Study Sheds Light on How Parabens and Benzophenones May Be Linked to Endometriosis
Exposure to parabens and benzophenones may be linked to the altered expression profile of genes involved in cellular pathways associated with the development of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. “Given the…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of appropriate surgery on endometriosis-related infertility
Endometriosis surgery by removing all visible lesions and repairing damaged tisue is important to build normal pelvic anatomy. It is still difficult to predict postoperative pregnancy rates among women with endometriosis who suffer from infertility. This retrospective study, conducted by Tahmasbi…
Key Points Lay SummaryChildhood Adversity Associated With Increased Risk of Endometriosis and Fibroids
Childhood adversity such as physical and sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, peer bullying before 18 years of age may be associated with the development of endometriosis and fibroids later in life, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Fertility and Sterility. …
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of Nerve Preservation During Parametrectomy on Urinary Retention in Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is the most advanced form of the disease, characterized by lesions penetrating deeper than 5 mm. Surgical treatment requires a meticulous approach to minimize functional complications. Deep lesions involving the parametrium, uterosacral ligaments, and anterior rectal…
Key Points Lay SummaryDIE Complex and Requires Interdisciplinary Approach
The vast majority of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) cases are treated with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Moreover, there is a high need for interdisciplinary operations. “Our results emphasize…
Key Points Lay SummaryPre-Diagnosis Hospital Utilization Patterns in Women With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is commonly associated with symptoms such as painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Diagnosing the condition is challenging due to symptom overlap with other gynecologic and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as the need for advanced imaging or laparoscopic…
Key Points Lay SummaryLinking Endometriosis, Anxiety, and Cardiovascular Health
Atherosclerosis, characterized by plaque buildup in arteries, is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes. Chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are key mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis. While traditional risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking are…
Key Points Lay SummaryTET3: A new target for endometriosis treatment
Macrophages have a critical role in the development of endometriosis. They are involved in inflammation and tissue repair and are recruited to endometriotic lesions, where they contribute to chronic inflammation. In a recent commentary published in the Journal of Clinical…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-invasive MRI Based Detection of Uterosacral Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) frequently affects the uterosacral ligaments, with a prevalence of around 70% in affected patients. However, there is no consensus on the imaging anatomy of the uterosacral ligaments (USLs). Currently, the assessment of USL endometriosis is subjective, lacking…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of Postoperative Complications in Total vs. Supracervical Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Endometriosis
Dr. Raanan Meyer and his team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, have published a study in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, comparing the outcomes of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSCH) in patients with endometriosis. A…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe long-term cardiovascular risk in women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis, a chronic and systemic condition affecting 10% of women of reproductive age, has far-reaching effects beyond the reproductive system. Recent research highlights its role in triggering systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. These processes can disrupt liver metabolism,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of endometriosis surgery on female sexual functions
Sexual dysfunction is almost twice as prevalent in women with endometriosis compared to those with other benign gynecological conditions. Deep dyspareunia, a hallmark symptom of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, poses a ninefold higher risk in affected women. This symptom profoundly impacts…
Key Points Lay SummaryLifestyle and Environmental Factors in Endometriosis: Current Insights and Future Directions
Endometriosis-associated symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain have an effect to diminish the quality of life. The physical and mental quality of life of these women is adversely affected. There are several studies evaluating the quality of life…
Key Points Lay SummaryCommunication of Endometriosis Pain is Complex
The communication of pain between patients with endometriosis and doctors is complex and includes patterns of disbelief, normalization, and psychological attribution. This is according to a new study by Norwegian scientists published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Acta Obstetricia et…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiagnostic Delays in Endometriosis: Contributing Factors
While the delay in diagnosing endometriosis is well-documented, the reasons behind this delay and the specific gaps in the healthcare system remain poorly understood. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are useful tools in detecting the condition, but laparoscopic surgery…
Key Points Lay SummaryKnowledge synthesis of the "Relevance of Endometriosis Diagnostic Tools"
Spiers et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine at Angers University Hospital in France identified significant diagnostic challenges and the absence of definitive diagnostic tools for endometriosis. In response, they evaluated existing medical literature to enhance diagnostic…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Key Modulator of Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction in Endometriosis: Soluble MICA
In a study published in the American Journal of the Reproductive Immunology, Abrao et al. investigated the potential effect of MHC Class I related MICA molecules at the pathogenesis of the endometriosis. This study highlights a novel role of soluble MICA (sMICA) in endometriosis, showing…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Ovarian Cancer: A Genetic Connection
Academicians Zhang and Yan from Ningbo University, Zhejiang, China, have recently published a pivotal study in Scientific Reports examining the cancer risk associated with endometriosis. Endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting approximately 6–10% of women worldwide, significantly diminishes quality of life…
Key Points Lay SummaryLaparoscopic port site complications.
Dr. Semm performed the first laparoscopic surgery in September 1980 at the University of Kiel, marking a significant milestone. Following 1985, laparoscopy expanded beyond urogynecology into various medical fields, becoming widely accepted for interventions in multiple anatomical spaces. In recent…
Key Points Lay SummaryNerve-Sparing Surgery Safe in DIE
Robot-assisted nerve-sparing modified radical hysterectomy is associated with longer operative times and lower estimated blood loss compared to the conventional laparoscopic approach to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreterm Birth Risk Higher Among Women With Endo
Pregnant women with endometriosis have a higher risk of having a premature baby and other poor pregnancy outcomes compared to those without the disease, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Fertility and Sterility. This finding highlights the…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriomas and the Severity of Endometriosis
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine by Dr.Nezhad's group reveals that endometriomas, a form of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, are strongly associated with advanced stages of the disease. The authors investigated how the presence of endometriomas—whether on one side or both—correlates…
Key Points Lay SummaryRobotic-assisted laparoscopy to manage severe diaphragmatic endometriosis
Diaphragmatic endometriosis is a rare extrapelvic form of endometriosis, with specific symptoms experienced by 30%, such as shoulder, chest, arm, and right upper quadrant pain. An early diagnosis is vital to prevent the disease progressively toward the thoracic cavity, causing catamenial…
Key Points Lay SummaryPerformance of the 2021 AAGL endometriosis classification
The most common scoring system is the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) staging system for endometriosis. However, this classification system was widely criticized for failing to correlate surgical complexity and to show patients' pain scales and fertility indexes.…
Key Points Lay SummaryMenstrual Health & Endometriosis Education Increases the Awareness in Students
The main symptoms of endometriosis include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain that may result in social and developmental disturbances such as abstinence from school or work. There is a significant diagnostic delay of endometriosis diagnosis, because symptoms may be…
Key Points Lay SummaryRobot-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis of bowel
Deep infiltrating endometriosis is characterized by lesions larger than 5 mm that penetrate the peritoneum or invade the muscular layer of adjacent organs, affecting over 20% of women with endometriosis. Bowel involvement occurs in 5-12% of cases and may present with…
Key Points Lay SummaryIncreasing evidence suggests that endometriosis should be considered a systemic disease
Professors Tulandi from McGill University, Canada, and Vercellini from Milano University, Italy, have recently published their expert opinion on endometriosis as a systemic disorder in Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO). The contemporary view on endometriosis is suggestive of a type of…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of Endometriosis Subtypes on Increased Ovarian Cancer Risk
The risk of ovarian cancer is markedly increased in patients with ovarian endometriomas and/or deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), according to a new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. These patients should be offered counseling about the risk of ovarian cancer and…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn often overlooked symptom: Sleep disorders in patients with endometriosis
Recent reports suggested that women with endometriosis have more frequent complaints of poor sleep, reduced quality of life, and higher pain scores when compared with healthy women. Patients experience fatigue and increased pain the day after insomnia. For this reason,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of coagulation factors and tumor markers in diagnosing advanced stage endometriosis
As a systemic inflammatory condition, endometriosis features elevated proinflammatory cytokines, causing pain, endothelial dysfunction, carcinogenesis, and a hypercoagulable state. Patients with endometriosis show decreased thrombin time (TT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), alongside increased tissue factor (TF) and fibrinogen…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiminished physical activity in women with endometriosis due to chronic pelvic pain
Endometriosis is a systemic, chronic, inflammatory disease defined as the localization of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom in these women resulting in abstinence from school or work and psychosocial problems. Physical activity…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiagnosis and management of treatment in diaphragmatic endometriosis.
Diaphragmatic endometriosis is a rare extra-pelvic type of deep endometriosis with a prevalence of 0,19% to 4,75. In symptomatic women, the symptoms are characterized by non-specific chest pain, shoulder pain, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and pneumothorax, whereas 75% of…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Sheds Light on Molecular Mechanism of Endometriosis Development
Cell adhesion molecule 2 (CADM2) may inhibit the development of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. It may do so by suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying the development of…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial cancer risk in endometriosis: What does the real-world data reveal?
Endometriosis is considered a benign disease, however, studies showed certain somatic mutations in the endometriotic glands indicating a potential link to endometrial cancer. Later, eutopic endometrial tissue was demonstrated to have the same somatic mutations. This resulted in controversial findings…
Key Points Lay SummaryA concerning link between endometriosis and cardiovascular disease.
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by endometrial-like tissues outside the uterus, which causes inflammation, scarring, and adhesion formation. The pathologic process of forming those adhesions releases proinflammatory molecules, cytokines, and growth factors that may have systemic effects. Recent research, for…
Key Points Lay SummaryKey Aspects of Ureterolysis in deep endometriosis surgery
Deep endometriosis surgery needs talented surgeons to preserve and protect vital structures during the excision of endometriotic lesions. The technique for ureterolysis is essential to mitigate the risk of ureteral injuries and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Chatroux and Dr. Einarsson…
Key Points Lay SummaryProgrammed Cell Death 1 Ligand Expression and Endometrioma Recurrence
Although there are several medical and surgical management options, endometriosis is highly prone to recurrence. A possible predictor of recurrence would be the quality of life for women with endometriosis. On the other hand, endometriosis is an immunological disease, there…
Key Points Lay SummarySophisticated study yields hopes for a new potential remedy
Academicians from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Japan, conducted a clinical and experimental study on the role of SMAD (Suppressor of Mothers Against Decapentaplegic) molecules in endometriosis, and have published their results in a recent issue…
Key Points Lay SummaryVisual representation of endometriosis pain
Endometriosis is accompanied by severe chronic pelvic pain that impacts quality of life, relationships, and work conditions. Studies aiming to improve pain are frequently encountered in the literature. Nonetheless, pain research is complex due to its subjective nature, and cannot…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative pain-related quality of life for patiens with different types of endometriosis surgery.
Endometriosis surgery usually improves chronic pelvic pain and the quality of life in women suffering from that disease. Response to surgery depends on several factors, however, in younger ages, recurrence of both pain and endometriosis lesions are reported. Most research…
Key Points Lay SummaryFact or fiction: prescribing medicinal cannabioids in endometriosis patients in Australia
A team of academic institutions from Australia has published their cross-sectional study on cannabis usage in endometriosis patients which has appeared in the recent issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. As victims of a…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there any relationship between age at diagnosis and the severity of endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease mostly encountered in reproductive-aged women. Early diagnosis is important, as endometriosis impairs the quality of life. The most accepted theory is that endometriosis is a progressive disease and its stage increases with age. Dr.…
Key Points Lay SummaryFertility outcomes after discoid excision for colorectal endometriosis.
Colorectal endometriosis is one of the most severe forms of deep endometriosis, composing 85% of all bowel lesions. Radical treatment is segmental resection of the bowels, which can cause postoperative severe complications such as rectovaginal fistula and voiding dysfunctions that negatively…
Key Points Lay SummarySpontaneous Conception After Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Deep endometriosis is a severe form of endometriosis where lesions invade deeper than 5 mm into subperitoneal space. Surgical management of the disease is a challenging task requiring a multi-disciplinary approach and significant expertise in the field. Anastomotic leaks, fistula,…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs post-cesarean pain perception and analgesic use in endometriosis-affected women different?
It has been known that endometriosis patients have increased pain sensitivity and different reactions to pain compared to women having no endometriosis. Several mechanisms such as nociception, inflammation, and changes in peripheral and central nervous system pain processing have been…
Key Points Lay SummaryUnderstanding endometriosis pain
Chronic pain, especially in conditions like endometriosis, poses significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment due to its multifaceted nature. Elina Helosvuori and Venla Oikkonen from Finland conducted a study in which they aimed to explore the complexities of chronic pain,…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) be a potential marker of endometriosis ?
Medical student Kyana Jafarabady and academicians from several medical centers in Iran have published their database research on Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in endometriosis patients in a recent issue of BMC Women’s Health. BDNF is a neurotrophin that plays an important…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the risk of breast cancer
An increased risk of cancer with endometriosis has been in the attention field of endometriosis researchers since 1925, starting with Sampson. Several large meta-analyses supported the increased risk of clear cell and endometrioid ovarian cancer in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Breast…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of medical treatment on sexual function and quality of life in women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain, all of which has significant negative consequences on their physical and psychological health regarding sexual function, work and social relationships. Biasioli et al. from Italy, published an article entitled…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Finds Link Between Exposure to Pollutants and Increased Riks of Endometriosis
High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine may be associated with a higher risk of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research. The study also found that the concentration of…
Key Points Lay SummaryNovel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a genetic background resulting in familial clustering. Although multiple susceptibility loci have been identified in genome-wide association studies, high-risk predisposing variants have not been defined yet. A group of scientists from Finland, published a study…
Key Points Lay SummaryPerception of quality of professional healthcare in Italian patients with endometriosis
According to the Italian Ministry of Health, the prevalence rate of endometriosis among women in their reproductive age is 10-15%. Many of them suffer from intense pain and a poor quality of life due to diagnostic delay. The average delay…
Key Points Lay SummaryPotential New Therapeutic Avenue for Deep Endometriosis
The use of lipid nanoparticles carrying methotrexate seems to be safe and feasible in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The approach could, therefore, be a new…
Key Points Lay SummaryA non-invasive test to determine the risk of endometriosis in women having chronic pelvic pain or unexplained infertility
Women having endometriosis may suffer from chronic pelvic pain and/or infertility, both of which diminish the quality of life in these women. Minimalization of the time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis is essential to improve patients’ lives. However,…
Key Points Lay SummaryQuality of life analyses among women with endometriosis
Clinical factors that may affect the quality of life in women with endometriosis are mental health, sexual life, working capacity, and social relations. Symptom severity, especially dysmenorrhea, heavy periods, pelvic pain, and infertility complaints, are the most disturbing factors in…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Associated With Obstetric Complications, Study Shows
There is a significant association between endometriosis and obstetric complications, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. “The present findings . . .may help inform clinical practice and future research,”…
Key Points Lay SummaryA synopsis of deep infiltrating endometriosis of the digestive system
The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most common locations of extrapelvic endometriosis. Its infiltrative counterpart exhibits more aggressive behavior and often needs to be distinguished from malignancies clinically. Yin et al. from Harbin, China reviewed the latest findings regarding…
Key Points Lay SummaryBlood-based biomarkers for the detection of endometriosis and adenomyosis
One of the biggest challenges in endometriosis management is the delay in diagnosis. Scientists have been trying to come up with biomarkers to detect it quicker. Thinking blood-based biomarkers could aid in earlier diagnosis and help with the duly administration…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis in Asia
Academicians from the University of Philippines led by Dr. Velarde have published a recent review on endometriosis and Asian women in the scientific periodical “Endocrine Connections”. The endometriosis prevalence rate is variable among ethnicities, and Asian women including Filipinos, Indians, Japanese,…
Key Points Lay SummaryNo increased risk of major postoperative complications in women operated by experienced surgeons in endometriosis centers
Recurrent surgery may be needed in up to 35% of endometriosis patients. The reason for repeated surgery may be residual or recurrent disease. In other words, multiple surgical procedures are a common phenomenon for women having endometriosis. Knowing the impact…
Key Points Lay SummaryHazardous substances in pollution and relationship with endometriosis.
Vallée and colleguages. from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health of Foch Hospital, France, recently published a narrative review about environmental pollution and its association with endometriosis in BJOG. They used the existing English literature to discuss the association…
Key Points Lay SummaryClinical Trial Tested Safety of Potential New Drug to Manage Endometriosis
The non-peptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist SHR7280 has favorable safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in 3 different doses, according to the results of a phase 1 clinical trial published in the scientific journal Clinical Pharmacokinetics. “The results of this study provide evidence to…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and breast cancer- love or hate?
Many studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer, but no definitive conclusion has been reached yet. In the study co-authored by Yan and Li et al, endometriosis-related GWAS data was used to determine the…
Key Points Lay SummaryRobotic Surgery Not Linked With More Complications in Certain Cases
Robotic-assisted excision surgery to treat large rectal endometriotic nodules larger than 3 cm is not associated with a higher risk of complications following the operation compared to conventional laparoscopy, according to a new study published in the journal Colorectal Diseases.…
Key Points Lay SummaryA suggestion for a novel in vitro diagnostic test for endometriosis
As the research continues to find a gold standard non-invasive diagnostic method for endometriosis, there still is no definitive answer. One of the most commonly studied markers is Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125) – a biomarker that is secreted from the…
Key Points Lay SummaryMenstruating eye: Very rare but possible
Extragenital cyclical bleeding during a menstrual cycle is called vicarious menstruation and it is mostly reported to be seen in the nasal mucosa but can involve any other organ such as the lungs, stomach, kidney, etc. Endometriosis is a common…
Key Points Lay SummaryPerioperative complications of outpatient surgery for endometriosis.
