By Nasuhi Engin AydinUnique features of endometrial cells in endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Researchers from the University of Texas, San Antonio, have published a detailed study on the properties of endometrial cell components in relation to endometriosis, entitled "Hypersensitive intercellular responses of endometrial stromal cells drive invasion in endometriosis", in the scientific journal eLife. The…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Özge ÖzkayaStudy Sheds Light on How Parabens and Benzophenones May Be Linked to Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
By Selma OransayImpact of appropriate surgery on endometriosis-related infertility
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
By Eylül GÜNImmune Cell Infiltration and Genetic Drivers in Endometriosis Development
By Eylül GÜN
The development of endometriosis is closely linked to immune cell infiltration, where immune cells and their secreted cytokines play a key role in driving inflammation and the formation of lesions. Studies highlight increased neutrophil infiltration in ectopic tissues, which release…
Key Points Lay Summary
The current management of endometriosis-related infertility.
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting women of reproductive age, often presenting with pelvic pain such as dyspareunia, dyschezia, and dysuria, or inertility, and significantly impacting quality of life. Management should be individualized based on symptoms, reproductive goals, age,…
Key Points Lay Summary
DIE Complex and Requires Interdisciplinary Approach
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Surgery for Deep Endometriosis: Reproductive Outcomes in Infertile Women
By Selma Oransay
Deep endometriosis (DE) is a severe form of endometriosis where endometriotic growths invade deeper tissues such as the pelvic organs, including the bowel, bladder, and sometimes nerves. This type of endometriosis is often linked to infertility, but the exact relationship…
Key Points Lay Summary
The long-term cardiovascular risk in women with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
MicroRNA-Mediated Hormone Dysregulation in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
The expressions of certain micro RNAs and estrogen receptor (ER) beta are significantly upregulated while that of ER alfa is downregulated in the ectopic endometrium, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Biomedicines. However, the expression of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Immune Dynamics in Adolescent Peritoneal Endometriosis
In a study published in the Cells, Khashchenko et. al investigated the potential role of immune cell imbalances in adolescent peritoneal endometriosis, and their potential impact on disease progression and response to progestogen therapy. This study provides new insights into how immune imbalances in adolescents with…
Key Points Lay Summary
Study Sheds Light on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Three genes, TNFSF12, AP3M1, and PDK2 could be key biomarkers of programmed cell death in endometriosis, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Frontiers in Endocrinology. “These findings provide new directions for the early diagnosis and…
Key Points Lay Summary
An observational study on predicting endometriosis recurrence risk.
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis presents in various ways, and improper management can lead to recurrence. Studies show that the recurrence rate can range from 6% to 67%. Factors that may increase this risk include having severe or deep forms of the disease, being…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preterm Birth Risk Higher Among Women With Endo
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Unviling the role of PD-1-PD-L1 Pathway in Endometriosis Progression and Therapy
The role of immune system in Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease is complex, involving both protective and harmful effects. A key player in this process is PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1), a protein found on T cells that regulates immune responses by inhibiting…
Key Points Lay Summary
Bladder Endometriosis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions
By Selma Oransay
About 70-80% of urinary tract endometriosis occurs in the bladder, particularly affecting the base and dome regions. Endometriotic lesions can penetrate the detrusor muscle either partially or completely. Endometriosis affecting the uterovesical fold peritoneum or deep endometriosis that does not involve…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Hale Goksever CelikDoes a comprehensive interventional program improve sexual health in women with endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 and reproductive function. A group of scientists from Iran, published a study protocol titled…
Key Points Lay Summary
Study Identifies Factors Associated With the Risk of Adenomyosis Progression
By Özge Özkaya
The disease progression rate of adenomyosis at one-year follow-up is 21.3%, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. For hormonally untreated patients this rate is 30.77% while for those who were hormonally treated, it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Improving fertility in peritoneal endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis is the most common gynecologic disease that affects 10-15% of women in their reproductive age. The causal relationship between endometriosis and infertility is not clear yet, but adhesions and anatomical distortions due to the progression of the disease are…
Key Points Lay Summary
The need for fertility preservation in women with endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
A variety of pathologies such as adhesions, inflammation, modified pelvic anatomy, and altered ovarian reserve are among the causes of infertility in women with endometriosis. Additionally, these patients experience suboptimal outcomes characterized by reduced pregnancy rates when they undergo assisted…
Key Points Lay Summary
Any link between endometriosis and neonatal uterine bleeding?
