Are Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and PCOS Autoimmune Conditions?
By Our Daughters Foundation
More and more women are asking an important question: Could my hormone-related illness also be connected to my immune system?
Conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are often discussed in the context of reproductive health or hormonal imbalance. But researchers are beginning to explore deeper connections—specifically, whether autoimmunity plays a role in these diseases.
Let’s break down what the science says—and what questions remain unanswered.
Are Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and PCOS Autoimmune Conditions?
By Our Daughters Foundation
More and more women are asking an important question: Could my hormone-related illness also be connected to my immune system?
Conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are often discussed in the context of reproductive health or hormonal imbalance. But researchers are beginning to explore deeper connections—specifically, whether autoimmunity plays a role in these diseases.
Let’s break down what the science says—and what questions remain unanswered.
What Is Autoimmunity?
The immune system is designed to protect the body from threats like viruses and bacteria. But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system becomes misguided and starts attacking the body’s own cells and tissues.
Common autoimmune conditions include:
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Multiple sclerosis
Symptoms vary widely, but many autoimmune conditions involve chronic inflammation, pain, fatigue, and a pattern of flare-ups.
The Immune System and Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus—causing pain, inflammation, and sometimes infertility. While its exact cause is still debated, many researchers believe that the immune system fails to clear out these rogue cells effectively.
Several studies have found:
• Women with endometriosis often have higher levels of inflammatory markers, like cytokines and prostaglandins.
• Natural killer (NK) cell activity is lower in women with endometriosis, impairing the immune system’s ability to destroy misplaced cells.
• There are elevated autoantibodies in some patients, suggesting an autoimmune component.
Some scientists now consider endometriosis to be a non-classical autoimmune disease—showing many features of one without meeting all diagnostic criteria.
Further reading:
• NIH - Immune dysfunction in endometriosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30664929/
• Cleveland Clinic - Endometriosis and the Immune System: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/endometriosis-and-the-immune-system/
What About Adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is sometimes called the "sister disease" of endometriosis. It occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. It's less studied, but immune abnormalities have also been observed.
Research is still emerging, but here’s what we know:
• Women with adenomyosis show immune cell changes and chronic inflammation within the uterus.
• Some studies report increased macrophage and mast cell activity—cells involved in both immune defense and inflammation
• The condition often coexists with endometriosis, raising questions about shared immune pathways.
While it’s too early to label adenomyosis an autoimmune disorder, it may involve an immune imbalance that contributes to symptoms.
Further reading:
• Frontiers in Immunology - Immunopathogenesis of Adenomyosis: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.796273/full
PCOS and Autoimmune Overlap
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is primarily known as a hormonal disorder involving androgen excess and insulin resistance. However, there’s growing interest in its immune connections, especially in women with chronic inflammation or thyroid issues.
Emerging links include:
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (an autoimmune thyroid disorder) is more common in women with PCOS.
• Inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) are often elevated in PCOS patients.
• Some PCOS patients have anti-ovarian antibodies, suggesting potential autoimmunity.
Still, the autoimmune theory is more speculative in PCOS than in endometriosis.
Further reading:
Further reading:
• Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism - PCOS and Autoimmune Disease: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/106/9/e3536/6280755
Why Does This Matter?
If immune dysfunction is part of the puzzle, treatment strategies may need to shift. Many women with endometriosis, adenomyosis, or PCOS are treated solely with hormone suppression—but if autoimmunity is involved, we may also need to address inflammation, gut health, and immune regulation.
There’s also hope that newer treatments—like immunomodulatory therapies or even personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions—could improve outcomes when tailored to the immune system’s role.
Bottom Line
We don’t yet have all the answers, but the research is evolving. Endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS may not be traditional autoimmune diseases—but they often coexist with immune dysfunction, and the overlap deserves attention. At Our Daughters Foundation, we believe in honoring women’s voices, advocating for deeper research, and pursuing whole-body solutions.
If you’ve experienced overlapping conditions like endo, thyroid disease, or unexplained inflammation—you’re not alone.
What Is Autoimmunity?
The immune system is designed to protect the body from threats like viruses and bacteria. But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system becomes misguided and starts attacking the body’s own cells and tissues.
Common autoimmune conditions include:
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Multiple sclerosis
Symptoms vary widely, but many autoimmune conditions involve chronic inflammation, pain, fatigue, and a pattern of flare-ups.
The Immune System and Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus—causing pain, inflammation, and sometimes infertility. While its exact cause is still debated, many researchers believe that the immune system fails to clear out these rogue cells effectively.
Several studies have found:
• Women with endometriosis often have higher levels of inflammatory markers, like cytokines and prostaglandins.
• Natural killer (NK) cell activity is lower in women with endometriosis, impairing the immune system’s ability to destroy misplaced cells.
• There are elevated autoantibodies in some patients, suggesting an autoimmune component.
Some scientists now consider endometriosis to be a non-classical autoimmune disease—showing many features of one without meeting all diagnostic criteria.
Further reading:
• NIH - Immune dysfunction in endometriosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30664929/
• Cleveland Clinic - Endometriosis and the Immune System: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/endometriosis-and-the-immune-system/
What About Adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is sometimes called the "sister disease" of endometriosis. It occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. It's less studied, but immune abnormalities have also been observed.
Research is still emerging, but here’s what we know:
• Women with adenomyosis show immune cell changes and chronic inflammation within the uterus.