Surgical treatment of endometriosis plays an essential role in managing the disease. They are miscellaneous perioperative complications such as incomplete removal of the lesions, low quality of the first surgery, or incorrect approach to laparoscopic surgeries that result in increased…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis as a "syndrome" made out of different clusters
Endometriosis has been classified according to surgical findings. In the study conducted by Antonio Sarria-Santamera et al., the authors aimed to classify the patients with their comorbidities. The study explored the multidimensionality of endometriosis using cluster analysis. It categorizes women…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe relationship between lipids and estrogen in endometriosis
Lipid metabolism plays important roles in many physiological and pathological conditions such as the storage of energy, immune system functions, steroid hormone production, inflammation, and chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. In an attempt to figure out the…
Key Points Lay SummaryPeritoneal Endometriosis and Acyclical pelvic pain
The most debilitating symptom of endometriosis is chronic pelvic pain. The peripheral nervous system is affected and the growth and regeneration of sensory nerve fibers in endometriotic tissue has been identified. The first line treatment which is hormonal therapy for…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen With Endometriosis at a Higher Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Apart from having difficulties conceiving, women with endometriosis also seem to have a significantly higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This is according to a new population-based study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. It is already known that…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Physical Activity
Endometriosis causes abstinence from their daily life, especially during painful periods. Decreased physical function might result in reduced physical activity. Sachs et al., from Switzerland, published a study titled “Physical Activity in Women with Endometriosis: Less or More Compared with…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealthcare Seeking Behaviour May Be Sign of Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis had a higher utilization of primary and secondary healthcare in the 10 years before receiving a diagnosis, found a new study published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction. “With this knowledge, healthcare professionals could be better at relating…
Key Points Lay SummaryTreatment of superficial dyspareunia using topical estrogens in postmenopausal women with a history of endometriosis
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is defined as a collection of symptoms and signs caused by hypoestrogenic changes to the labia majora/minora, clitoris, vestibule/introitus, vagina, urethra, and bladder that occur in menopausal patients. Sexual dysfunction and superficial dyspareunia can be experienced…
Key Points Lay SummaryToxic metal cadmium and Endometriosis
Data analyst Mandy Hall and and colleagues from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, USA, have published their results on cadmium levels and endometriosis in a recent issue of “Human Reproduction”. In 2020 the World Health Organization…
Key Points Lay SummaryNovel surgical solutions for catamenial pneumothorax
Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that occurs during or right after menstruation and is thought to be caused by thoracic endometriosis that includes the diaphragm, lung, and parietal pleura. The solution is surgical removal of endometrial lesions, however, a…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new classification called ENDOGRADE to rate surgical complexity in deep endometriosis.
Correlation with patient outcomes could not be identified in most endometriosis classification systems including the commonly used revised ASRM. Therefore, in addition to grading the depth and invasion pattern of the lesions, there is a need for a classification system to…
Key Points Lay SummaryModerate-to-severe Endometriosis and "The Cumulative live birth rate" in IVF Cycles
Infertility is one of the major symptoms in women with endometriosis. The incidence of endometriosis is approximately 10% in reproductive-aged women and up to 40-50% in infertile women. There are multifactorial mechanisms resulting in endometriosis-associated infertility such as anatomic distortion, impaired…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew SMS Program Available for Endometriosis Patients
Researchers from Australia developed a supportive short message service (SMS) program for endometriosis patients. The program aims to support women living with endometriosis to manage their condition. The program called 'EndoSMS" was designed based on the needs and preferences of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative MRI: A Valuable Tool for Diagnosing Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
The article by Sebastian Harth et al. is a retrospective study that aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in detecting deep infiltrating endometriosis based on specific morphological criteria. The study included 160 patients who underwent…
Key Points Lay SummaryTelemedicine for endometriosis
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the widespread adoption of telemedicine, allowing healthcare professionals to provide care remotely using technology. Telemedicine has proven successful in various medical fields. In obstetrics and gynecology, implementing telemedicine became crucial, especially for conditions like endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative outcomes of laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection for bowel endometriosis.
Rectosigmoid endometriosis comprises 80-85% of all bowel endometriosis cases and can be localized in the rectovaginal septum, uterosacral ligaments, retro-cervical region, and parametrium. Symptoms of rectosigmoid endometriosis include abdominal bloating, constipation-diarrhea, lower-back pain, dyschezia, and sometimes cyclic rectal bleeding. Minimally…
Key Points Lay SummaryUltrasound and #Enzian Classification for Endometriosis
The #Enzian classification can ensure endometriosis is systematically described and classified, which can “greatly facilitates communication between physicians and patients, sonographers and surgeons,” according to an editorial article by Drs. Jörg Keckstein and Markus Hoopmann published in the European Journal of…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian cancers arising in endometriosis: still an unresolved issue
Alice Bergamini and associates from San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy have published their results on clinicopathologic features of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers in a recent issue of the journal “Diagnostics”. The association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer was first noticed…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative MRI Scoring System Could Ensure Women Are Fully Informed
The Deep Pelvic Endometriosis Index is able to predict the length of surgery and hospital stay as well as complications following surgery including voiding dysfunction, according to a new multicenter cohort study, the results of which were published in The Journal…
Key Points Lay SummaryChanges over time in day surgery for endometriosis in Canada
There are several medical and surgical treatment options for the management of endometriosis. Surgical approach is generally preferred in women with atypical endometrioma appearance on ultrasound, and who have persistent pain despite medical treatment. Surgery is often the first choice…
Key Points Lay SummaryQuestionnaire Can Assess Patient-Centerdness of Endometriosis Care
European patients with endometriosis think that “reaching a diagnosis quickly” and “physicians demarcating the endometriosis complexity level which they can treat” are important aspects of their care, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Best Practice & Research…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Model Can Help Understand How Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer Develops
Researchers from Japan and the US developed a new mouse model in collaboration, that can be useful to better understand how endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer develops. This new model can help to assess new treatment options for both diseases. The team…
Key Points Lay SummaryLimitations of current surgical classification systems for endometriosis.
Many classification systems for endometriosis have been developed since the 1970s, and in a 2021 review, more than 20 of those systems were identified. The best-known and most frequently used are rASRM (revised American Society of Reproductive Medicine), the Enzian…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of glucocorticoid use on clinical pregnancy rates
The preference to use glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone, along with IVF-ET cycles is due to the diminishing inflammatory response and suppressing immunity. Thus, while autoimmune diseases are suppressed with glucocorticoid administration, the success rate in the implantation…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgery for Deep Endometriosis
In recent years, minimally invasive surgery has gained popularity, providing the best results in gynecologic cancers and deeply infiltrated endometriosis. With the help of a high-definition camera displayed on a TV monitor, the small structures are enlarged 4-7 times and…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen With Endometriosis Are at a Higher Risk of Uterine Cancer
Women with endometriosis are at a greater risk of cancer of the uterus, compared to controls, according to a new study published in the journal Cancers. The study found that women who are younger and who have had endometriosis for…
Key Points Lay SummaryNeuroendocrine pathway in endometriosis-related infertility
Dr. Robert Taylor from Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo presented on the newly defined neuroendocrine pathway and its role in endometriosis-related infertility and how implantation and pregnancy establishment might be disrupted in endometriosis at the Annual International Medical Conference of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe #Enzian classification, an essential tool for surgical management of severe endometriosis
The lecture entitled "The #Enzian classification, an essential tool for surgical management of severe endometriosis" was presented by Professor. Jörg Keckstein, from the University Ulm, Germany, at the Annual International Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation of America held in New York on…
Key Points Lay SummaryIntegrative medical management of endometriosis
This lecture entitled "Integrative Medical Management of Endometriosis" was presented by Dr. Pinar Kodaman, Director of the endoscopic reproductive surgery program and Assoc. Professor of Clinical ObGyn and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine. In addition to surgery which…
Key Points Lay SummaryEpigenetic defects of stromal cells in endometriosis and adenomyosis lead to estrogen sensitivity
Serdar Bulun, MD, J.J. Sciarra Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois has delivered a conference on “Endometriosis and adenomyosis: single-cell genome-wide approaches” at the Annual International Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there any advantage of addition of hysterectomy on deep endometriotic pelvic pain or on the quality of life?
The addition of hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy to the endometriosis excision surgery provided greater benefits when compared to excision surgery alone, according to the results of a comparison study that was recently published in the journal named "Facts Views and Visions in Obstetrics…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntioxidant astaxanthin has promising effects on endometriosis-related infertility.
Dr. Rostami and colleagues from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, have published a pioneering clinical study on the effects of antioxidant astaxanthin supplementation in infertile endometriosis patients in the scientific journal named Frontiers in Endocrinology. A complicated network…
Key Points Lay SummaryTransvaginal Hydro laparoscopy for diagnosing and treatment of early stages of endometriosis
Transvaginal hydro laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the exploration of the female pelvis. An obliterated Douglas pouch by a fixed retroverted uterus, an ovarian endometrioma greater than 2 cm, and the presence of deeply infiltrated endometriosis are…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to cope with the probable complications of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Laparoscopic hysterectomy to treat endometriosis and adenomyosis can lead to complications, which are “non-negligible”, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. It is, therefore, of great importance to know the factors that are associated…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen With Chronic Pelvic Pain Have a Negative Experience With Doctors
Women with chronic pelvic pain have a negative experience with the healthcare system, according to a study by US researchers published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is the case regardless of whether or not they have…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of different IVF stimulation protocols for pregnancy success in infertile endometriosis patients
Women with endometriosis may suffer from reproductive problems up to an incidence of 50%. Several pathophysiological mechanisms including anatomic distortion, alterations in endometrial receptivity, diminished tubal peristalsis and sperm movements are the most responsible for the development of endometriosis-associated infertility.…
Key Points Lay SummaryWeighting (side)effects when dealing with endometriosis-associated pain.
The treatment options for endometriosis-related pain are so many. And the guidelines leave the selection to the clinicians, which causes obscurity between preferences. In the study by Christine Poulos et al, the authors analyzed the response of clinicians on the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe optimal endometrial preparation protocol in FET cycles of women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis can create infertility and may require treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART) to induce pregnancy. However, the current literature rarely discusses the optimal endometrial preparation protocol in thawed-frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles for endometriotic patients. Dr.Jin. group from the Reproductive…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Can Endometriosis Care Be Improved?
Researchers identified 61 areas for improvement in endometriosis care based on the answers of endometriosis patients. Of these the top five areas of improvement were to train caregivers in order to develop their knowledge about endometriosis, to provide better management…
Key Points Lay SummaryEvaluation of the postoperative disability in women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a chronic disease with a prevalence of 4,4% in women of reproductive age. It is also estimated that 23,8 of infertile women have endometriosis. Pelvic pain, dyschezia, dysmenorrhea, and dysuria are the symptoms of this disease that negatively…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Seems to Increase the Risk of Preeclampsia
Women with endometriosis who conceive spontaneously, i.e. without the help of assisted reproductive technologies seem to be at a higher risk of preeclampsia, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. However, endometriosis does not…
Key Points Lay SummaryEconomic burden while living with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a debilitating disease when all the symptoms are considered. Besides mental and physical effects, the economic burden is also a problem for the patients. In the study conducted by Josep Darbà et al, the costs of endometriosis have…
Key Points Lay SummaryUltrasonographic Presurgical Staging and Classification of Endometriosis
Laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis, but a preoperative imaging procedure is strongly recommended. Transvaginal sonography by a skilled examiner is not inferior to MRI diagnostics regarding sensitivity and specificity in predicting the extension of deep endometriosis. …
Key Points Lay SummarySexual function in infertile women with PCOS and endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from several symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility which have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. Sexual dysfunction also is a common problem for endometriosis patients due to complex…
Key Points Lay SummaryImaging techniques for fallopian tubes
The imaging techniques used for suspected fallopian tube pathology are ultrasound, hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography, hysterosalpingography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Among several benign lesions that involve fallopian tubes, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubo-ovarian abscess, salpingitis isthmica nodosa, hydrosalpinx, tubal endometriosis, isolated fallopian…
Key Points Lay SummaryGestrinone May Be Safe and Effective in Treating Endometriosis Symptoms
Gestrinone seems to be safe for the treatment of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. It also may be more effective than danazol and other medical treatments. However, these findings…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich parameter is useful in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in perimenopausal endometriosis patients?
Cardiovascular disease is known to be the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Studies have shown that postmenopausal women are at a greater risk as well as women who undergo premature menopause proving the effect of hormonal imbalances on…
Key Points Lay SummaryEfficacy of Uterine Artery Blockage in Endometriosis Management
Dr. Li Ma and associates from Liaoning, China have published their results of a computerized database search on the role of uterine artery embolization in endometriosis in a recent issue of the periodical “Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience”. Currently, the management…
Key Points Lay SummaryObstetric Outcomes of Pre-pregnancy Endometriosis Surgery
Endometriosis may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including placenta praevia, preterm birth, premature prelabour rupture of membranes, obstetric hemorrhage, gestational hypertensive disorders, fetal growth restriction, and perinatal death. Some authors have attempted to demonstrate a causal relationship between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Care Is More Patient-Centered for age older than 35
Women younger than age 35 receive endometriosis care in a less patient-centered manner compared to older women, found a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This finding underscores the importance of improving endometriosis care, especially for…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative serum markers to predict serum AMH recovery following endometriosis surgery
Women with endometriosis seek treatment including ovarian cystectomy, because of symptoms that reduce their quality of life. Ovarian cystectomy using laparoscopic or robotic devices is the preferred therapy. However, it has been shown in the literature that ovarian reserve is…
Key Points Lay SummarySocial Support is a Predictor of Resilience in Women with Endometriosis
Satisfying social support and good mental health are key resources for resilience among patients with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. “The results of this study may assist in the identification of women…
Key Points Lay SummaryExposure to toxic metals and the risk of endometriosis
Mercury, lead, and cadmium are the best-studied heavy metals for several adverse effects on the human reproductive system. Mercury can induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and lead exposure is associated with menstrual disorders, preterm birth, and miscarriage.…
Key Points Lay SummaryTime to change out taboos about the radiologic evaluation of scar endometriosis
Scar endometriosis is one of the rare forms of endometriosis. According to traditional belief, it has always been evaluated radiologically on menstruation days. In the study conducted by Balaban et al, the authors compared the differences in lesions according to…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe management of diaphragmatic endometriosis
Thoracic endometriosis is a rare disease, and it is likely to have been underdiagnosed and underreported. Optimal diagnostic testing and management options are yet to be determined. Imaging for thoracic endometriosis is still in its infancy, and MRI only helps to…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Sex Life of Women With Endometriosis Improve After Laparoscopic Surgery
As one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis, dyspareunia affects the patient's quality of life in many aspects including sexual dysfunction and disorders. Among the treatment methods used in endometriosis, laparoscopic surgery is suggested to improve the symptoms of dyspareunia and the…
Key Points Lay SummaryParametrial endometriosis and postoperative voiding dysfunction.
Parametrium constitutes a complex connective tissue containing blood vessels, the ureter, and the inferior hypogastric plexus, that extends from the lateral surface of the cervix and vagina to the lateral pelvic wall. Parametrial endometriosis may involve the vessels, nerves, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryDo endometriosis patients have increased risk of stroke?
Dr. Leslie V. Farland and colleagues from the University of Arizona, published their prospective research on the risk of stroke in women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis in a recent issue of a scientific journal named “Stroke”. Endometriosis is a chronic…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombined Birth Control Pills May Be Beneficial in Reducing Endometriosis Pain
Treatment with an extended regimen of ethinylestradiol and drospirenone improves health-related quality of life, according to a new study conducted on Japanese women with painful periods or pelvic pain due to endometriosis. (Ethinylestradiol and drospirenone are medications that are widely…
Key Points Lay SummaryTurn around to come to the same spot: Nothing specific to predict AMH decline
Endometriomas are challenging lesions as they might cause a decline in ovarian function either only by their presence or related to their surgery. Thus, any preoperative parameter that might give a vision to a surgeon for postoperative results is crucial.…
Key Points Lay SummaryPlacenta Previa More Common Among Pregnant Women With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is associated with a higher risk of placenta previa, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. This is the case whether the women became pregnant following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Moreover, for women with endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryA call for mast cells from endometriotic lesions
Endometriosis is a well-known hormonal-dependent inflammatory disease. But what type of inflammatory cells is responsible, and when does estrogen take part, are questions that have not been answered yet. In the study conducted by Alison McCallion et al, the role…
Key Points Lay SummaryCoexistence of endometriosis and cardiovascular diseases
The most common presenting complaints are mainly pelvic pain and infertility, most of which relate to the menstrual period. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably pelvic pain. Several theories have been proposed to explain the development…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Oocyte Quality in Ovarian Endometriosis
Endometrioma is the ovarian involvement of endometriosis affecting up to 44% of women diagnosed with the disease. Owing to the anatomical locus, ovarian endometriosis may impair folliculogenesis and oocyte competence, differing from other forms of endometriosis. When investigating the relationship between…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effects of resveratrol on endometriotic cells
The current treatment methods for endometriosis still carry recurrence risks and side effects from medications. Herbal medicine has been investigated and used as an additional alternative method. Derived from several plants and found in some dietary sources, resveratrol is a…
Key Points Lay SummaryValidity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Deep Pelvic Endometriosis.