By Selma Oransay
A Medline search using the keywords " neonatal uterine bleeding," " pathophysiology," and "premenarche" was made by Dr. Habiba et al. from the Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. A total of 2264 articles were collected, and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and mental health disorders: How associated are they?
By Eylül GÜN
As with any chronic condition, endometriosis does not only present with physiological problems. The association between endometriosis and mental health issues has been widely studied and it is now known that these patients undergo depression, anxiety, and even bipolar disorder…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometrial cancer risk in endometriosis: What does the real-world data reveal?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A comprehensive review of subdermal progestin in adenomyosis management
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
French academicians from Lyon and Marseilles led by Dr. Chene have published recently an electronic database search on the effectiveness of progestin subdermal implants in adenomyosis patients. This review appeared in the March 2024 issue of “The European Journal of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Can a Virtual Stress Reduction Program Help Improve my Quality of Life?
By Özge Özkaya
A virtual mindfulness-based stress reduction program may improve the quality of life of patients with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. The authors of the study reported that the program was…
Key Points Lay Summary
The location of adenomyosis, and recurrent abortion
By Selma Oransay
ESHRE defines repeated pregnancy loss (RPL) as the loss of pregnancies with two or more weeks of gestation. Adenomyosis is the presence of ectopic endometrium, in the myometrium. High-resolution transvaginal ultrasound and sonographic criteria can help to diagnose the disease…
Key Points Lay Summary
Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand Expression and Endometrioma Recurrence
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Do I Need Assisted Reproduction to Become Pregnant After Endometriosis Surgery?
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers from Argentina developed a decision tree that can help identify patients who might need assisted reproduction techniques to become pregnant following endometriosis surgery. This way, the time between surgery and pregnancy could be minimized and the overall outcome may…
Key Points Lay Summary
Sophisticated study yields hopes for a new potential remedy
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Visual representation of endometriosis pain
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Is there any relationship between age at diagnosis and the severity of endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Long-term Dienogest Treatment and the Chance of Conceiving With IVF
By Özge Özkaya
It is not clear whether long-term treatment with dienogest before in vitro fertilization (IVF) affects pregnancy and live birth rates in women with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. “Given limited…
Key Points Lay Summary
Early use of hormonal contraceptives and the probability of endometriosis diagnosis later in life
By Selma Oransay
Hormonal contraceptives are the first-line medical treatment of endometriosis. If an adolescent has chronic pelvic pain and is an "unresponder" to hormonal therapy, the likelihood of having an "endometriosis diagnosis" is higher. This sign should warn clinicians about endometriosis diagnosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does The Severity of Endometriosis Pain Affect the Chance of Having a Baby With IVF?
By Özge Özkaya
Severe pain symptoms in endometriosis have no relation with the outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to a new study published in the journal Human Reproduction. This finding suggests that the decision-making process for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Quercetin and its effects on endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis, as a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis, could be a potential target for quercetin, a flavonoid found in various foods and botanicals, and a known senolytic agent with many effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory properties. Studies…
Key Points Lay Summary
Psychological effect of endometriosis due to chronic pelvic pain
By Hale Goksever Celik
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain, all of which affect the quality of women’s lives. Early diagnosis and management are important as endometriosis impairs the quality of life of patients and creates a…
Key Points Lay Summary
Are women with endometriosis more prone to have mental health disorders?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a long-term morbidity resulting in impaired physical, sexual, psychological, and social health. The most common clinical findings of endometriosis patients are chronic pelvic pain and fertility problems, associated with impaired quality of life. These women are also affected…
Key Points Lay Summary
Clinical awareness for endometriosis in infertility should be surged
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
A team of researchers from multiple centers including Stanford University and Swiss Federal Laboratories, led by Dr.Camran Nezhat have published their cross-sectional retrospective study on endometriosis and unexplained infertility association. This research paper appeared in a recent issue of the Journal…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fertility outcomes after discoid excision for colorectal endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
What Happens to all Those Frozen Eggs?
By Özge Özkaya
The rate of return to use previously vitrified oocytes is notably low even though there is an increase in the number of patients pursuing oocyte cryopreservation, found a new study published in JAMA Network Open. According to the authors of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Spontaneous Conception After Deep Endometriosis Surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Neonatal uterine bleeding at birth and endometriosis later in life
By Selma Oransay
In the first few days after birth, some female newborns bleed from the vaginal route, and this is called newborn uterine bleeding. The overt and occult neonatal uterine bleeding prevalence rates are 3-5% and 25-60% retrospectively. The causative risk factors for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Should I Have Endometriosis Surgery Before IVF-ICSI?