• Some studies report increased macrophage and mast cell activity—cells involved in both immune defense and inflammation
• The condition often coexists with endometriosis, raising questions about shared immune pathways.
While it’s too early to label adenomyosis an autoimmune disorder, it may involve an immune imbalance that contributes to symptoms.
Further reading:
• Frontiers in Immunology - Immunopathogenesis of Adenomyosis: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.796273/full
PCOS and Autoimmune Overlap
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is primarily known as a hormonal disorder involving androgen excess and insulin resistance. However, there’s growing interest in its immune connections, especially in women with chronic inflammation or thyroid issues.
Emerging links include:
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (an autoimmune thyroid disorder) is more common in women with PCOS.
• Inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) are often elevated in PCOS patients.
• Some PCOS patients have anti-ovarian antibodies, suggesting potential autoimmunity.
Still, the autoimmune theory is more speculative in PCOS than in endometriosis.
Further reading:
Further reading:
• Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism - PCOS and Autoimmune Disease: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/106/9/e3536/6280755
Why Does This Matter?
If immune dysfunction is part of the puzzle, treatment strategies may need to shift. Many women with endometriosis, adenomyosis, or PCOS are treated solely with hormone suppression—but if autoimmunity is involved, we may also need to address inflammation, gut health, and immune regulation.
There’s also hope that newer treatments—like immunomodulatory therapies or even personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions—could improve outcomes when tailored to the immune system’s role.
Bottom Line
We don’t yet have all the answers, but the research is evolving. Endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS may not be traditional autoimmune diseases—but they often coexist with immune dysfunction, and the overlap deserves attention. At Our Daughters Foundation, we believe in honoring women’s voices, advocating for deeper research, and pursuing whole-body solutions.
If you’ve experienced overlapping conditions like endo, thyroid disease, or unexplained inflammation—you’re not alone.
Join Us: Make a Difference Today
Your support can transform lives. Every donation helps us fund research, advocate for better care, and provide essential grants to women facing debilitating conditions.
Join Us: Make a Difference Today
Your support can transform lives. Every donation helps us fund research, advocate for better care, and provide essential grants to women facing debilitating conditions.
Breaking the Silence: Why Endometriosis Took So Long to Be Taken Seriously and What’s Finally Changing
What Is Endometriosis—and Why Has It Been Ignored for So Long
Endometriosis is a chronic, often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus—on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic lining, and sometimes even beyond. This tissue responds to hormonal changes, leading to inflammation, scarring, and severe pain.
Despite affecting roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide, endometriosis has historically been misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and mistreated.
World Health Organization Fact Sheet on Endometriosis:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
The Average Time to Diagnosis? Still Over 7 Years.
That’s not a typo. On average, it takes 7 to 10 years from the first symptoms to a correct diagnosis. Why?
• Symptoms are often normalized: Severe period pain? “Just part of being a woman.”
• Lack of non-invasive testing: Diagnosis has long relied on laparoscopic surgery.
• Medical gaps: Many healthcare providers, including OB-GYN’s, receive limited training in gynecologic pain conditions.
NIH: Delays in Endometriosis Diagnosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32147966/
What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
Every woman’s experience is different, but some of the most common symptoms include:
• Intense pelvic or abdominal pain
• Pain during or after sex
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Chronic fatigue
• Gastrointestinal issues like bloating, nausea, or constipation
• Infertility or difficulty conceiving
What’s Finally Changing? Promising Breakthroughs (2024–2025)
Diagnostic Tools
• MicroRNA panels and blood-based biomarkers are showing promise as non-invasive ways to detect endometriosis earlier.
• Advanced imaging like high-resolution MRI and ultrasound with specialized protocols are helping detect lesions more reliably.
Endometriosis Foundation - Emerging Research: https://www.endofound.org/news-research
PubMed - Biomarkers in Endometriosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30807918/
AI & Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence is being trained to analyze symptom patterns, scan images, and even detect potential markers in menstrual blood—offering hope for faster, more accurate screening in the near future.
More Funding and Advocacy
• Governments and nonprofits are increasing research grants.
• Social media and support groups are amplifying women’s voices and experiences.
• Healthcare providers are receiving more training in pelvic pain and minimally invasive surgical options like excision surgery.
What This Means for You (or Someone You Love)
Faster, less invasive diagnosis is on the horizon.
Women are being believed and supported more than ever.
With better understanding comes more targeted treatment options, like hormonal therapies, dietary approaches, pelvic floor therapy, and expert excision surgery.
What You Can Do Right Now
1. Track your symptoms: Keep a daily journal of pain, mood, fatigue, and cycle details.
2. Advocate for yourself: Ask your doctor about excision surgery vs. ablation. A specialist is necessary for proper endometriosis care. Unfortunately, your typical OB-GYN is not an endometriosis or excision specialist.
3. Get support: You're not alone. Online communities and advocacy organizations offer connection and practical help.
Nancy’s Nook Endometriosis Education Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NancysNookEndoEd
Center for Endometriosis Care: https://www.centerforendo.com/
Why This Matters
Endometriosis is a whole-body disease that can affect a woman’s physical, emotional, and reproductive health. We are just starting to make some noise & bring attention to this disease and other hormonal diseases related to it.
“The future of women’s health is shifting—but only if we keep raising our voices.”