Video laparoscopy has become a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing endometriosis in recent years. In cases associated with deep infiltrating endometriosis, the need for a non-invasive diagnostic method before laparoscopic evaluation paves the way for using MRI. The use…
Key Points Lay SummaryGluten Intake May Not Have an Effect on Endometriosis
Carbohydrate quality and certain types of fiber such as total vegetable and cruciferous vegetable fiber seem to be associated with endometriosis in women before menopause, found a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition. According to the study, it…
Key Points Lay SummaryStart exercising for pain relief
Physical exercises have always been suggested for chronic pain-related diseases as well as endometriosis. However, the effect of exercise and the frequency that is effective on pain relief is unknown. In the study conducted by Ipek Ensari et al, a…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombined "Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and CA125" may be promising predictor for adhesions
Drs. Guo & Zhang from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China published their manuscript on the importance of combined "platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and CA125 level" as a biomarker of endometriosis in a recent…
Key Points Lay SummarySex Education For The Sexual Quality Of Life
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Decreased quality of life due to pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression can lead to sexual dysfunction in women with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryUnderstanding the expression of endometriosis-related pain: A barrier to overcome
It is difficult to describe the feeling of pain, one of the most important symptoms of endometriosis because it is subjective. Endometriosis-related pain is proven to be underestimated by some clinicians resulting in the patient getting a late diagnosis. It…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative outcomes of deep intestinal endometriosis surgery.
Invasion of endometriotic lesions to the bowels' mucosal and/or muscular levels is called intestinal deep endometriosis. These lesions are most frequently found in the rectosigmoid colon, followed by the rectum, ileum, appendix, and caecum. The optimal surgical approach to intestinal deep…
Key Points Lay SummaryA search for a marker to show the malignancy risk of endometriomas
The premalignant features and precursors that show the malignant potential in endometriomas are not well-known. In the systematic review conducted by Ludovica Bartiromo et al, the markers for malignant transformation have been analyzed and recently published in a recent issue of…
Key Points Lay SummaryChronic pelvic pain and endometriosis
Patients may have an average of 7 clinical visits before being diagnosed with endometriosis. Understanding chronic pain conditions including endometriosis-associated pain, and developing chronic pelvic pain benefits the management of the patients. The role of central sensitization, comorbid conditions, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdenomyosis Increases Risk of Surgical Complications
Adenomyosis increases the risk of deep endometriosis surgery complications, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Patients with deep endometriosis and adenomyosis should therefore be informed about this risk before undergoing surgery. Adenomyosis occurs together with…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe consequence of COVID-19 pandemic on endometriosis patients
The relevant policies and restrictions concerning Covid-19 have prevented patients from accessing medical care. Similarly, standard care for endometriosis patients has also been negatively impacted by postponed or canceled appointments and suspended surgeries across the countries. Women trying to cope…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe evaluation of sexual dysfunction in infertile women
Infertility constitutes a serious health problem in women and men worldwide. The most common causes of women’s infertility are reported to be endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The prevalence of infertility in women with endometriosis is as high as 50%.…
Key Points Lay SummarySelf-Management Strategies for Endometriosis
Many self-management strategies for endometriosis are not more effective at reducing the symptoms of the disease compared to placebo or hormonal therapies, according to a new study published in the journal Reproductive Sciences. The authors, therefore concluded that “no recommendations…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow possible is it to diagnose endometriosis from a urine sample?
The development of non-invasive diagnostic methods in endometriosis is essential for successful surveillance. Various biomarkers have been used for this purpose, including biomarkers from serum, peritoneal irrigation fluid, endometrial tissue biopsy, and urine. Dr. Chen et al. from Taiwan conducted…
Key Points Lay SummaryAbdominal wall endometriosis is not a rare disease as supposed
Abdominal wall endometriosis is an iatrogenic type of endometriosis defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue on the abdominal wall including skin, the rectus abdominis muscle, and rectus muscle sheath. Cyclical pain, mass located on the abdominal…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe incidence of ovarian cancer after histologically diagnosed endometriosis.
Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, these patients are generally diagnosed in advanced stage due to their non-symptomatic nature. Therefore, preventative strategies have enormous importance for the management of ovarian cancer. Dr. Hermens and colleagues…
Key Points Lay SummaryMedicinal Cannabis Use for Endometriosis in Australia and New Zeland
Cannabis use leads to positive outcomes for the management of endometriosis according to the results of an online survey among patients from Australia and New Zealand. These findings, which were published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research suggest that…
Key Points Lay SummaryMindfullness Can Hep Reduce Endometriosis Pain
A brief mindfulness-based intervention can be useful in managing pain related to endometriosis and restoring patients’ psychological well-being, found a new study published in the European Journal of Pain. This finding contributes to the applicability of mindfulness-based interventions in people…
Key Points Lay SummaryQuality of Life Is Negatively Correlated With Anxiety and Depression in Endometriosis
The quality of life of endometriosis patients is negatively correlated with anxiety and depression according to a new study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology. Based on this finding, the authors of the study suggest that improving patients'…
Key Points Lay SummaryPlanning surgery for recto-sigmoid endometriosis with 3D virtual models.
Efforts to reduce the high complication rate of rectosigmoid surgery in deeply infiltrated endometriosis are of great interest to gynecologists. 3D printing, currently used in various surgical specialties to support surgical planning and guide intraoperative procedures may be a way…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe underlying reason of implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility
Endometriosis is most frequently encountered in reproductive-aged women, with a prevalence of 10-15% in the general population. However, endometriosis is more frequently diagnosed in infertile women, with a prevalence of 25-40%. Although the exact mechanism explaining the association between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryCannabis use in the management of endometriosis-related pain during the COVID19 pandemic
Pain management in endometriosis has been challenging owing to many reasons. Since the pathways that cause pain in endometriosis have not been elucidated extensively, the medical and surgical management of pain remains to be symptomatic. Alternative pain management methods have…
Key Points Lay SummaryChallenges of Living With Endometriosis and Possible Solutions
A new study published in the scientific journal BMC Women's Health reviewed the challenges of living with endometriosis and possible solutions for women with the disease. The findings of the study highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach to treating…
Key Points Lay SummaryInternational Working Group's review on endometriosis classification systems
International Endometriosis Working Group including AAGL, ESHRE, ESGE, and WES published a comprehensive review on endometriosis classification, staging, and reporting systems in a recent issue of the journal named "Facts, Views & Vision in Obstetrics and Gynecology". Classification and staging…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs "non-hormonal therapy" effective in women with endometriosis-associated pain?
Women with endometriosis require effective treatment due to the negative impact of the disease on quality of life. Hormonal treatments including oral contraceptives, and progestins are usually recommended to suppress ovulation and decrease pelvic pain. However, some women do not…
Key Points Lay SummaryRisk of cardiovascular disease in endometriosis patients
A well-known fact about endometriosis is the inflammatory processes that underlie its pathophysiology. The inflammatory markers have been thought to play a role in many additional disorders in endometriosis patients. One of the primary markers of inflammation is C-reactive protein…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel approach to a common lesion: mapping adenomyosis by imaging modalities
Dr. Habiba from Leicester, UK, and Dr. Benagiano from Rome, Italy, have published their overview on adenomyosis in an attempt to set light on a clinically important topic in a recent issue of the "International Journal of Environmental Research and…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiaphragmatic defects, liver herniations and catamenial pneumothorax
Dr. Arakawa and associates from The Jikei Katsushika Medical Center, Japan, have published their recent case of catamenial pneumothorax with diaphragmatic defect and liver herniation in the "Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery". Catamenial pneumothorax is an uncommon condition with a reported…
Key Points Lay SummaryA comparison of endometriosis Classifications: rASRM, EFI or Enzian?
None of the endometriosis classifications provide a clinically valuable system since the very first description of the disease in 1860. One unique terminology to describe the localization and the extension of the disease is needed, which should be the same…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs intrauterine insemination effective in women having endometriosis-associated infertility?
The most common presenting complaints of women with endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably fertility problems. Several underlying mechanisms have been proposed to explain endometriosis-associated infertility including anatomic…
Key Points Lay SummaryFertility Problems and Pregnancy Complications: Are They Coming From the Same Root Theory?
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are bad sisters causing not only infertility but also when pregnancy is achieved, complications related to the disease. In the review paper written by Gruber et al, it is described that adenomyosis and endometriosis come from the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA rare but important disease: "isolated" endometriosis of the sciatic nerve
Professor Marc Possover from Zurich, Switzerland has published his 16-year experience of surgical laparoscopic interventions on isolated endometriosis of the sciatic nerve in a recent issue of the official publication of the European Society for Gynecological Endoscopy; Facts, Views &…
Key Points Lay SummaryTo be or not to be [surgery or hormonal therapies for pain] that’s the question!
Deep infiltrative endometriosis is the most challenging type of endometriosis disease. Surgical management is the one that most surgeons prefer for dealing with, while it requires experience and usually causes complications related to the requirement of difficult operative techniques. Thus,…
Key Points Lay SummaryPhysical activity and exercise in reducing endometriosis symptoms
The treatment modalities to date on endometriosis have focused on the symptomatic relief and management of chronic pain. Hormonal suppression sometimes shows intolerable side effects and is known to lose effect after some time. Surgical interventions may not provide a…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis
The trigger mechanism of endometriosis formation is still under investigation. But it is clear that there is an iron overload on endometriotic lesions. In the study conducted by Guojing Li et al, the mechanism of iron on endometriosis formation has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryEnvorinmental metals harmful for female reproductivity
Heavy metals exposure in a wide range of ways is one of the main causes of increased infertility. According to the 2003 National Health Survey, nearly every pregnant woman in the USA is exposed to at least 43 hazardous chemicals…
Key Points Lay SummaryMachine learning tools to predict endometriosis
The current gold standard diagnostic method for endometriosis is the surgical diagnosis and yet no approaches have been found to replace it. In the study conducted by Sofiane Bendifallah et al, the authors aimed to use machine learning algorithms to…
Key Points Lay SummaryImportance of Language in Communicating Endometriosis Pain
Language is of great importance for women with endometriosis to communicate their pain to their doctor, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health. The study also found that additional tools are needed to help women…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common?
While endometriosis is not a malignant disease, it is for sure known that it shares genetic disorders with cancers. In the bioinformatics study applied by Leyi Ni et al, the researchers analyzed the genetic pathways shared by both ovarian cancers…
Key Points Lay SummaryA study design to improve the patient-centeredness in endometriosis care.
It is well known that endometriosis causes impaired daily activity and productivity along with energy loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, and further, infertility accompanies all these negative influences. The chronic nature of the disease forces clinicians to plan long-term care…
Key Points Lay SummaryEmotions on the 'Surgery Requirement' in patients with bowel endometriosis
Endometriosis is known to have many adverse effects in patients’ lives such as a significant decrease in the quality of life, psychosocial problems, loss of productivity and focus while working. With the constant chronic pain, the patients mostly present with…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn Overview on Treatment of endometriosis
There are different guidelines by different gynecological societies for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, which is an extremely complex illness. Kalaitzopoulos and Samartzis et al. from Switzerland worked on and compared six national and two international widely used guidelines to…
Key Points Lay SummaryA trial of exogenous melatonin on dysmenorrhea in women "without endometriosis"
In their recent article published in “European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology”, Dr. Söderman and associates from Stockholm report the results of their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effects of oral melatonin in women with dysmenorrhea -unrelated to endometriosis-. Melatonin is a hormone…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Endometriosis Clinical Trial Now Recruiting Participants
A new clinical trial investigating the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for endometriosis is now recruiting participants. The randomized, controlled trial aims to recruit 100 participants, ages 18 to 50 with proven endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEfficacy of cannabis on endometriosis symptoms
Endometriosis is related to a wide range of symptoms that affect the quality of life of patients in many aspects. Studies have shown malfunctions in the endocannabinoid system in endometriosis patients which led to the idea to target this pathway…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and women’s social lives, work and education.
The women with endometriosis present with a broad clinical spectrum including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. All of these symptoms and signs may have a negative impact on women’s lives by having endometriosis. Mastrangelo and Turnbull, from Australia, published…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel in-vitro endometriosis model with KRAS and PIK3CA mutations
A plethora of research has been ongoing to illuminate the pathogenesis of endometriosis which is a multifactorial disease. These studies have proven the association between some mutated cancer driver genes and endometriosis, and links between certain cancers such as ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryInternational definition and standardization for endometriosis
There is huge heterogeneity in classifications, subtypes, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions of endometriosis in published literature. The lack of a uniform and widely accepted terminology of the disease rose the necessity to argue and reach a common consensus with organizations,…
Key Points Lay SummaryA plea from pathologists: standardized protocols for adenomyosis and endometriosis
Pathologist Drs. Camboni and Marbaix from Brussels, Belgium published their comprehensive review on adenomyosis and endometriosis titled “Ectopic endometrium: the pathologists’ perspective” in a recent issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Endometriosis and adenomyosis are well-known entities as…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of hormone therapy after surgical menopause on endometriosis recurrence
Definitive surgery for severe and advanced endometriosis is hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, which may cause vasomotor symptoms, sleep deprivation, mood change, and dyspareunia in the patients. Furthermore, after the surgical removal of the ovaries, the sudden drop in estrogens causes…
Key Points Lay SummaryPharmacological Therapy for Endometriosis Pain
The negative effects of endometriosis on women’s quality of life are indisputable. Women who suffer from endometriosis might have to deal with problems in many aspects such as psychological, sexual, social, and economic. Pain which is one of the most…
Key Points Lay SummaryEnvironmental factors play a role in the development of endometriosis
The proposed mechanisms underlying the development of endometriosis may be classified into three groups: in-situ theory, implantation theories, and induction theories. Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors are also involved as no mechanism is solely responsible for endometriosis development. Although there are…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe new Endometriosis Surgical Complexity Classification: AAGL 2021
Multiple endometriosis categorizations have been approved in the recent forty years. The American Fertility Society proposed ASRM with a desire to score the impact of the endometriosis in 1996, which was updated several times later (rASRM), to predict infertility after laparoscopic operations. For…
Key Points Lay SummaryInflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches
Elisa Giacomini and colleagues from medical centers in Milan, Italy have published their review manuscript on the inflammatory and genetical pathogenetic background of endometriosis in a recent issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”, suggesting also new therapeutic approaches. The inflammatory…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould Cannabis Be Recommended to Manage Endometriosis?
It is not possible to recommend cannabis-based products to patients with endometriosis because there is not enough evidence supporting their benefits, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Cannabis-based products have been suggested as…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow does adenomyosis affect IVF outcomes?