By Özge Özkaya
The live birth rate per in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine sperm injection (ICSI) cycle was significantly reduced in women who underwent surgery to treat endometriosis before the procedures, found a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. “These…
Key Points Lay Summary
Effects of Perceived Loneliness in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Perceived loneliness directly affects quality of life, according to a new study conducted in women with endometriosis. It also plays a crucial role in mediating the effects of experiences that women find difficult to verbalize. “It is possible that endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pregnancy outcomes of women with endometriosis/adenomyosis.
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are diseases presented by ectopic growth of endometrial-gland-like tissues, which we can find in ovaries, pelvic organs, and myometrium. These diseases are causes of hypermenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Although the number of reports about…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ovarian adhesion prevention with polytetrafluoroethylene during endometrioma surgery.
By Selma Oransay
The World Health Organization defined infertility as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse or after six months of fertility-focused intercourse. Depending on the chronic inflammatory character and causing adhesion formations within the peritoneum, endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Study Identifies Potential New Theraputic Target in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Lactate could drive the progression of endometriosis by upregulating the expression of a gene called HMGB1, according to a new study published in the Journal of Biomedical Research. This finding identifies novel targets for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Analysis of steroid hormone receptors in endometriotic tissues reveals chaotic results
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
A group of researchers from academic institutions located at Australia and New Zeland, led by Dr. Holdsworth-Carson, have published their recent findings on steroid receptors in peritoneal endometriosis lesions by immunohistochemistry, in the journal Reproduvtive Biomedicine Online. Endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of medical treatment on sexual function and quality of life in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Family history of endometriosis and its characteristics
By Selma Oransay
Depression and migraine are two familial disorders affected by menstrual cycle and endometriosis patients have an increased likelihood of suffering from these comorbidities. A correlation of endometriosis, migraine and depression has been already reporteed in the literature, however a link for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Coupled torture due to endometriosis and depressive symptoms
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis significantly impacts various aspects of women's lives including their physical and mental health, careers, and social relationships. Physically, it causes chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia, affecting 5-10% of reproductive-age women and leading to infertility challenges and a substantial percentage…
Key Points Lay Summary
Novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
By Bahar YukselGene Expression Profiles of Endometriosis and Personalized Treatment
By Bahar Yuksel
The study lead by Dr.McKinnon from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Australia, aimed to understand the gene expression profiles of different endometriosis lesion subtypes and their response to hormonal treatment. The researchers analyzed gene expression data…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis With or Without Chronic Pain Linked to Anxiety and Depression
By Özge Özkaya
There may be a potential link between endometriosis, with and without chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, according to a new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. “We recommended that clinicians provide proper medical management of endometriosis-related pain through…
Key Points Lay Summary
Quality of life analyses among women with endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The type of surgical approach compared to complications and recurrence for colorectal endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis may have extension and infiltration of the intestine, called "colorectal endometriosis, in up to 12%. The main symptoms are alterations in bowel habits, pelvic pain, and/or infertility. The gold standard management option for colorectal endometriosis is surgical…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep infiltrating endometriosis and postoperative pregnancy outcomes
By Selma Oransay
Although the current ESHRE guidelines state that there is no strong evidence to support surgical intervention to improve the spontaneous pregnancy rate in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis and advise Assisted reproduction technology irrespective of the severity of endometriosis, several studies…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis in Asia
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Live Birth Rate for ovarian stimulation protocols after laparoscopic endometrioma cystectomy.
By Selma Oransay
The laparoscopic cystectomy of the ovaries is the first-line infertility treatment in patients with endometriomas. However, a possible diminished ovarian capacity after cystectomy with ovarian failure to respond to the gonadotropin stimuli seems an undesirable result of this procedure. Controlled…
Key Points Lay Summary
The relationship between lipids and estrogen in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometrioma surgery and the ovarian reserve
By Selma Oransay
Traditionally, cystectomy is the gold standard for surgical approach owing to the reduced risk of recurrence. Still, it may lead to a reduction in postoperative ovarian volume and can be a cause of ovarian failure. The recent conservative surgical management of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Women With Endometriosis at a Higher Risk of Pregnancy Complications
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Exploring endometriosis symptoms and their effects on women's lives
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis symptoms, their severity, and the way they affect patients' lives may vary. With the aim of investigating different personal experiences and perceptions of endometriosis symptoms and the way they impact women's daily lives, Hunsche and colleagues from Switzerland and…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Molecular Mechanisms of how herbal medicine Actaea racemosa modulates Endometriosis Progression
By Bahar Yuksel
Increased proliferation, dysregulated apoptosis, and a pro-inflammatory and oxidative environment are the hallmarks of endometriosis. In the article published in the Journal of Molecular Sciences, penned by Livia Interdonato et al, the molecular mechanisms of the extract from a plant…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is continuous hormonal treatment safe and healthy method for endometriotic patients?
