the first new treatment option for the gynecological condition which affects one in ten women of reproductive age.

The medication contains the same active ingredient as the contraceptive depo provera, but does so with less bone loss and fewer menopausal symptoms. The drug is given as an injection four times a year, every 12 to 14 weeks, according to Pfizer.

“The availability of depo-subQ provera 104 is good news for the millions of women who suffer from pain caused by endometriosis, a condition that tends to worsen over time if not treated,” said Dr. Ray Urbanski, Pfizer medical director. “Women will now have the opportunity to get pain relief as effective as a commonly prescribed treatment but with few hot flashes and less bone mineral density loss,” said Urbanski in a press release.

Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of infertility, though the exact link is unknown.

The last line in this story is what caught my eye…. though the exact link is unknown

Given that I am a guy, and will never have to experience endometriosis, I had to deal with it indirectly. A former girlfriend of mine had a bad case of endometriosis, and every month I had to care for her due to the pain that it caused. The interesting aspect is that she & I both came to the conclusion that the endometriosis was a direct result of her taking birth control pills. Once she stopped taking birth control pills, the monthly bouts of pain due to endometriosis stopped- completely.

though the exact link is unknown, I’ve got to wonder if there has been research done that correlates birth control pills (aka synthetic hormones) with an increased risk for endometriosis and/or uterine cysts. Being that it’s only been around for 40 years, the long-term analysis of birth control is still not known. Nonetheless, I do sympathize with those women who have endometriosis, but I have to wonder if there will eventually be a class-action lawsuit on behalf those who have had to undergo surgery because of birth control related endometriosis.

The experiment is on us, but at least we have meds for meds….