Adenomyosis is defined as the localization of endometrial tissue in the muscle layer of uterus. Several theories have been proposed to explain the reasons of adenomyosis-associated infertility including uterine dysperistalsis, abnormal transportation of sperm in the uterine cavity, and embryo…
Key Points Lay SummaryGreen tea as a therapeutic agent in endometriosis
Tea is among the most consumed beverages all around the world. It has many kinds which originate from the same plant “Camellia sinensis” but differ in color after the fermentation process. Green tea is the one produced right after the…
Key Points Lay SummaryMolecular alterations in endometriosis pathogenesis
Endometriosis has been in our lives for decades, however little is known about its pathogenesis making it hard to diagnose and manage. A review study conducted by Balasubramanian et al. from India reveals all the characteristics and the underlying conditions…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer
Endometriosis is a locally aggressive and chronic inflammatory disease and it is now known that with various genetic pathways it creates susceptibility to certain cancers, the most common being ovarian cancer. Pelvic inflammatory disease on the other hand creates a…
Key Points Lay SummaryEtiopathogenesis of Endometriosis and Links with Endometrial Cancer
Professor Terzic and colleagues from the Medical School of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan published their review on the molecular aspects of endometriosis and endometrial cancer in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis has remained controversial, with recent studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryLead and cadmium exposures of female workers should be reduced as much as possible
Min-Gi Kim and associates from Korea published their results on the possible effects of lead and cadmium exposure in endometriosis induction and severity in a recent issue of “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health”. Endometriosis is an illness…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Cost of Healthcare for Chronic Pelvic Pain
The healthcare costs of pelvic pain range between 1,367 USD and 7,043 USD per woman per year, found a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. The study also reported that prescription costs ranged between 193…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of surgery before IVF in infertile women with endometrioma
Among the women with endometriosis, 30 to 50% are estimated to have infertility. On the contrary, among women who present with infertility, 25 to 50% are estimated to also have endometriosis. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian cancer risk in endometriosis and adenomyosis
Through the historical development of the nomenclature for endometriotic tissue found inside and/or outside the uterus, many terminologies have been used. The accepted terminology is still the one introduced by Sampson: “Endometriosis”. “Adenomyosis” also known as “endometriosis interna” which is…
Key Points Lay SummaryUterine cancer risk in "endometriosis" and "adenomyosis"
Adenomyosis and endometriosis share similar characteristics, and endometriosis is reported to have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, the risk of uterine cancer is not clear yet. Hermens and colleagues from Catharina Hospital, from the Netherlands, designed a population-based…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndogenous cannabinoids are related to endometriosis pain
Pain, specifically dysmenorrhea is the most important symptom of endometriosis. Prostaglandins are the main director of the pain process in dysmenorrhea, therefore the mechanisms affecting the prostaglandin metabolism have been studied in order to find a treatment for pain, and found that…
Key Points Lay SummaryAltered Decidualization and Pregnancy Complications
Dr. Carlo Ticconi and colleagues from Italy published their comprehensive review manuscript “Clinical consequences of defective decidualization” in the June 2021 issue of “Tissue and Cell”. Currently, there has been growing research interest in the study of decidualization, and knowledge of…
Key Points Lay SummaryCatching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners
It should be repetitively pronounced that "endometriosis is very common and it is very important to diagnose it as soon as possible before it causes lifelong damage to women’s lives". The sooner the better concerning the diagnosis, and this is…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new assessment tool for the multi-dimensional burden of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease that has multiple effects on patients’ lives in various ways. The quality of life, the status of the patient’s relationships, the continuity and productivity in the patient’s education and work environment, and psychological, emotional, and even…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian Cancer Survival in the presence of Endometriosis
Women with ovarian cancer and histologically proven endometriosis have longer overall survival compared to those with ovarian cancer but no endometriosis, found a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. “[…] Women diagnosed as having ovarian cancer…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrioma post-surgical-recurrence risk factors
Jiang and associates from Dailan Medical University, China published their review manuscript “Risk factors for ovarian endometrioma recurrence following surgical excision: a systematic review and meta‑analysis” in the June 2021 issue of "Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics". The most common form of endometriosis, "ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of physical examination and interview in Endometriosis Diagnosis
Today we know that the most accurate diagnosis of endometriosis necessitates surgery and histopathological examination of the excised lesions. However, many women are misdiagnosed due to various symptoms of endometriosis which mystify gastrointestinal, urinary, and musculoskeletal diseases. Nawrocka-Rutkowska and colleagues…
Key Points Lay SummaryDepression and Anxiety Common in Women with Endo
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are frequent among women with endometriosis and are related to chronic pain, confirms a review of the literature and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Women's Health. According to the study authors, correlating factors should…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis & adolescents: Overcoming the diagnostic delay via education
Although the diagnosis of endometriosis is still not timely even in adults, due to its common under- or misdiagnosis in adolescents, the diagnostic delay may further cause the adolescent women to wait to seek medical treatment. A group of researchers…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-pharmacological self-care: dietary modifications in women with endometriosis.
The academic interest on the role of diet in endometriosis has grown due to its possible relation with inflammation, estrogenic activity, and menstrual cycles. Multiple dietary strategies and prescriptions are being used to deal with the pelvic pain and gastrointestinal…
Key Points Lay SummaryStrong Geographical Gradient in Endometriosis Incidence Identified
The geographical distribution of new endometriosis cases showed a very strong north-south spatial gradient in the highly industrialized Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “The cluster of…
Key Points Lay SummaryNot just the pain stops but also the bowel function improves after DIE surgery
Bowel endometriosis and the techniques to operate it have always been a challenge. The study conducted by Beraldo et al., from Brazil, highlighted the results of an effective nerve-sparing bowel surgery on endometriosis lesions and its long-term effects on patients. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring a bonafide biomarker to predict endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex disease affecting many women in the reproductive age group. As it is important to figure out the mechanisms responsible for the disease, it is also crucial to identify biomarkers that can be used in the diagnosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryMedical Examination Reduces Anxiety in Women With Suspected Endometriosis
Anxiety levels go down after medical examination in women with suspected endometriosis, found a study by Italian researchers that was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. This was especially pronounced in women who had higher baseline distress and who…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnalyses of the main classification systems of endometriosis in terms of utrasound, MRI and surgery
Several classifications made by gynecologists, image readers, and radiologists lead to confusion while describing the situation and estimating the progress of endometriosis. Daniela Fischerova team from the Charles University of Prague, Czech Republic, analyzed the main classifications of endometriosis in three…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes exercise have an effect on pain perception in women with endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease causing pain symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and also infertility. Several medical and surgical treatment options have been developed to improve quality of life of these women. Despite extensive research, the optimal…
Key Points Lay SummaryMicroRNAs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and infertility
The gold standard in the diagnosis of endometriosis is laparoscopy and histopathological diagnosis, however search for a non-invasive method has been ongoing. Some biomarkers such as Cancer Antigen 125 have been thought to be useful, but because of their low…
Key Points Lay SummaryA hot research topic: macrophage reprogramming for endometriosis treatment
Daria Artemova and colleagues from several research institutes of the Russian Federation have published their review on the cellular aspects of endometriosis related to macrophages, particularly emphasizing promising therapeutic options for the future in "International Journal of Molecular Sciences". Macrophages have…
Key Points Lay SummaryA pictorial overview of abdominal wall endometriosis
Abdominal wall endometriosis is the most frequent location of extrapelvic endometriosis, and defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue between the peritoneum and the skin through the abdominal wall. Although obstetric or gynecologic surgical history is indispensable for the…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat causes distress in women with endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disease that affects a woman’s life from many different aspects; emotionally, sexually, and physiologically. With the burden of the distress caused by the disease, most women suffer from anxiety and depression. This results in lower self-esteem and…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors affecting complications and the recurrence of operated deep infiltrating endometriosis
Deep infiltrating endometriosis is classified as penetrating the endometrial tissues more than 5 mm deep on the peritoneal surface, mainly uterosacral ligament, rectovaginal septum, ovarian fossa, pelvic peritoneum, bowels, ureters, and bladder. Treatment of the disease depends on the need…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatient- centeredness in endometriosis
Endometriosis is common in fertile age, and women with endometriosis are suffering from serious symptoms including pelvic discomfort, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Due to resemblances of endometriosis symptoms with other diseases, most endometriosis patients are faced with delays in diagnosis. To…
Key Points Lay SummaryMigraine, endometriosis and plasma "Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide"
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neurotransmitter that takes part in migraine and is now thought to have a role in endometriosis. The role of CGRP is well known in migraine, it is released from neurons during acute attacks and…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe genomic linkage between ovarian cancer and endometriosis
Endometriosis has been proven to be the precursor of ovarian clear cell and endometrioid carcinomas, however, it is not well understood why and how endometriosis goes into malignant transformation. To address this issue, in their review article, Dr. Yachida and…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to predict the complications after laparoscopic bowel resection in women with endometriosis
The endometriotic lesions infiltrating the bowel wall more than 5 mm. are called "deep infiltrating endometriosis". The patients having bowel involvement may have constipation, diarrhea, tenesmus, or rectal bleeding. Surgical management is the main treatment modality to provide benefits on pain, infertility,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Communication Gap Between Specialists for Endometriosis Diagnosis and Management
An approach to help the different specialties which work as a team but lack sufficient communication in endometriosis management build better communication was proposed by Leonardi et al. from Australia and Canada in their opinion article which was published in…
Key Points Lay SummaryMyeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis
Dr. Wertel and associates from Polish academic centers published their sentimental review paper on the role of "Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells" in human diseases, in a recent issue of Cells. Endometriosis, the most common gynecological disease affecting about 10% of women globally,…
Key Points Lay SummaryProblems in the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis
The Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) is very aggressive in nature with infiltrating the whole pelvic, colon, rectum, bladder, ureter, and pelvic wall. D’Alterio and colleagues analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of both medical and surgical therapies for DIE. The authors…
Key Points Lay SummaryAutophagy, Endometrium and Endometriosis
Autophagy, or autophagocytosis, is a self-digestion process by which cells recycle non-functional proteins to repurpose them. Unwanted cellular parts in cytosolic material are first isolated within double-membrane vesicles called the autophagosome, which subsequently fuses with the acidic lysosome. Autophagy is a survival…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative treatment and pregnancy points to decreased recurrence risk for ovarian endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease most frequently diagnosed in women of reproductive age and negatively affects the quality of life. The most common localization for endometriosis is ovaries with a prevalence of 17-44%. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy performed as excision or ablation…
Key Points Lay SummaryCancer, is that a real risk?
Endometriosis is non-malignant but shares some similar features with cancer, such as the occurrence of local and distant foci, the ability to resist cell death, and the ability to invade other tissues, causing damage to the organs. Endometriosis also generates…
Key Points Lay SummarySelected Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers May Help Identify Endometriosis
Levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the blood differ between women with endometriosis and those without the disease. Levels of some biomarkers also differ according to the stage of endometriosis. This is according to a new study by Polish scientists published…
Key Points Lay Summary“Advanced gynecological ultrasound” for women with suspected endometriosis
Different clinical forms of endometriosis such as superficial endometriosis, endometrioma, and deep infiltrating endometriosis are present. Although no specific diagnostic tool is available for endometriosis, clinical findings, physical examination and imaging including transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are helpful to determine…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and possible cardiovascular outcomes
A retrospective population-based cohort study from the Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, the UK, investigated the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of women with endometriosis. The study included 279,759 women in total, 20,1% (>56.000) were patients with surgically…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effects of endometriosis on life satisfaction.
Endometriosis is well-known for its debilitating effects on women suffering from it. In the review conducted by Masoumeh Namazi et al, the authors have collected studies searching for the wellbeing of women with endometriosis. They have analyzed 46 studies that…
Key Points Lay SummaryManaging the physical and emotional effects of endometriosis
Endometriosis is known to affect 5-10% of the general population, but some women are underdiagnosed due to physical and psychological disability. Due to the symptoms including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and infertility, endometriosis has a negative effect on the quality…
Key Points Lay SummaryEnvironmental to occupational exposure, and possible risk factors for endometriosis.
Many objects in daily use are made of plasticizing agents. Studies suggest that chronic exposure to these agents are toxic to reproductive organs and cause metabolic disorders. For example, diethyl phthalate is still in use in cosmetic products. Caporossi et…
Key Points Lay SummaryVitamin D supplementation, endometriosis symptoms and metabolic profiles
Patients with endometriosis suffer from dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. These women are also at higher risk for ovarian and breast cancer, cardiovascular events, and metabolic abnormalities. Several medical and surgical alternatives have been recommended to these patients…
Key Points Lay SummaryCancer risk Evaluation in Korean Endometriosis Cohort
The relationship between endometriosis and cancer has always been challenging. The previous studies revealed an increased risk in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers regarding the alterations in cancerogenic genes or by the effect of iron and hem coming with retrograde menstruation and…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian, breast and endometrial cancer coexisting with endometriosis.
The invasive nature of endometriosis results in calling the disease " benign cancer". The transformation of endometriosis to malignancy is rare, but when compared to the general population, the relative risk of developing ovarian cancer is 4.2 times greater especially…
Key Points Lay SummaryLive Birth Rate in Women Who Underwent Fresh Embryo Transfer Using Freshly Retrieved Donor Oocytes
One of the important clinical findings in women with endometriosis is reproductive problems. Infertility can be encountered in up to 50% of women with endometriosis and up to 50% of women with infertility can be diagnosed with endometriosis. Several pathophysiologic…
Key Points Lay SummaryTime for noninvasive serum markers for endometriosis diagnosis
Dr. Onur Guralp and associates from Germany and Turkey published their results on serum markers predicting endometriosis in the "Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology". Still, in 21st-century medicine, doctors can not diagnose endometriosis using biochemical serum markers. Proposed serum markers…
Key Points Lay SummaryRole of Prophylactic Oophorectomy in Endometriosis Patients with Ovarian Cancer History in the family - Farr Nezhat, MD
Dr. Nezhat starts his presentation by outlining his objectives, which are to review the basics of cancer genetics, give an overview about endometriosis and ovarian cancer, discuss the pathogenesis of malignant transformation of endometriosis, and talk about the clinical implications…
Key Points Lay SummaryFurther Evidence that endometriosis is related to tubal or ovarian cancer - Togas Tulandi, MD
Most authors suggest an association of endometriosis mainly with clear cell, low-grade serous, and endometrioid ovarian cancer. But in two large cohort studies, no correlation between them is reported (Olson et al. 2002 and Tseng et al. 2019) Dr. Tulandi…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis: Less is better. How to improve the integration between surgical and medical therapy - Errico Zupi, MD
In this presentation, Dr. Errico Zupi, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rome talks about the importance of an integrative approach comprising of both medical and surgical interventions to treat endometriosis. "The first…
Key Points Lay SummaryGenetic and Pathologic aspects of Maligant Transformation of Endometriosis: Endometriosis-Related Ovarian Cancers-ERON's - Ayse Ayhan, MD
In the 2020 Endofound Medical Conference, Dr. Ayse Ayhan presented about endometriosis (endometrioma)-related ovarian cancer (ERON). Based on the current understanding of the epidemiology, histology, and molecular alterations, it seems clear that endometriosis is highly related to ERONs. Endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryImplantation failure in endometriosis patients - Jovana Lekovich, MD., PhD.
Endometriosis is one of the leading reasons for infertility due to decreased oocyte/embryo quality, fertilization ability, tubal function, and aberrant endometrial receptivity. Whether this failure is caused by oocyte/embryo or eutopic endometrium is one of the investigated topics in endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryFixing holes: prevention and treatment of complications - Jon Einarsson, MD, MPH
Dr. Einarsson shared his operating room video screens during his speech for discussing four major complications (ureter, bladder, bowel, and vascular) of endometriosis surgery and the ways to repair them. Fixing the ureter damage: Endometriotic nodules may settle on the tract…
Key Points Lay SummaryIn vitro fertilization protocols in endometriosis patients - Pinar Kodaman, MD., PhD.
Infertility is frequently encountered in endometriosis patients because of anatomic distortion, alterations in endometrial receptivity, diminished tubal peristalsis, and sperm movements. Even though the disease stage and presence of endometrioma is negatively correlated with infertility, it is unpredictable which women…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Increase the Risk of Endometriosis?
The use of cosmetics and personal care products may be increasing the risk of endometriosis according to a study by Spanish researchers that was published in the journal "Environmental Research". This finding suggests that restricting the use of these products may…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the sexual relations of the couples
From the viewpoint of endometriotic women, the pain during the penetration is not the only complaint. They also have growing depression and anxiety leading to difficulties with their social and sexual relationship, work, and study. The emotional impact of sub-infertility,…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes hysterectomy bring a total relief in patients with endometriosis?