By Selma Oransay
One of the studies related to the search for new markers in pathophysiologic causes of endometriosis is circulating microparticles and their subset "tissue factor". In response to damage, activation, or apoptosis, these microparticles are found in human plasma, urine, saliva,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Women With Endometriosis More Likely to Also Have Non-Specific Symptoms
By Özge Özkaya
Women with endometriosis are more likely to report menstrual symptoms, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. However, they are also at an increased risk of mental health disorders, other pain symptoms, bowel,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does ZEB1 Gene Expression Govern Endometriosis Infiltration Pattern?
By Özge Özkaya
The expression of a gene called ZEB1 is different between different types of endometriosis, found a new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. This could affect whether or not lesions become infiltrative. More importantly,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Moderate-to-severe Endometriosis and "The Cumulative live birth rate" in IVF Cycles
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Role of peritoneal dendritic cells in endometriosis development
By Eylül GÜN
Dendritic cells (DCs), essential antigen-presenting cells bridging innate and adaptive immunity, play a pivotal role in immune response modulation. They capture process, and present antigens, facilitating T-cell activation. DCs also promote self-tolerance by releasing tolerogenic cytokines, contributing to autoimmune disease…
Key Points Lay Summary
Dienogest versus combined oral contraceptives treatment in postoperative endometriosis care
By Selma Oransay
Dienogest is a synthetic progestin derivative, like oral contraceptives, used to prevent endometriosis recurrence after surgery. Randomized clinical trials verified a significantly higher reduction in endometriotic lesions, clinical symptoms, and improved quality of life obtained when dienogest was given to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Are women with endometriosis more prone to pregnancy loss?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease of reproductive-aged women who may suffer from reproductive outcomes such as infertility, miscarriage, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Pregnancy loss is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy until 22 weeks of gestation including spontaneous abortion, missed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Telemedicine for endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Limitations of current surgical classification systems for endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis and Progesterone Resistance
By Selma Oransay
Progesterone resistance is the unresponsiveness of endometrium with subsequent dysregulation of the progesterone signaling pathway, and endometrial gene works. Progestins, on the other hand, are the first-line treatment choice, especially for long-term treatment of endometriosis. In the clinics, one-third of…
Key Points Lay Summary
When to start ART after laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis?
By Selma Oransay
Laparoscopy combined with histopathologic confirmation of endometriosis is the reference standard for diagnosing endometriosis. Additionally, laparoscopic surgery is considered the most effective way to approach infertility induced by endometriosis. The surgical factors influencing the outcome of treating the infertility of…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of glucocorticoid use on clinical pregnancy rates
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The cost-effectiveness of different GnRH agonist regimes for progestogen-resistant endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Surgical and medical treatments are currently used to treat the pelvic pain caused by endometriosis. Respected guidelines recommend using progestins with or without estrogens as first-line medical treatment due to their safety, effectiveness, inexpensive, and tolerability. However, one-third to one-quarter…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pretreatment With Dienogest Does not Seem to Improve IVF Outcome in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Treatment with dienogest before in vitro fertilization does not increase the number of mature eggs or improve the rate of pregnancy or live births in women with endometriosis, found a new study published in the scientific journal Gynecologic and Obstetric…
Key Points Lay Summary
Exploring the Potential Impact of Prenatal Testosterone on Endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
The exact causes of endometriosis still remain uncertain but emerging evidence suggests that prenatal factors may contribute to its development. In the review study by Bernard J Cresp et al, the authors discuss the hormonal environment during prenatal development and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ultrasonographic findings predicting parametrial deep endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Transvaginal ultrasonographic evaluation is the primary imaging technique to rule out deep endometriosis. Although the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis Group (IDEA) published a consensus to standardize the nomenclature of ultrasonographic pelvic examination in women with suspected deep endometriosis, parametrial deep endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Adenomyosis have different genetic pathways
By Bahar Yuksel
It is still not defined whether adenomyosis is also a deep endometriosis component or not. In the study conducted by Marshall et al, the researchers compared the gene expression patterns between deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and adenomyosis uteri in order…
Key Points Lay Summary
Which surgery for deep endometriosis? Laparoscopic shaving or rectal resection?