There is a common belief that hysterectomy is the last option to relieve the pain in patients with endometriosis by stopping the production of menstrual material. The study entitled "Impact of hysterectomy on analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drug use in…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to unveil the discrepancy regarding the effect of chemicals on the etiology of endometriosis
Kristen Upson from Michigan State University published a review article evaluating research papers on environmental factors effective in endometriosis from an epidemiological perspective in "Current Epidemiology Reports". Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with anatomical, hormonal, immunological, estrogenic, genetic, epigenetic, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities for the deep infiltrating endometriosis
The treatment of deeply infiltrated endometriosis (DIE) is usually personalized and the potential success for the available therapeutical options is dependent on early and accurate diagnosis. Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DIE. Other non-invasive diagnostic methods…
Key Points Lay SummaryMagnetic resonance imaging classification for the management of deep pelvic endometriosis
A new study published in the journal "Human Reproduction" reported that operating time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications in patients who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis can be predicted by the MRI. This result may be useful for clinicians to…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombination of noninvasive biomarkers in the identification of endometriosis
The combined measurement of urine enolase, serum CA125, and CA19-9 may be an accurate test for the prediction and detection of endometriosis. This is according to a study published in the journal BioMedical Research International. The gold standard for the…
Key Points Lay SummarySegmental bowel resection could be predicted using MRI in patients with rectal endometriosis
The rectum and recto-sigmoid junction are the preferential localisations of bowel endometriosis. The three main surgical approaches are shaving, disc excision, and segmental resection. It is very important to decide the most appropriate surgical method preoperatively and to plan accordingly. …
Key Points Lay SummaryCA125 do not correlate with pain and its severity among adolescents
Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a high molecular weight glycoprotein expressed in tissue derived from the coelomic and Mullerian epithelia including the uterus endometrium. Previous studies reported that CA125 is the most studied endometriosis marker. Women with endometriosis experienced different…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian tube endometriosis
Endometriosis affects various tissues including pelvic and extra-pelvic organs. Fallopian tube endometriosis is not a widely studied topic in endometriosis, hence the real incidence is unknown as not all studies evaluate microscopically diagnosed Fallopian tube endometriosis. In the retrospective database…
Key Points Lay SummaryDepression and anxiety levels in "in vitro fertilization" patients with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a reproductive-aged and estrogen-dependent disease. The most common symptoms of this disease are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility affecting the quality of life in several aspects mainly the psychological domain. In the literature, there are many studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain and Quality of Life Following Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis
Currently, laparoscopy is the preferred approach as a surgical treatment of endometriosis. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery to reduce the painful symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with endometriosis in the short term…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis-related obstetrical complications and their outcome
Borisova et al. from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Peoples' Friendship University, Moskow, Russia, and her colleagues from the Center of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine of University Perugia, Italy, recently published a review of the literature data about…
Key Points Lay SummarySleep Quality, Lifestyle Factors and Endometriosis
Endometriosis does not only affect the patients by dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. An important issue in these patients, like other chronic diseases, is sleep quality. Youseflu et al., from Iran, published a study entitled “Effects of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryColorectal Deep Endometriosis Resection and Potential Complications
A severe clinical form of endometriosis, deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is characterized by more aggressive endometriotic lesions commonly involving deeper pelvic or gastrointestinal organs. It causes significant quality of life impairment and morbidity and is increasingly associated with infertility. When…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors affecting the quality of life of women with endometriosis
Results from a new study suggest that the quality of life of women with endometriosis is significantly affected by their confidence to manage pain and their belief in the evolution of their condition. In this study, led by Rees M. et…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe advantages of combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach on voiding dysfunction for rectovaginal endometriosis
The patients with rectovaginal endometriotic nodules with extensive vaginal infiltration who are managed combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach have a lower risk of postoperative bladder dysfunction when compared to surgery via laparoscopy alone. This is according to a manuscript published in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe impact of laser vaporization on reproductive outcomes in women with endometrioma
Despite extensive research, the optimal method for the management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Excisional surgery is claimed with a more favorable outcome than drainage and ablation regarding the recurrence of disease and symptoms. On the other hand, cyst vaporization…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Call for Pan-Canadian Collaboration for the Care and Quality of Life of Endometriosis Patients
Wahl KJ et al., from Canada, drew attention to the lack of health care for endometriosis patients who are estimated to be 1 million in number in Canada in their recent brief communication report. The delay in the diagnosis, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryBowel surgery for endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. The disease harbors various complications. Deep endometriosis involving the bowel is only one aspect of the condition that has variable phenotypic presentations and pathologic subtypes. Knowledge of the short- and long-term risks of the surgical…
Key Points Lay SummaryBenefits of Nerve-Sparing Hysterectomy
The retroperitoneal spread of endometriosis or cancer may involve pelvic autonomic nerves situated on the lateral aspects of uterosacral ligaments, vesicouterine ligaments, and medial aspects of parametria. During the conventional open hysterectomy operations, nerve-sparing excision is very difficult, simply because pelvic autonomic nerves…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatient-centered care in patients with endometriosis
The women with endometriosis suffer from several symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility which have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. Endometriosis is diagnosed with 7-10 years of delay due to the absence…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Impact of Painful Sex on the Physical and Mental Wellbeing of Adolescent and Young Adult Women
Clinicians should ask adolescents and young women about painful sex, not just talk about contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. This is because painful sexual intercourse could have a negative impact on relationships and peer engagement, which is…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrevalence, Risk factors and Management of Bowel Fistula after Rectosigmoid Surgery for Deep Endometriosis
Bowel fistula is a severe complication after the colorectal endometriosis surgery, but little is known about its prevalence, and reports on large series are lacking. To discuss specific management on colorectal deep endometriosis, Roman et al. conducted a retrospective study…
Key Points Lay SummaryReproductive capacity and recurrence rate after surgery for Stage III/IV endometriosis
If gaining fertility back is the main goal, the surgical removal of endometriosis lesions is globally recognized as first-line therapy. Even though, pre- and postoperative hormone therapy leads to a significant decrease in the spread of the disease measured with the…
Key Points Lay SummaryIncreased expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and its possible role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in endometriosis.
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that functional endometrial tissue exists outside both the uterine cavity and myometrium. The pathogenesis of endometriosis remains unclear and controversial. According to the implantation theory, which is the most well-known, migration and invasion are two…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian tubes and endometriosis
There are multiple theories to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis, among which the most popular one is Sampson's retrograde menstruation theory. The role of endometrial stem cells/progenitors are widely studied to support the origin of ectopic lesions in recent decades.…
Key Points Lay SummaryA New Treatment Approach for Endometriosis?
A new approach may be effective at relieving pain associated with endometriosis according to a study published in the PM&R Journal. The new technique may also improve “overall pelvic function, particularly in relation to intercourse, working, and sleeping,” according to the…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdolescent endometriosis
A recent article, led by experts from Peking Medical Union College, describes the clinical characteristics and postoperative symptoms of adolescent endometriosis. The authors inform that their report, which is published in the "Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology", can provide…
Key Points Lay SummarySuggested remedies for endometriosis patients during coronavirus pandemic
The pandemic of COVID-19 continues to have important effects on endometriosis patients worldwide. Many health care facilities stopped providing surgical management and outpatient appointments are canceled or postponed. Dr. Leonardi from Australia and associates from several countries published their proposals…
Key Points Lay SummaryCancer-associated mutations and endometriosis
Endometriosis is thought to benign gynecological disease. However, recent studies compiled in this review paper suggest that spontaneous somatic mutations are driven to occur during the cyclic bleeding resulting in endometriosis tissue undergoing repeated tissue injury and repair. Mutations are…
Key Points Lay SummaryCabergoline or Progesterone not Effective in Rat Model of Endometriosis
Oral treatment with cabergoline or micronized progesterone for four weeks is not effective in the regression of endometriotic implants in a rat model of the disease. This is according to a study published in the "Journal of Investigative Surgery". Cabergoline…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnogenital distance and endometriosis
Endometriosis may be associated with exposure of the embryo to chemicals called ‘endocrine disruptors’. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can be estimated by measuring the anogenital distance (i.e. the distance between the clitoris and the anus), using a centimeter ruler with…
Key Points Lay SummaryRacial and ethnic disparities and women health
The well documented racial and ethnic disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the US make available to use them as an indicator of implicit bias in giving unequal health and care service to minorities. Dr. Bryant from Massachusetts General Hospital,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of endometriosis on the quality of life
Endometriosis, the disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity, can be diagnosed in the reproductive-aged women with an incidence of 7-15%. However, endometriosis is observed in women with chronic pelvic pain syndrome…
Key Points Lay SummaryRole of race in science
Although genome pioneers and social scientists agreed on not using the race as a variable in genetic research during human genome sequencing time, the use of race as a biological category has risen since. Traditionally ‘race’ has been used as…
Key Points Lay SummaryRacial Bias in Pain Assessment and Treatment Recommendations
This study, published by Hoffmann et al. in the April 2016 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites are associated with the perception that black people feel less pain than do white…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiscrepancies between racial/ethnic groups and choice of hysterectomy procedures
Dr. Pollack and associates from Washington University, St.Louis, made multistate research regarding the patient profile in hysterectomies and published their results in the 2019 December issue of "The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology". The most frequently performed nonobstetric surgery in…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs oocyte cryopreservation useful for fertility preservation in ovarian endometriosis?
Women with endometriosis tend to have lower fecundity compared to normal couples. Furthermore, endometrioma itself may reduce the ovarian reserve by altering ovarian physiology in the surrounding healthy ovarian tissue. The treatment for endometrioma is surgical removal in most cases, however,…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Can Racial and Ethnic Disparities Be Reduced Among Women’s Health and Healthcare?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a set of recommendations to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health and healthcare and encourage obstetricians, gynecologists, and other health care practitioners to engage in activities to help achieve…
Key Points Lay SummaryCase-control study to develop a questionnaire for early diagnosis of endometriosis
Endometriosis, which affects 5–10% of women of reproductive age, is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus, associated with several discomforts such as pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, and infertility. Ultrasound evaluation…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune System, Cytokines and Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic disease. Diagnosing endometriosis is difficult because the signs and symptoms vary considerably. Therefore, the discovery of a reliable non-invasive diagnostic biomarker would represent a major advance for the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis. It has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryRisk Factors Associated with Ureteral Endometriosis
Patients with severe endometriosis, uterosacral ligament deep involvement with endometriosis lesions of 3 cm in diameter or more, and the presence of previous endometriosis surgery have a significantly higher risk of having ureteral endometriosis. This is according to a study…
Key Points Lay SummaryLaparoscopic surgery for COVID-19 positive patients: A Dilemma
COVID-19 pandemic is the most important issue of our days. In this regard, it is crucial to keep health care providers (HCPs) safe and away from contamination. Doctors Without Borders reported that regardless of all preventive measurements, nearly eight percent…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostmenopausal endometriosis: Is it a rare phenomenon?
Endometriosis, the estrogen-dependent disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity, is generally diagnosed in the reproductive-aged women. However, recent literature proved that this disease can also be observed in the premenopausal and…
Key Points Lay SummaryImproved fusion imaging for the detection of Endometriosis
This paper studied a new fusion method for magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound (US) imaging for the appropriate diagnosis of endometriosis. The diagnosis of endometriosis in patients with a chronic pelvic disease is delayed, due to the disease, patient, and physician-led…
Key Points Lay SummaryDefective “ferroptosis”: a new pathogenetic explanation of endometriosis
Dr. Ng and associates from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA made a comprehensive review of the role of the iron element in the development of endometriotic lesions. Though iron element is essential for cell survival, and its deficiency is important…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre endometriosis patients at higher risk of bipolar disorder?
Endometriosis patients are prone to develop certain psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as bipolar disorder, according to a nationwide population-based cohort study from Taiwan. Bipolar disorder formerly called manic-depression is a chronic mental disorder characterized by unusual changes…
Key Points Lay SummaryTransvaginal sonography for predicting the distance between rectosigmoid endometriosis and the anal verge
For optimal surgery, pre-surgical assessment of the distance between rectosigmoid deep endometriosis lesions and the anal verge (Lesion to Anal Verge Distance-LAVD) is recommended by many specialists. A group of researchers from Norway, Austria, and Australia studied the accuracy of…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical approach to rectovaginal endometriosis.
Recto-vaginal endometriosis incidence is estimated at 3.8%-37% among women with endometriosis and when it exists it's a part of deeply infiltrated endometriosis, thus advance stage endometriosis. Raimondo et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe link between ovarian cancer and endosalpingiosis
The presence of benign glands lined by tubal-type epithelium in the peritoneum and subperitoneal tissues is called "endosalpingiosis". A recent study that investigates the possible association between endosalpingiosis and ovarian cancer was conducted by Hermens et al., from the Netherlands, and has…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-hormonal chemicals for endometriosis related pain reduction
Loi and colleagues conducted a clinical prospective study at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cagliari, Italy, and published in the journal "International Journal of Women’s Health". Formation of adhesions and/or interference with the reproductive process endometriosis, severe…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Relationship Between Dyspareunia and Infertility in Endometriosis
Wahl et al. from the Center of Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada studied with endometriotic patients suffering from dyspareunia who were referred to their center and built a cross-sectional study to investigate the relations between…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe predictive factors for early spontaneous miscarriage in IVF/ICSI cycles
The most common presenting complaints of endometriosis are mainly dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably fertility problems. The clinical pregnancy rate has increased up to 60% in assisted reproductive…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow well do providers understand endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a challenging disease no matter what side of the equation you are in, a patient or a provider who cares for patients with the disease. It impacts millions of women worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent…
Key Points Lay SummaryPhytotherapy as an alternative endometriosis treatment
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease that affects 5–10% of women in fertile age. Different therapeutic strategies are available to treat this disease, such as surgery, hormonal therapies, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical therapy usually consists of different hormonal drugs,…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrimary care physicians have a crucial role in the early diagnosis of endometriosis
Dr. Verket and associates from the University of Oslo, Norway, published their cross-sectional anonymous postal questionnaire study in "BMJ open". Diagnosing endometriosis is difficult because dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility are also common among other diseases. The most accurate and reliable diagnosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdiposity, endometriosis type and severity
Dr. Jiyoung from the division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine of the University of Utah, planned a prospective cross-sectional study to assess whether there is an inverse relationship between the adiposity and endometriosis. The results of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative serum CA 125 levels predict the severity of adhesions in endometriosis
Lee Y. et al., a group of researchers from Korea evaluated the correlation between preoperative serum markers and pelvic adhesions in endometriosis patients and explored the markers’ clinical value for outcome prediction. They have recently published their study in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryRare lesions in the pathologic examinations of endometriosis.
Dr. Glenn McCluggage from the Department of Pathology, Belfast Health, and Social Care Trust, penned a review about selected uncommon variants of endometriosis or benign alterations that may cause difficulties of pathologic diagnosis and provided all related histopathological illustrations in…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Severity and Complication Risks Following Laparoscopic Surgery
In a research article published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts suggested that the severity of endometriosis could not be a predictor of the risk of post-operative complications. In…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Endometriosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease show the same pathologic mechanism in terms of endothelial dysfunction. Tan et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada reviewed the literature aiming to determine whether women…
Key Points Lay SummaryA comprehensive review on the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis
Endometriosis, being a heterogeneous disease has a highly complex etiopathogenesis. A multicenter comprehensive review on this important subject from Italy, Germany, and the USA by Lagana and associates, was recently published in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences" an open-access journal. Computerized…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to design patient-centered interventions to meet the needs of endometriosis patients
The treatment of endometriosis is not perfect and necessitates the development of patient-oriented care initiatives. On this basis, patient-related transparent information should be the priority for researchers to find out a way for targeted interventions. Steele et al. from Australia and…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes the Severity of Endometriosis Increase the Risk of Complications Following Surgery?
The severity of endometriosis cannot predict the risk of complications after laparoscopy. Instead, the complexity of the surgical procedure itself may increase the risk of complications. This is according to a study published in the journal "Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica".…
Key Points Lay SummaryRecent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is commonly diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. The most common complaints of women with endometriosis are pain and fertility problems. Although many advanced types of research about the etiology, differential diagnosis and treatment have been…
Key Points Lay SummaryMRI findings predicting the need for colorectal surgical treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis
LAY SUMMARY: Brusic A. et al., a group of researchers from Australia, conducted a retrospective study to identify the features of deep infiltrating endometriosis on MRI which have an association with colorectal surgical bowel resection. They have recently published their…
Key Points Lay SummaryRisk of placenta previa is elevated in endometriotic women who underwent surgery.
In the last decade concerns raised for surgical operations performed before pregnancies of endometriotic patients due to significantly increased risk of pregnancy complications such as placenta previa, preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage and small baby…
Key Points Lay SummaryQuality of Endometriosis Healthcare: What Do Patients Feel, What Do Doctors Say?
Patients and doctors seem to agree that clinical care for women with endometriosis needs improving. This is according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. Endometriosis is a severe condition where chronic…
Key Points Lay SummaryCannabis usage among Australian women with endometriosis
Sinclair J. et al., a group of researchers from Australia, conducted a cross-sectional online survey to determine the prevalence, tolerability, and self-reported effectiveness of cannabis in women with endometriosis. This study included 484 women with complete responses. Of all women,…
Key Points Lay SummaryMachine Learning Classifiers for Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complicated gynecological disorder that affects about 176 million women worldwide. It significantly impairs mental and physical quality of life in patients but the etiology is poorly understood. Endometriosis also causes a large economic burden due to loss…
Key Points Lay SummaryConsquences of endometriosis in menopausal period.
Marie-Scemama et al. from Foch Hospital, Suresnes, France, referred to endometriosis and menopause which is an actual cruising topic and recently published it in the journal named "Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation". Endometriosis a well-known estrogen-dependent disease has three…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there any difference between endometriosis patients with or without obliterated cul-de-sac during laparoscopic hysterectomy?
Endometriosis is a disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. It is diagnosed in 10% to 15% of reproductive-aged women. Women with endometriosis demand therapy for the most common symptoms, which are…
Key Points Lay SummaryUsing social media to raise awareness for endometriosis
Raise your hand if you have used internet or social media to search for information today. We all do, every single day. Whether it is a recipe, biography of a favorite singer, reviews of a new restaurant, or today’s weather,…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the quality of life
Recent developments of technics and improvement of skill in the laparoscopic field increased the courage of clinicians to attempt early and multiple diagnostic operations on endometriotic patients. Vanuccini et al. from NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy recently published their…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnalysis of childless women with endometriosis
Facchin F. et al., from Italy studied if the beliefs of childless women regarding motherhood, female identity, and infertility affected their psychological health. They have recently published their study in the Journal of Health Psychology. The data of this study were…
Key Points Lay SummaryClinical trial for the use of oral lactobacillus on endometriosis pain severity
The standard treatment of endometriosis consists of surgery and hormonal based treatment. There is evidence for the efficacy of these types of treatment, although their side effects remain a critical consideration for women. Based on molecular studies, changes in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to predict complications for endometriosis surgery?
In a new study co-led by scientists at Sorbonne University, a nomogram is built to better inform patients about the risk of deep endometriosis surgery without bowel involvement. The findings have been published in the European Journal of Obstetrics &…
Key Points Lay SummaryAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and endometriosis
Dr. Omur Taskin and associates from British Columbia, Canada, have recently published a review regarding the potential link between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and endometriosis in The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of…
Key Points Lay SummaryDisparities in Access to Healthcare in Women with Endometriosis
There are significant differences in the use of medical services and prescriptions between women with endometriosis who have private healthcare and those who don’t. This is according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This…
Key Points Lay SummaryA miniaturized version of endometrium: organoids for endometriosis research
Organoids are a miniaturized version of a tissue that is produced in culture through three dimensions techniques in order to better mimic the tissues of origin. These cultures are supposed to better replicate the complexity of a biological organ/disease. Endometrial…
Key Points Lay SummaryNanotechnology as a tool for targeted therapy of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a process whereby endometrial cells persistently grow and invade extra-uterine tissue through a primarily estrogen-dependent manner. These ectopic endometrial cells proliferate in sometimes an uncontrolled manner, similar to cancer or inflammatory tissues. To proliferate, cells need cholesterol to…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to Classify Endometriosis for a better and effective evaluation
Endometriosis affects 10% of women in their reproductive period and causes infertility around 40% of women who have the disease. Peritoneal fluid may be one of the factors to facilitate the spread of endometriosis to ovaries, peritoneum and other deep…
Key Points Lay SummaryMortality of 49956 midlife women with surgically verified endometriosis
Saavalainen L. et al., from Finland recently published a retrospective large cohort study in the journal Human Reproduction, where they retrospectively examined the data of surgically verified endometriosis patients to find out if all-cause and the cause-specific mortality rate is…
Key Points Lay SummaryInfertility in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease mostly encountered in reproductive-aged women. The most common presenting complaints are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Despite extensive research, the etiopathogenic mechanism underlying the two has not been fully elucidated. Although human…
Key Points Lay SummaryAssociation between endometriosis and autoimmune disorders is not clear yet
Endometriosis is a common disorder that may affect up to 10% of women of reproductive age. The causes of endometriosis are largely unknown but abnormalities in immunity have been suggested to explain the origin of ectopic endometrial tissues. Evaluation of…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealth care resource utilization and cost in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 6-10% of reproductive-aged women. The clinical picture of the disease range from asymptomatic findings to dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Endometriosis has also complex etiopathogenetic background. This broad clinical spectrum, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA study about adnexial torsion doubts in patients with endometriosis.
Endometrioma is the presence of endometriosis cysts in the ovary, and is one of the most common forms of endometriosis, with unknown pathophysiology. Adnexal torsion results in twisting ovarian tissues resulting in a decreased blood flow. The causes for adnexal torsion due…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical treatment of deeply infiltrating endometriosis in tertiary treatment centers
In the present study, data from patients who were surgically treated for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in a tertiary referral unit, the Avicenna Centre for Endometriosis and Minimally Invasive Gynecology (ACEMIG, Tehran, Iran), were examined for rates of intraoperative and…
Key Points Lay Summary"Endometriosis", "Fibromyalgia" and "Autoimmune diseases"
Greenbaum et al. from Israel, investigated the prevalence of and the association between endometriosis, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases in a large population database and described healthcare resource utilization in affected women. Their study has been published in the "American Journal…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnalogous pathways of peritoneal tumor wound healing and endometriosis.
Endometriosis, diagnosed around 10-15% of women population in their reproductive period, is a chronically progressive inflammatory disease to cause peritoneal lesions while spreading into the abdominal cavity. The pathophysiology of the adhesions between the peritoneum and pelvic organs can be…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndocrine-disrupting chemicals – yet another environmental factor associated with endometriosis?
This study by Wen et al., published in Gynecological Endocrinology, analyzed evidence connecting endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to the incidence of endometriosis in a collection of 30 previously published studies. Results show that exposure to many EDC's are linked to the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe association of significant hemoperitoneum (blood in the abdominal cavity) and deep pelvic endometriosis
Although there are several theories to explain the etiology of deep endometriosis, the cause is unknown and there are currently no effective strategies to prevent its development. Bean E. et al., from University College London Hospital, UK, observed that some…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Wnt/b-catenin signaling in endometriosis
Endometriosis is a very common gynecological disorder, which affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women, and is one of the most common reasons for infertility. The normal endometrium undergoes cyclical remodeling under control of sex hormones secreted by ovaries- estrogen and…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon‑invasive biomarkers for endometriosis diagnosis
Endometriosis is a disease of women in reproductive age and its incidence varies between 5-10%. Since the diagnosis is based on the histological confirmation, there is an average of 7 to 11 years of delays in the diagnosis. Promising non-invasive…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew findings in adenomyosis (endometriosis interna) patients with potential theraupetic research implications
Xue Shen and associates from Beijing, China have published their observations related to cannabinoid receptors, i.e., CB1 and CB2, in patients with adenomyosis, recently in the journal "Biomed Research International". Adenomyosis is an estrogen-dependent uterine disorder where a nonmalignant invasion…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnti-angiogenic treatment for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder. The wide variety of surgical and medical treatment has been applied for treating endometriosis, but a definitive therapy has not been achieved so far. Thus, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. Among…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe postoperative functional outcomes of deep infiltrating endometriosis
Rectosigmoid endometriosis is defined as the infiltration of the bowel wall with the endometrial-like glands and stroma, reaching at least the muscular layer. The most commonly involved sites are the rectum and sigmoid colon. For the management of deep infiltrating…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new trial to reduce the failure of IVF/ICS protocols in severe endometriosis
Kong et al., from the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University, China, recently published this single-blinded, a multicentered and randomized controlled study in the Journal of Reproductive Health, with the aim to find a safer and more effective ovulation induction regimen for patients with…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of adhesion molecules, E-cadherin and hScrib, in endometriosis
Dr. Zhuo Ouyang and associates from the Capital Medical University, Beijing, China have recently published their research related to adhesion molecules in "Medicine (Baltimore)". Endometriosis is a “benign gynecological disease with some similarities to cancer”. Adhesion molecules E-cadherin and hScrib…
Key Points Lay SummaryBladder Endometriosis
Bladder endometriosis is rare – about 1-2% of women with endometriosis may have endometrial lesions in their urinary tract. Diagnosis of bladder endometriosis is difficult because of its nonspecific symptoms such as frequent urination, pelvic pain, and burning sensation when…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe coexistence deep infiltrating endometriosis and fibromyalgia
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. The main symptoms of endometriosis which are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain impair the quality of life of these women. This disease may…
Key Points Lay SummaryEpithelial Mutations in Endometriosis
A substantial body of epidemiologic evidence suggests a link between endometriosis and epithelial ovarian cancer, but a plausible underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Here, Dr. Bulun group from Northwestern University provide a focused review of the literature and discuss the…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of Menstrual Symptoms on Everyday Life
Menstrual symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and significant perimenstrual mood disorders, are common gynecological conditions. About 30% of women consider their menstrual bleeding heavy, and 34–94% of women experience pain during their menstrual period. Menstrual symptoms have a significant…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative factors to predict unresponsiveness in women undergoing endometriosis surgery
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. Despite extensive research, the optimal management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Several treatment options include analgesic medication, hormonal treatments, and surgical intervention. There is…
Key Points Lay SummaryBreast cancer incidence in women with endometriosis
The relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer remains unclear. Some studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer among women with endometriosis, while others suggested no change in the risk of breast cancer. Previously, the authors have found that…
Key Points Lay SummaryNutraceuticals may help for endometriosis pain
Dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain occur in endometriosis patients in a significant percentage. Anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes including diet form the integrated approach in this regard. However, the medications can be used only for the short term. Natural substances with anti-inflammatory…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis involving the superficial peritoneum in Adolescents: Surgical Management
Endometriosis is a chronic disease whereby endometrial glands and stroma grow and survive outside of the uterus. In some cases, endometriosis may become symptomatic and cause debilitating, chronic pelvic pain. Among pelvic organ and other surfaces that endometriosis can involve…
Key Points Lay SummaryEfficacy of an antibiotic, clarithromycin for endometriosis
Laparoscopic surgery is the standard treatment for advanced stages of endometriosis, followed by postoperative modalities including to progesterone, antiprogestogens, estrogen-progesterone combinations, danazol, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to reduce recurrence after surgery. However, these drugs interfere with ovulation and fertility. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and infertility: current concepts
Hungarian and US scientists have published a comprehensive review on infertility related to endometriosis in Frontiers in Endocrinology, November 2018 issue. Endometriosis is a common entity in women of reproductive age which often leads to infertility. Compiled research data reveal…
Key Points Lay SummaryEstrogen Receptor Signaling and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer
Andersen et al. published a prospective cohort study in the Journal of Hormones and Cancer to enlighten the estrogen signaling pathway during the transition from endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer. Given the shared pathway of endometriosis and ovarian cancer as…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors Affecting Women’s Choices to Enter Clinical Trials
Women were strongly influenced by their previous experiences and personal circumstances when deciding to take part in a clinical trial. This is based on the findings of a study published in the journal Pilot and Feasibility Studies that explored the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe miscarriage rate in women with endometriosis undergoing IVF fresh cycles
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disease diagnosed in 25-40% of women with infertility. There are several mechanisms explaining the negative impacts of endometriosis on fertility through the entire reproductive process such as sperm-oocyte interaction, ovarian reserve, and implantation. Endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryA link between endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and endometriosis.
Ciavattini et al.from Polytechnic University Ancona, Italy create a pilot study which recently published in Oncology Letters to clarify the link between endometriosis and endometrioid ovarian cancer. The unfolded protein response (UPR) activity as a promoter of neoplastic progression of malignancies is…
Key Points Lay SummarySelf-management of endometriosis symptoms: from Australia
Effective self-management techniques and lifestyle changes may play an important role in the management of endometriosis symptoms by many women. Due to various reasons such as limited effectiveness of some medications, potential side effects, availability of medical resources, self-desire to…
Key Points Lay SummaryExtra-ovarian malignancies risk among women with endometriosis
For some time, an association between endometriosis and subsequent cancer risk have been reported. In particular, scientific evidence has shown that endometriosis is linked with risk of certain ovarian cancer subtypes known as clear cell and endometrioid. Since endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryBuilding an ultrasonographic database for superficial endometriosis.
Chowdary et al. from University of Auckland, Australia, recently published a retrospective, small group study in Australian New Zeland Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, to demonstrate ultrasonographic findings of mild endometriosis patients with pelvic pain are associated with their laparoscopic diagnosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryCrocin improves endometriosis
Crocin is a carotenoid chemical compound in the flowers crocus and gardenia. It is one of the most important gradients in saffron. Previous studies showed that crocin may have multiple pharmacological effects including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. There are several…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence of the disease ranges between 6-10% in reproductive-aged women. However, endometriosis is more frequently encountered in women with chronic pelvic pain and…
Key Points Lay SummaryClonal Proliferation and Cancer Associated Mutations in normal uterine endometrium and endometriosis
Suda et. al., from Niigata University, Japan, has published the article entitled "Clonal Expansion and Diversification of Cancer-Associated Mutations in Endometriosis and Normal Endometrium" in Cell Reports. There are many theories for endometriosis development (retrograde menstruation, coelomic metaplasia, Müllerian remnants),…
Key Points Lay SummaryVaginal Sexual Intercourse during Menstruation
Mazokopakis and Samonis from Greece examined and discussed the vaginal sexual intercourse during menstruation from a biblical as well as a modern medical point of view in their paper published in MAEDICA – a Journal of Clinical Medicine in September 2018.…
Key Points Lay SummarySomatic mutations in iatrogenic endometriosis.
Lac and al., from the Department of Molecular Oncology in BC Cancer Research Center, Vancouver, Canada, planned a retrospective and multinational research to investigate the prevalence of somatic cancer-driver mutations in incisional endometriosis and recently published in the "Journal of Human Reproduction". Their…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical techniques for rectosigmoid endometriosis, and functional outcomes
Rectosigmoid endometriosis is defined as the infiltration of bowel wall with the endometrial-like glands and stroma, reaching at least the muscular layer. Rectosigmoid endometriosis is encountered in approximately 8-12% of patients with a diagnosis of endometriosis. The most commonly involved…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new theory in the pathogenesis of endometriosis
Koninckx et. al., from various countries, have conducted this review, which will be published in Fertility and Sterility. Endometriosis is known for a century. The disease has a variable course in a patient, which may include pain, infections, and infertility.…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes the presence of endometriosis increase the risk of gynecologic malignancies?
Endometriosis shares common risk factors with endometrial carcinoma and ovarian carcinomas such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperestrogenism, and reproductive characteristics. Endometriosis is also known to be a risk factor for gynecologic malignant tumors. In this study, Li et.al. have…
Key Points Lay SummaryFurther Results From the FEELING Study Published
Some women are more likely to develop deep infiltrating endometriosis according to the further analysis of the results of the FEELING study. These are women who: are married, are older, have siblings, have had a prior pregnancy, or for whom…
Key Points Lay SummaryPresumed molecular mechanisms for herbal medicinal therapies in endometriosis
Pharmaceutical agents for the management of endometriosis are associated with side effects and are not completely effective. In regard to this, Bina and associates from Tehran University of Medical Sciences have reviewed extensively the literature for herbal remedies. Herbal medicinal products…
Key Points Lay SummaryTargeted therapy biomarkers in endometriosis associated ovarian carcinomas
Endometriosis in ovaries is a known precursor of endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas. They may be resistant to classical therapies. Researchers search for alternative and targeted therapy options. This study, from the University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, will be…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre women with histologically confirmed endometriosis satisfied with their medical support?
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. The most common symptoms are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, dyschesia, dysuria, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and infertility, all of which affect the quality of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe use of Elagolix in Women with Liver and Kidney Impairments
Elagolix may be used in women with moderate liver impairment, when necessary, for up to six months at a dose of 150 mg a day, according to a study published in the scientific journal Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryDrugs targeting estrogen biosynthesis opening up new approaches to the treatment of endometriosis.
Gibson et al., from the Univerity of Edinburgh, UK, take over a new interest about endometriosis occurrence and progress by endometrial tissue intracrinology in their recently online published article in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The authors summarize the last…
Key Points Lay SummaryAny adjustable risk factor for Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is believed to be estrogen and progesterone-dependent. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol/caffeine intake, smoking, and physical activity influence estrogen levels in the body and, therefore, may impact the development of endometriosis. In the study of Hemmert et al. which…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs Physical Exercise Effective in Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility are mostly encountered symptoms of endometriosis. Although there are several theories explaining the pathogenesis of endometriosis, the exact pathogenesis still has…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors Associated with Endometriosis Risk
Socio-economic factors, lifestyle habits, and other physical and mental illnesses may be linked to endometriosis according to a new observational study published in the European Journal Of Obstetrics Gynecology And Reproductive Biology. Endometriosis is a debilitating condition affecting as many…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes deep infiltrating endometriosis affect sexual activity?
Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age, and pelvic pain and infertility are the most frequent complications. There are three different type of endometriosis lesions; superficial lesions, deep lesions, and ovarian cysts. In…
Key Points Lay SummaryBest endometriosis articles of the past year.
Dr.Stowall, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA penned this letter and recently published it in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology to show his remarks of importance on four best publications of the…
Key Points Lay SummaryPROPOFOL: a new combat for endometriosis?
Feng et al, from the Department of Gynecology Weifang Medical University Hospital, Shandong, China, recently published their prospective experimental research in the journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. Propofol, a rapid and short-term anesthetic substance, recently has been shown to prevent cancer through inhibiting…
Key Points Lay SummaryVitamin D and Endometriosis
Scientists from Milan, Italy reviewed the effects of vitamin D on the reproductive health, and in particular "endometriosis" in their article which appeared in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Vitamin D (VD), is a steroid hormone that is activated in…
Key Points Lay SummaryWill I Have Complications After Endometriosis Surgery?
The rate of complications after surgery to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis is low, confirmed a study by researchers in Germany. It is important to know whether major or minor complications following surgery are likely to develop and what the outcome…
Key Points Lay SummaryLaparoscopic surgery of endometriosis through three compartments
This case study which is published in the J. of Minimally İnvasive Gynecology is the video demonstration of Collin et al who performed the laparoscopic operation of their patient in Gynecologic Surgery Department of Strasburg Hospital University, France. 37 years old…
Key Points Lay SummaryA rare location of endometriosis: Perineum
A rare case of perineal endometriosis is reported by Dr. Ravikant, from India, and has been recently published in the "Journal of Medical Ultrasound". The patient, a 28-year-old woman with one living child, presented with a 6-month history of a…
Key Points Lay SummaryShedding light on the fertility preservation debate in women with endometriosis: a swot analysis.
There is little known about fertility preservation in women with endometriosis. Researchers from France and Switzerland conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to better understand this topic. Applied to clinical problems, SWOT gives a thorough analysis of…
Key Points Lay SummaryIVF Is the Best Option to Become Pregnant for Women with Severe Endometriosis, or Is It Not?
Treating rectal endometriosis with surgery seems to increase the chance of a woman conceiving, with most pregnancies occurring naturally. This is according to a study published in the medical journal Human Reproduction. The optimal treatment for women with severe endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to evaluate ureteral endometriosis : A review of the literature
In this recently published review of the literature, Barra et al. from Genova, Italy intend to provide a useful tool to guide physicians in the management of deep infiltrating endometriosis. Authors elected 67 abstracts from Pubmed and Medline in accordance with PRISMA…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis in adolescents
Dr. Mama S. T. from Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA, recently has published his review on advances in the management of endometriosis in the adolescent in the journal “Current Opinion Obstetrics and Gynecology”. In adolescence, there is a…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain and emotion regulation predict health-related quality of life
Studies have established that pain in endometriosis is negatively correlated with HRQL and that endometriosis is associated with psychological problems, anxiety, depression, distress and poor coping ability. It has been observed that some mental conditions associated with endometriosis are modulated…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis as a chronic disease: The benefits for the patients
Rebecca O'Hara et al. from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, recently published their qualitative case study in the Journal "Australian Health Review", to build a National Policy about endometriosis considering as a chronic disease. In Australia, long-term complex diseases are managed…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow are endometriosis patients managed clinically?