By Selma Oransay
This keynote lecture entitled "Deep endometriosis: The place of laparoscopic shaving" was presented by Dr. Jacques Donnez, the director of the infertility research unit at the Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, at the Annual International Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation…
Key Points Lay Summary
2023 MedicalConferance: Pros and cons of hormonal interventions for endometriosis - Sarah Berga, MD
By Bahar Yuksel
Prof. Berga, MD., who is the Chair of Ob&Gyn at Jacobs School Medicine and Biomed Sciences, presented this speech at the 2023 EFA Medical Conference. Dr. Berga explains that the primary goals of endometriosis treatment are to reduce pain and improve quality…
Key Points Lay Summary
Antioxidant astaxanthin has promising effects on endometriosis-related infertility.
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
First-line surgery or first-line ART: A real challenge both for the clinicians and infertile women having DIE without colorectal involvement
By Hale Goksever Celik
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is defined as the presence of endometriotic lesions over 5 mm in depth under the peritoneal surface. These women suffer from chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, bloody or painful bowel movements, and infertility. There…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does Endometriosis Surgery Increase the Rate of Pregnancy?
By Özge Özkaya
Surgery to treat colorectal endometriosis leads to a high rate of pregnancy following the operation, found a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. The authors of the study said, “studies with a high level of evidence…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative pregnancy outcomes in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Subperitoneal invasion of endometriotic lesions exceeding 5 mm in depth is named "deep infiltrating endometriosis' and can be located on uterosacral ligaments, in the intestine, vagina, bladder, and ureter. Women with deep infiltrating endometriosis suffer from pelvic pain and infertility most…
Key Points Lay Summary
From Finland : How to increase health issues in endometriosis patients
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Henna-Riikka Rossi and associates from the University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland have published their recent prospective cohort study on possible existing comorbidities of endometriosis patients in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic ailment affecting about…
Key Points Lay Summary
How Good is Ultra-Long GnRH-a Treatment Before IVF for Women With Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
Pretreatment with ultra-long gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), i.e. for at least three months before in vitro fertilization (IVF), has an adverse effect on patient pregnancy outcomes with endometriosis, according to a meta-analysis of the literature published in the Journal of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Comparison of different IVF stimulation protocols for pregnancy success in infertile endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Hypoxia and endometriosis: A review of mechanisms
By Eylül GÜN
Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain the development of endometriosis lesions. One of these is hypoxia, which can induce changes in endometrial cells, but the exact mechanism is not yet clear. Zhou et al from China wrote a review…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of dysmenorrrhea
By Selma Oransay
Asymptomatic endometriosis does not adversely affect women's quality of life and mental health. But the quality of life of women with endometriosis who suffer endometriosis-related pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and dysuria declines as they become more susceptible to anxiety and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Conventional IVF or ICSI: Which one is more accurate in endometriosis-related infertility?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Although the prevalence of endometriosis is 10-15% in the general population at reproductive age, it is diagnosed more frequently in infertile women with a prevalence of 25-40%. Although the exact mechanism explaining the association between endometriosis and infertility has not…
Key Points Lay Summary
Weighting (side)effects when dealing with endometriosis-associated pain.