This review paper by Falcone and Flyckt, entitled “Clinical Management of Endometriosis” published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology aims to summarize the current strategies for treating endometriosis patients with pain, pelvic dysfunction, and subfertility related to their disease. There are many…
Key Points Lay SummaryFDA Approves Endometriosis Pain Treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, making it the first treatment to be approved in 10 years. The decision was announced in the Journal…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrior endometriosis surgery and the risk of pregnancy complications
Koninckx et al. discussed the association of pregnancy complications with endometriosis and endometriosis surgery in their recently published paper in the journal Fertility and Sterility. They especially mentioned about the retrospective study of Nirgianakis et al. published in the same…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen recommended laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain
Chronic pelvic pain is a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. It has many etiologies in many organ systems. Clinician and patient factors affect the management of chronic pelvic pain. Mirowska-Allen K.L. et al. have recently published an article titled, “The characteristics of…
Key Points Lay SummaryVitamin C supplementation in the patients with endometriosis undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial stromal and glandular cells outside the uterine cavity. Women having endometriosis present with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Thus, infertility remains a significant problem for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryCoumarin based compounds found to inhibit the estradiol synthesis pathway
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by ectopic endometrial tissue outside the endometrium. Several biochemical and molecular pathways have been researched and used to alleviate endometriosis symptoms by inhibiting key molecules involved in the menstrual cycle. This review paper by Niinivehmas…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparing opioid and nonopioid therapy for chronic pain
Over the last few decades, North-America and Europe show continued increase in prescription rates of opioids. Evidence shows significant pain reduction with opioids in the short term compared to placebo, however whether opioids are superior to non-opioids even in the…
Key Points Lay Summary“Free butterflies will come out of these deep wounds”: A grounded theory of how endometriosis affects women’s psychological health
Researchers from the Catholic University of Milan and the University of Milan note in Journal of Health Psychology that although qualitative research describes the negative impact of endometriosis on quality of life and psychological well-being, studies that analyze individual differences…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to improve the current ASRM classification of endometriosis?
In this article which recently published in Best Practice&Research Clinical Obst&Gyn. from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Andres et al. penned a review of the classification of endometriosis in chronological order, and discussed the limitations of existing classification systems to…
Key Points Lay SummaryCARD10 and CARD11 Mutations: Another Piece of the Puzzle
Zou et al., a research group from China, recently published a study titled “Analysis of CARD10 and CARD11 somatic mutations in patients with ovarian endometriosis” in Oncology Letters. The paper looked at the effects of caspase recruitment domain family member…
Key Points Lay SummaryOxidative Stress and Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by ectopic endometrial tissue outside the endometrium and is associated with a background of a chronic inflammation. Recent studies have aimed to elucidate the inflammatory mediators involved in endometriotic lesions by studying immune cell interactions,…
Key Points Lay SummaryN-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain improved endometriosis-associated pelvic pain
Oxidative stress has been implicated in many processes that lead to the development and progression of endometriosis. Typically, women with endometriosis have to endure pelvic pain which negatively impacts their quality of life. Pelvic pain can be chronic and related…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain catastrophizing, perceived injustice, and pain intensity impair life satisfaction
Cognitive appraisals have been shown to have an effect on the experience of pain. Notably, perceived injustice and pain catastrophizing have been shown to play a role, but are rarely examined together. In addition, variability in appraisal processes has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryEpigenetic link between endometriosis and cancer
Although endometriosis is considered a benign condition the cellular, histologic, and molecular data strongly demonstrate that endometriosis has neoplastic characteristics. There is strong evidence that endometriosis shares striking features with malignancy like normal tissue dissemination, invasion, and organ damage, as well as new vessel formation (neoangiogenesis). In…
Key Points Lay SummaryPredictors of psychological distress
Studies have now established that endometriosis can negatively impact mental health and quality of life, however, some studies show that not all women with endometriosis are necessarily more distressed than healthy women. This suggests that individual differences may explain women’s’…
Key Points Lay SummaryKey to Understanding Ovarian Endometriosis may lay in the Peptides
Xue et al. recently published a paper titled “Peptidomic Analysis of Endometrial Tissue from Patients with Ovarian Endometriosis” in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. The research group from various departments of Nanjing Medical University wished to better understand the pathogenesis of…
Key Points Lay SummaryLink Between Type of Endometriosis and Cancer
The type of endometriosis a woman has could determine her risk of gynecologic cancer, according to a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. This is important because it means that those women who are at a higher risk…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain cognition and pain intensity are negatively associated with health-related quality of life
Pain is a personal experience and is different for every individual. Catastrophizing, fear of pain, and hypervigilance to pain are important factors that contribute to pain perception. These factors are described as pain cognition and refer to the negative appraisal…
Key Points Lay SummaryAltered Immunity in Endometriosis
In recent years, there has been increased attention on the role of immune system in endometriosis development. Normally, immune reactions are supposed to destroy endometrial cells seeding in the peritoneal cavity. Nonetheless, in endometriosis, these cells are able to evade,…
Key Points Lay SummaryAmbiguous experience: Destructive or Constructive
A diagnostic delay of 4-12 years is reported among women with endometriosis, which is explained by the lack of awareness of endometriosis as a medical condition among patients and healthcare professionals. In searching for a diagnosis, patients encounter many healthcare…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould Gabapentin Make my Pain Go Away?
Gabapentin could effectively reduce endometriosis-associated pain, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pain Research. The study that was conducted in mice and endometriotic tissues from patients suggests that certain proteins present on the surface of cells…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatient-centered endometriosis care
Endometriosis is defined as endometrial glands and stroma that exist outside the uterine cavity. Ectopic endometrial tissue and resultant inflammation can cause dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pain, and infertility, all of which reduce the quality of life. The aim of the…
Key Points Lay SummaryCoping with vulvovaginal pain in intimate situations
Chronic vulvovaginal pain has a serious impact on women’s lives, affecting daily activities including sexual activities. Avoiding sexual activity has been shown to be a central coping strategy in other pain populations and has also been seen in women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryDifficulties Associated with Diagnosing Ascites and Encapsulating Peritonitis in Endometriosis
De Magalhães et al. recently published a paper titled “Ascites and Encapsulating Peritonitis in Endometriosis: a Systematic Review with a Case Report” in Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. The team from the Universidade Federal do Ceará and the Universidade…
Key Points Lay SummaryA clearer picture of "endometriosis after menopause"
Delfin Avendano Tan and Marie Josephine Guanlao Almeria are obstetrician-gynecologists from the Philippines. They recently published a review article titled "Postmenopausal endometriosis: drawing a clearer picture". In this paper, the authors discussed the pathogenesis, risk factors, and management of postmenopausal…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnimal models of endometriosis
For advancing understanding and treatment of endometriosis, The World Endometriosis Society has previously brought together researchers and clinicians to discuss the many important research priorities. One of these was the recommendation to development and building on the use of animal…
Key Points Lay SummaryPsychosocial impact of endometriosis
In this review article, researchers from Switzerland report a review to outline the consequences of endometriosis on the psychological, sexual, and interpersonal functioning of both patients and their partners, in the journal Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology.…
Key Points Lay SummaryAbnormal Regulation of Pathways Seen in Endometriosis
Sikora et al., a team from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, published a study in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics titled “The role of complement components C1q, MBL and C1 inhibitor in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.” It has been said that complement system…
Key Points Lay SummaryDeep Infiltrating Endometriosis Impairs Sexual Function
Lima et al., a group of scientists from Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual in Brazil, recently published an article entitled “Female Sexual Function in Women with Suspected Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis” in Revista Brasileira De Ginecologia E Obstetricia. The paper analyzed…
Key Points Lay SummaryManaging of endometriosis and associated ovarian cancer risk
According to a number of studies, endometriosis is associated with moderate increase in ovarian cancer risk. This risk is elevated in subjects with a long-standing history of untreated ovarian endometriosis. Endometriosis is particularly associated with risk for certain histological subtypes…
Key Points Lay SummaryEmerging medical treatments for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease whereby uterine tissue grows outside the walls of the uterus to the surfaces of other tissues in the body. It is a chronic disease and relies upon estrogen to grow and survive. Current medical therapies take…
Key Points Lay SummaryS100A6 May be a Promising Target for Endometriosis Treatments
Peng et al., a group primarily from the Zhejiang University Medical College, recently published a paper in Gynecological Endocrinology titled “Upregulation of S100A6 in patients with endometriosis and its role in ectopic endometrial stromal cells.” This paper delineates a study…
Key Points Lay SummaryHOXA10: A Culprit in Endometriosis Disease Progression
Zheng et al., a group of authors from the Aerospace Center Hospital in Bejing and from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, recently published a paper in Reproductive Sciences entitled “Decreased Expression of HOXA10 May Activate the…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis surgery and preservation of fertility, what surgeons should know
Endometriosis can involve most of the pelvic organs including the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes and thus has the potential to cause infertility. This article titled, “Endometriosis surgery and preservation of fertility, what surgeons should know” written by H. Roman…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe use of retinoic acid for the treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of chronic pelvic pain in women during their childbearing years. Several drugs have been researched to either reduce inflammation, decrease growth, or kill endometriotic cells. Retinoic acid (Vitamin A) is one such molecule…
Key Points Lay SummaryHighlights Thoracic Endometriosis Case
Dr. Tamer Seckin, MD, the co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, was recently featured in a New York Times article titled “The Woman Was Fit and Healthy. Why Did Her Lung Mysteriously Collapse?” The article describes a rather unusual…
Key Points Lay SummaryDirect shedding of endometrioma contents visualized by ultrasonography
Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of chronic pelvic pain in women during their childbearing years. Researchers from Italy have recently published a case report in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology observing the direct shedding of endometriotic…
Key Points Lay SummaryTreatment of Endometriosis in Adolescents
Most women with endometriosis who have been treated with Lupron plus add back as adolescents felt the treatment was effective in reducing the pain caused by the condition, according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric & Adolescent…
Key Points Lay Summary"New Pain Dairy" Could Help Better Evaluate the Impact of Endometriosis on Women’s Daily Lives
Researchers developed a new patient-reported endometriosis pain daily diary. The diary can help evaluate endometriosis-related pain and the impacts this can have on patients' lives as well as be used in clinical trials to assess patients’ response to treatment. “The…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial stem cells and Endometriosis
Human endometrium is a cyclically proliferative tissue, and this monthly regeneration is likely mediated by endometrial stem (or progenitor) cells.The upper functional layer of the endometrium breaks down and is shed into the uterine cavity during menstruation. Re-epithelialization and repair…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes Endometriosis Cause Infertility?
Infertility may be related to the localization of endometriosis involvement according to a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This finding is in agreement with the results of previous studies and could help clinicians in their decision…
Key Points Lay SummaryCollaboration Between the Surgical and Medical Experts of Endometriosis Needed
The authors of this perspective article aim to initiate a dialogue regarding the current evidence regarding the surgical and medical treatment of endometriosis. In their view, the quality of data regarding the outcomes of surgery for endometriosis is lacking and…
Key Points Lay SummaryRestricting Calorie Intake Could Delay or Prevent Endometriosis
Reducing the intake of calories could stop the development of endometriosis according to research conducted in mice. This could be the case even after the lesions are established, i.e. endometriosis has started. Dietary supplements or drug candidates that mimic the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Challenging Path to Diagnosis
Kallia O. Wright, a professor at Illinois College, recently published her essay titled “You have Endometriosis”: Making Menstruation Related Pain Legitimate in a Biomedical World” in Health Communication. This essay delineates the author’s experience with endometriosis. The author started experiencing…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Costs the Economy Almost $15,000 a Year per Patient
Patients with endometriosis incur significantly higher healthcare costs compared to other patients, a found a study published in the scientific journal Advances in Therapy. Because over 10 million women in the U.S. and an estimated 200 million women worldwide have…
Key Points Lay SummaryInhibition of Histone methyltransferase for fighting endometriosis
Although the histone methyltransferase EZH2 and its product H3K27me3 are well studied in cancer, little is known about their role and potential as therapeutic targets in endometriosis. It has been previously reported that the endometriotic lesions are characterized by global…
Key Points Lay SummaryBenign Gynecological Tumors in Women with Endometriosis
Matalliotaki et al. recently published a paper titled “Coexistence of benign gynecological tumors with endometriosis in a group of 1,000 women” in Oncology Letters. The study had two main objectives. The first goal was to understand the link between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre there any risk factor associated with the progression of endometriosis to ovarian cancer?
Endometriosis is a disease whereby endometrial glands proliferate outside of the endometrial lining. Apart from causing significant morbidity, It has been found that endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of progression to endometroid and clear cell ovarian cancer. However,…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs the presence of endometriosis associated with a survival benefit in pure ovarian clear cell carcinoma?
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) has been known to be associated with endometriosis for a long time. However, the impact of the presence of endometriosis around the tumor on the prognoses of women with OCCC is still controversial. To shed…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhen Endometriosis Becomes Malignant
Anglesio and Yong recently wrote a review titled “Endometriosis-associated Ovarian Cancers” that was published in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. This review explored the relationship between endometriosis and ovarian cancers. It is important to note that this review is a compilation of…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen with Endometriosis Should Not Worry About Ovarian Cancer
Kvaskoff, Horne and Missmer recently published an article in The Lancet titled “Informing women with endometriosis about ovarian cancer risk.” This article was written to address the growing concern surrounding the information that women suffering from endometriosis are at increased…
Key Points Lay SummaryIntestinal Endometriosis and Colorectal Cancer versus T4 Colorectal Cancer
Ishii et al. recently published a paper titled “Intestinal endometriosis combined with colorectal cancer: a case series” in the Journal of Medical Case Reports. This case report follows 7 Japanese women who have intestinal endometriosis and colorectal cancer. These women…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "Ovarian Cancer" Presentation by Dr. Jeannine Villella
Dr. Jeannine Villella, the Chair of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of OBGYN at Lenox Hill, presented at the 2017 EFA Medical Conference. Her presentation was titled “Ovarian Cancer, ” and she discussed the similarities, differences, and links between ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryEpigenetic regulation of the pathological process in endometriosis.
Epigenetic mechanisms have been recognized as important players in the development of a broad range of human diseases including endometriosis. A growing body of evidence shows that the remodeling of retrograde endometrial tissues to the ectopic endometriotic lesions involves multiple epigenetic…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to Improve the Psycho-Social Well Being in Endometriosis Patients?
Endometriosis and its various symptoms can negatively impact an individual’s psycho-social wellbeing. Additionally, current endometriosis treatments do not adequately alleviate the symptoms and improve a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In their article titled “The association between experiences with…
Key Points Lay SummaryLaparoscopic Bowel Resection Can Be Beneficial Rectosigmoid Endometriosis
Riiskjær et al. recently published a paper titled “Pelvic Pain and Quality of Life Before and After Laparoscopic Bowel Resection for Rectosigmoid Endometriosis: A Prospective, Observational Study” in Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. This paper focuses on the effects…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Use of Resveratrol as an Adjuvant Treatment of Pain in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is considered a predominantly estrogen-dependent disease, and therefore hormonal suppression might be an attractive medical approach to treat this disease and its symptoms. Resveratrol is a natural phytoestrogen synthesized by plants and has known to have side effects such…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Deregulated Molecular Functions Involved in Malignant Transformation of Endometriosis to Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Carcinoma
Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) is postulated to be transformed from endometriosis. Though different deregulated functional areas were proposed accounting for the pathogenesis of EAOC transformation, there is a lack of data-driven analysis to prove this. To understand the EAOC pathogenesis…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow good are the current guidelines on endometriosis?
The endometriosis was first described in 1860, yet the etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Treatment strategies vary significantly between disease severity and the symptoms of pain and/or subfertility. These challenges have resulted in multidirectional research, and the comparability of…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Potential New Drug for Endometriosis?
A steroid derivative called PBRM could be a new emerging drug to treat endometriosis according to a study by Canadian scientists. In the study that was published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, researchers characterized the pharmaceutical…
Key Points Lay SummaryChanges in Complement Proteins Affect Infertility in Women with Endometriosis
Palomino et al. recently published a paper titled “The endometria of women with endometriosis exhibit dysfunctional expression of complement regulatory proteins during the mid-secretory phase” in the Journal of Reproductive Immunology where they look at the expression of CRPs during the menstrual cycle of…
Key Points Lay SummaryHormonal Contraceptives and the Risk of Breast Cancer
A study titled “Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer” was recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine and was immediately picked up and summarized by many well-known newspapers and broadcasting journals, including but not limited…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "Fertility Preservation to BRCA Mutations" Presentation by Dr. Kutluk Oktay
Dr. Kutluk Oktay is the Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction & Fertility Preservation as well as a Professor of OBGYN at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Oktay also presented at the EFA 2017 Medical Conference, and his…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Could Doctors Reduce Risk of Complications Following Rectal Endometriosis Surgery?
Introducing a temporary opening, known as a stoma, in the abdomen of patients that are operated for rectal endometriosis to collect waste products could reduce the risk of complications such as anastomotic leakage. This is according to a study by…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis pathogenesis through the lens of reactive oxygen species
Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species is an essential factor in endometriosis pathogenesis. The harmful effects of reactive oxygen species have been implicated in many diseases, although the multiple biological changes caused is unclear especially in endometriosis. The article…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to identify an Expert Centers for Colorectal Endometriosis Surgery
It is of paramount importance to determine set criteria to define expert centers for colorectal endometriosis surgery, according to a research article published in the scientific journal Surgical Endoscopy. As the hospital and surgeon case volume has a significant impact…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical treatment is an excellent option for women with endometriosis and infertility.
Women with endometriosis most often have difficulty becoming pregnant and thus require a combination of endometriosis treatment and infertility techniques to achieve pregnancy. Depending on the severity of endometriotic symptoms, women may or may not need surgical excision of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: “Literature Review, Our Data, and Case Presentations” by Dr. Karli Goldstein
Dr. Karli Goldstein started her presentation with a brief literature review on the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer. She focused on a research article by Dr. Spandidos and colleagues, which was the first epidemiological study that examined the possible…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "Breast Cancer in Young Women; Early Diagnosis Timely Intervention" Presentation by Dr. Stephanie Bernik
Dr. Stephanie Bernik is the Chief of Surgical Oncology of Surgery and General Surgery at the Lenox Hill Hospital. She recently presented at the EFA 2017 Medical Conference, and her presentation was titled “Breast Cancer in Young Women; Early Diagnosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "Prophylactic Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction" Presentation by Dr. Oren Lerman
Dr. Oren Lerman, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, described the reconstructive options of a woman who has been or is going to go through a mastectomy (removal of breast tissues) whether it…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "Cells Are the New Cure" Presentation by Dr. Max Gomez
Dr. Max Gomez is an award-winning broadcast journalist, CBS News Medical Correspondent, and a presenter at the EFA 2017 Medical Conference. Dr. Gomez’s presentation was titled “Cells Are the New Cure: The Cutting-Edge Medical Breakthroughs That Are Transforming Our Health.”…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Combination Treatment of Psychotherapy With Somatosensory Stimulation for Pain Reduction
Women suffering from endometriosis often cite pelvic pain, anxiety, and depression as some of the worst core symptoms experienced due to the disease; however, emerging research has shown these signs, specifically pelvic pain, may be influenced by psychological trauma. In…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat is the role of hormones on the function and development of the brain?
Dr. Sarah L. Berga, Professor, and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wake Forest School of Medicine aim to talk about the effects of sex hormones such as estrogens and progestins on brain health with an emphasis on the neuroprotective characteristics…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: "The Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer" Presentation by Dr. Marisa Weiss
The second speaker in the subsection of the conference titled “Estrogen from Inflammation to Cancer: A Distant Link?” was Dr. Marisa Weiss and she gave a presentation titled “The Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer: Common Ground with Endometriosis.” Dr. Weiss…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdhesion molecules and endometriosis
Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is an immunomodulator regulated by estrogen and can regulate cell adhesion, which is a critical step in the initiation of endometriosis. In particular, the cell adhesion molecules, including ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) and HCAM (homing…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen with Mild Endometriosis May Have a Higher Risk of Miscarriage
Mild endometriosis presents an increased risk of miscarriage according to a new study published in the scientific journal Fertility and Sterility. Researchers think that this may be because superficial lesions are associated with a greater extent of the inflammatory disorder, which may lead…
Key Points Lay SummaryEFA Medical Conference 2017: Welcome Presentation by Dr. Tamer Seckin
The first part of the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s 2017 Medical Conference delved into the mission and history of the Endometriosis Foundation of America. The first presenter was Dr. Tamer Seckin, a renowned surgeon, and gynecologist who is also the…
Key Points Lay SummaryEstrogen Receptor-β in Women’s Health
Since the discovery of estrogen receptor (ER), there has been a vast number of studies regarding its functions in cellular and physiological processes. The identification of estrogen receptor-β (ERβ), a second receptor, resulted in a much more complex understanding of the…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn update of estrogen receptors on human disease
Estrogens and its receptors influence numerous human physiological processes. Two estrogen receptors exist, including estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ. Hence, it is essential to elucidate the functions of these receptors in healthy and diseased states. This is particularly important…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Does Not Increase Overall Risk of Breast Cancer, Study Finds
Endometriosis is not associated with the overall risk of breast cancer, according to a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. The condition may, however, be significantly associated with an increased risk of breast tumors that express estrogen receptors (ER)…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there a risk of developing breast cancer for women with endometriosis?
Understanding the interplay between the development of breast cancer and the presence of endometriosis and vice versa is complex since many risk factors including hormone or genetic variations and medical treatments have a role in each disease process. Thus, parsing…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs operation the best option for infertile patients with digestive endometriosis?
A severe form of endometriosis affecting 8-12% of women with deep endometriosis is bowel endometriosis. Bowel involvement with associated infertility is a serious challenge for gynecologists who must choose between two main therapeutic options: surgery or medically assisted procreation (e.g.…
Key Points Lay SummaryInstitutional Violence Typically Faced by Women with Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful disease for many reasons. The physical pain caused by the illness is acknowledged by all; however, the pain resulting from institutional violence is not as commonly discussed. Before proceeding, it is important to define institutional violence…
Key Points Lay SummarySwimming Against the Stream: Is Surgery Worthwhile in Women with Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Pregnancy Intention?
Management of Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) is further complicated by the implications of affected patients who plan to become or are pregnant. Optimal management in this situation is not standardized due to a lack of randomized trials comparing primary surgery…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis linked with increased risk of cancer and frequency of future surgical procedures
The purpose of this data research was to determine how women with endometriosis might be predisposed to other medical conditions later on in their lives. In order to determine if endometriosis affected health outcomes, a group of Scottish researchers collected…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there any association between menstrual pain and ovarian cancer?
Inflammation may be important in ovarian carcinogenesis. Epidemiological studies show that inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease have been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, while regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has reduced associated…
Key Points Lay SummaryZinc and lead levels in blood are altered in endometriosis
Trace metals are metals usually present in small but measurable amounts in the body. They are needed by living organisms to function properly and when depleted, can be replenished through diet and environmental exposures. Some common trace metals include iron,…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Approach could help Preoperative Differentiation of Endometriosis and Cancer
Researchers in Japan identified some radiological parameters that could be used to differentiate between endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) and a particular type of benign ovarian endometriosis (OE), making it easier for doctors to offer the right treatment to women who…
Key Points Lay SummarySymptomatology and Surgical Perspective of Scar Endometriosis
Scar endometriosis is a rare condition that occurs as a consequence of iatrogenic implantation of endometrial tissue following cesarean section, vaginal delivery with episiotomy, laparotomy for hysterectomy, tubectomy, ectopic pregnancy surgeries, appendectomy, hernia repair sites; interestingly it can also occur in…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Psychological Health: Butterflies from Deep Wounds
Endometriosis is a grueling disease in every sense of the word; however, most of the discussions center on the physical manifestations of the disease. Facchin et al. veer from the beaten path and examine the impact endometriosis have on a…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis increases the risk of miscarriage
This systematic review was based on four studies in literature and included a total of 31,167 pregnant women with endometriosis. Several studies were previously performed to establish the association between endometriosis and pregnancy loss with contradictory results. This somewhat large…
Key Points Lay SummaryCohort study on outcomes of laparoscopic endometriosis surgery
Laparoscopic surgery followed by histological confirmation is considered a standard for diagnosis, staging, and treatment of endometriosis. Radical and conservative surgical approaches are often required for the removal of endometriotic lesions in the case of vaginal or rectal wall deep…
Key Points Lay SummaryUpdates in the Field of Endometriosis: Surgery
Surgery is one of the treatment options offered for individuals with endometriosis. With that in mind, there are a variety of surgical procedures that can be offered to an individual with endometriosis. In the chapter titled “Surgery and Endometriosis,” Zanelotti…
Key Points Lay SummaryUpdates in the Field of Endometriosis
A lot of progress has been made thus far in the field of endometriosis. Research has discovered various genetic and epigenetic components involved in endometriosis. There has also been a progression in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease since…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Systematic Review of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis
Guidelines are systematically developed statements derived from best research evidence to improve patient care through informed clinical practice. Appropriate guidelines can reduce unwarranted variations health practice and the implementation of better interventions. Endometriosis commonly has three different manifestations, including peritoneal…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes endometriosis increase skin cancer risk?
Two major types of skin cancer are melanoma, which is the least frequent type but with highest metastatic potential; and non-melanoma skin cancers which include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Several risk factors are identified for skin cancer…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe dose of the GnRHa after laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is considered a routine way to diagnose and remove endometriosis. The primary concern with laparoscopic surgery is the recurrence of endometriosis because of incomplete lesion excision. Hence, the challenge is to decrease endometriosis recurrence rate. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical treatment of colonic endometriosis
In this study, the authors provide a brief report published in the journal "The American Surgeon" which retrospectively reviewed the therapy outcomes in eight consecutive patients who had a laparoscopic surgical intervention for deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) at Anne Arundel Medical Center. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryDienogest for Endometriosis
Laganà et al. recently published an article in Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology titled “Clinical dynamics of Dienogest for the treatment of endometriosis: from bench to bedside.” This article explored the benefits of using Dienogest, a progestin, to…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Ovarian Cancer Risk
Ovarian cancer prevalence in women with endometriosis is higher than the general population. It is often hypothesized that endometriosis-associated malignancies can occur from ovarian endometrioma. This systematic review by Taniguchi highlighted new insights on the relationship between endometriosis and ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Potential Molecular Mechanisms that Drive Endometriosis Progression
Endometriosis is a mysterious disease in that the exact mechanism that causes the illness is still at large. Yang et al. recently published a paper in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences that hopes to elucidate the molecular…
Key Points Lay SummaryCA-125 may be useful for the diagnosis of deep infiltrating endometriosis
Marco Aurélio Oliveira et al. conducted a prospective study at outpatient gynecology clinic and Endometriosis Treatment Center in Pedro Ernesto University Hospital (Rio de Janeiro State University) between January 2012 and January 2016 with two groups of patients: deep infiltrating endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis : A Whole Body Disease
Endometriosis is a disease that impacts multiple parts of an individual’s body. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine recently published a paper by Alderman III et al. entitled “The Systemic Effects of Endometriosis” explores the various comorbidities that can affect individuals suffering…
Key Points Lay SummaryReevaluating response and failure of medical treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting more than 10% of women in the fertile age and causing "pain" symptoms, that may require medical therapy. Most medical treatments used for endometriosis exert a hormonal mechanism to curtail estrogen effects either locally…
Key Points Lay SummaryAbdominal Wall Endometriosis
Endometriosis can present itself in many places including within the pelvic organs, the more common manifestation, and outside of the pelvic organs, often referred to as extrapelvic endometriosis. One form of extrapelvic endometriosis is Abdominal Wall Endometriosis (AWE). Yela, Trigo,…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs it Estrogen that Regulates Endometriosis Pain?
Endometriosis-associated pain is a debilitating condition; however, it is surprising that the perceived pain has no correlation to the endometriosis extent. The mechanism that causes the pain is also poorly understood. Nerve growth factor is enhanced in endometriosis and may increase…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Most Cost Effective Medical Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Endometriosis
A new study conducted in China found that a class of drugs called Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) is more cost effective for the treatment of recurrent endometriosis despite the fact that they are more expensive than oral contraceptives. The results…
Key Points Lay SummaryInhibition of key neurotransmitter could reduce endometriosis-related pain
This study published in the scientific journalMolecular MedicineReports[link] by Lian et al. from Shanghai, China, aims to explore the relationship between transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and endometriosis-associated pain. Pain is the most common symptom for women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryAgents Causing Red Blood Cell Lysis Worsens Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful disease characterized by inflammation and the presence of pro-oxidation factors. These pro-oxidation factors are also released when red blood cells (RBCs) lyse. A paper titled “Dapsone hydroxylamine-mediated alterations in human red blood cells from endometriotic patients”…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Benefits of Primary Surgery
Ahmad, Hussin, and Ahmad recently conducted a cohort study, and they published the results within an article titled “An evaluation of the quality of life in women with endometriosis who underwent primary surgery: a 6-month follow-up in Sabah Women &…
Key Points Lay SummaryICSI Outcomes for Laparoscopic Intervention of Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis can have trouble conceiving and often turn to fertility treatments for help. Guler et al. recently published a paper in Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine titled “The Impact of laparoscopic surgery of peritoneal endometriosis and endometrioma on…
Key Points Lay SummaryNovel Biological Pathway Could Offer new Treatment Option for Endometriosis
Researchers have identified a novel biological pathway that may be involved in endometriosis. Targeting this pathway may, therefore, be a new alternative approach to treating the condition in the future. Endometriosis is characterized by the tissue that normally lines the…
Key Points Lay SummaryRobotic Assisted Laparoscopy Not Better Than Standard Laparoscopy
Robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL) does not seem to offer any benefits over standard laparoscopy, according to a study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online. According to the authors of the study more research is needed to investigate the role…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Endometriosis Affects a Partner
Endometriosis can significantly impact the life of the woman who has the disease as well as the life of those who support and care for her. Ameratunga et al. recently published a study titled “Exploring the impact of endometriosis on…
Key Points Lay SummaryDeep Infiltrating Endometriosis, Surgery and Fertility
Carneiro, Costa, and Ávila recently published an article in a scientific journal named Reproduction, titled “To operate or not to operate on women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) before in vitro fertilization (IVF),” that explored the relationship between DIE and infertility.…
Key Points Lay SummaryTreatment of Endometriosis-Associated Pain with Elagolix, an Oral GnRH Antagonist.
Taylor et al. presented an exciting recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine. This article reported the results from a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials of elagolix for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. As women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryA potential indicator of invasive endometriosis.
Furuya & Masuda et al., in their recent article that will be published in Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, report that the protein encoded by ZEB1 gene (Zinc finger E-box-Binding homeobox) is a potential indicator of invasive endometriosis. ZEB1 is a transcription factor that has been implicated…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen with Endometriosis Undergoing Surgery Often Require Further Treatment
Recurrence of endometriosis is common even in women who underwent surgery, a new study confirmed. This suggests that women with endometriosis should be closely followed up even after treatment with surgery. For the study published online in the Journal of…
Lay SummaryMutations Associated with Cancer Were Identified in "Endometriosis without Cancer"
Lesions in deep infiltrating endometriosis harbor genetic mutations that are associated with cancer, found a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The authors believe that this new discovery may help to distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive forms of…
Lay SummaryUnexpected "cancer-related" mutations in "non-cancerous" endometriosis: Do they predict aggressiveness?
A study supported by Endometriosis Foundation of America, reported by scientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore, USA) and the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) have identified the molecular alterations of deep infiltrating endometriosis trough a wide exome sequencing (protein-coding genetic alphabet…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen with Endometriosis May Require Additional Care During Pregnancy and Labour
Women with endometriosis have a higher risk of bleeding after giving birth, found a study published in the Chinese Medical Journal. In addition, women with endometriosis who conceived by assisted reproduction may also have a higher risk of bleeding after…
Lay SummaryCharacteristics of Ovarian Endometriotic Cysts Could Help Determine Whether Endometrioma Will Reoccur
The features of ovarian endometriotic cysts could help predict whether endometrioma will re-occur in individual patients, according to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Predicting the risk of recurrence is important because it can help…
Lay SummaryGenetic Variations May Link Risk of Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer
Variations in a gene called HNF1B could be linked to the risk of endometriosis, according to a study published in the medical journal Gynecologic Oncology. Previous studies had identified the same genetic variation as a risk factor for ovarian cancer.…
Lay SummaryIncreased Oxidative Stress in Endometriosis may Be Linked to Higher Risk of Ovarian Cancer
In the study that was published in the scientific journal Translational Oncogenomics, a group of researchers led by Dr. Hariyono Winarto from the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta identified increased oxidative stress as one of the causes that might explain the…
Lay SummaryLaparoscopic Hysterectomy as Effective as Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, Study Suggests
Laparoscopic hysterectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is used to remove the uterus, results in similar rates of disease-free survival among women with stage 1 endometrial cancer as the standard abdominal hysterectomy, showed a study published in The Journal…
Lay SummaryElagolix (ABT-620) for endometriosis pain?
Elagolix is an orally active gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist that has just recently completed Phase 3 clinical trial for endometriosis-associated pain (NCT01931670). The review article by Alessandro et al in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics summarized the current research findings on…
Key Points Lay SummaryDesogestrel Could Effectively Be Used to Reduce Endometriosis-Related Pain Following Surgery
Desogestrel, could be an effective and acceptable therapy following surgery for women with moderate-to-severe pain related to endometriosis, according to the results of a randomized controlled clinical trial (NCT01559480), which were published in the journal Gynecological Endocrinology. Desogestrol is a…
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