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The optimal endometrial preparation protocol in FET cycles of women with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Evaluation of the postoperative disability in women with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The emotions and experiences of women with endometriosis during and after pregnancy
By Eylül GÜN
It is well-known that endometriosis patients have a high rate of infertility and a hard time getting pregnant compared to women without endometriosis. Despite the belief that pregnancy can alleviate endometriosis symptoms, some studies have shown that women with endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Study Highlights Link Between Endometriosis and Mental Health Problems
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis is associated with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders found a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. This is the first large-scale study showing a link between endometriosis and the mental health…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Seems to Increase the Risk of Preeclampsia
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Sexual function in infertile women with PCOS and endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Machine learning based potential biomarkers
By Bahar Yuksel
To explore potential biomarkers for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, and to elucidate the mechanism of endometriosis, Yi Huang et al, analyzed gene differences between eutopic and ectopic endometrium and the status of the immune microenvironment., and published their results in the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and the body perception
By Hale Goksever Celik
The most common endometriosis-associated symptoms are pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. Women with endometriosis should be managed due to the significant impact of these symptoms on their quality of life. Body perceptions of these women are also affected depending…
Key Points Lay Summary
Adverse pregnancy outcomes and endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Inflammation plays a big role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis with the release of inflammatory cytokines, angiogenic imbalance, and oxidative stress. These pathways are also common features of severe maternal morbidity. Severe maternal morbidity is life-threatening, causing cardiac and renal…
Key Points Lay Summary
Gestrinone May Be Safe and Effective in Treating Endometriosis Symptoms
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Do combination GnRH antagonists improve endometriosis-associated pain?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a broad spectrum of pain symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain. It has been understood in light of scientific evidence that endometriosis results in diminished quality of life in these…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ovarian endometriomas, ovarian reserve, oocyte quality and IVF/ICSI outcomes
By Selma Oransay
Surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are the preferred treatments for endometrioma in infertile patients. When ART is considered, surgery may seem to have no advantages, as it may not improve pregnancy outcomes and may carry the risk of decreasing…
Key Points Lay Summary
Predictability of IVF success by basal progesterone levels on patients with endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis causes infertility in around 30-40% of all diagnosed women. Thus, strategies leading to more successful IVF results remain important. In the prospective study by Jovan Bila, the menstruation day 3 levels of serum progesterone were questioned to have a…
Key Points Lay Summary
Anhedonia and its relation to endometriosis as a sole symptom
By Eylül GÜN
"Anhedonia may be defined as a broad category of hedonic function deficiencies, including diminished motivation or enjoyment capacity. It has been an area of interest for a long time in psychiatric disorders and has been crucial in some diagnoses such…
Key Points Lay Summary
Obstetric Outcomes of Pre-pregnancy Endometriosis Surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Foreseeing what will be seen on laparoscopy
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis diagnosis still relies on preoperative prediction and its confirmation by taking biopsies. Thus, a prediction model for forecasting what would be waiting for the surgeon and the patient will be promising to get prepared. In the study conducted…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does endometrioma size have an effect on IVF/ICSI outcomes?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Assisted reproductive technologies including IVF/ICSI can be suggested as the therapeutic option in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. In literature, there is a controversy regarding the influence of endometrioma size on IVF/ICSI outcomes. The group led by Drs Chapron and Santoulli…
Key Points Lay Summary
Devilish triad: Endometriosis-irritable bowel syndrome and eating disorders
By Bahar Yuksel
Most women with endometriosis report digestive symptoms. But it is not well-defined whether those are related to endometriosis itself or a secondary syndrome may be the cause. Irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, and anxiety are very commonly diagnosed diseases among women…
Key Points Lay Summary
The management of diaphragmatic endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A prediction model to identify endometriosis during routine ultrasound .
By Selma Oransay
. Ureterolysis is an advanced surgical technique that involves dissection of the ureter from pelvic brim to the ureteric tunnel to avoid injury or freeing the ureter from endometriotic lesions. This manipulation usually requieres advanced surgical training and skill. In…
Key Points Lay Summary
Turn around to come to the same spot: Nothing specific to predict AMH decline
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Placenta Previa More Common Among Pregnant Women With Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
To Remove the Ovary(ies) or Not During Hysterectomy for Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Some surgeons prefer empiric bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy during the hysterectomy of women with endometriosis based on the knowledge that endometriosis is stimulated by endogenous estrogens, as leaving the ovaries in situ may increase the possibility of endometriosis recurrence and pelvic pain.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fallopian tube occlusion in infertile women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis suffer from fertility problems with an incidence of 40-50%. Among the pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting in impaired fertility in women with endometriosis, distorted pelvic anatomy due to adhesions, impaired follicular quality-quantity, dysfunction of tubal peristalsis, and implantation problems…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Oocyte Quality in Ovarian Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The effect of postoperative hormonal medication preferences on the recurrence rate of endometrioma
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometrioma is the most investigated type of endometriosis. The recurrence after surgery is important regarding its and reoperation’s effect on ovarian functions. In the study conducted by Seung-Hye Choi et al, the researchers questioned the effect of different postoperative hormonal…
Key Points Lay Summary
How to reduce follicle loss during endometrioma surgery?
By Bahar Yuksel
Bilateral endometrioma is a critical situation to decide on further approaches when both infertility and pain are concerned. Techniques to protect ovarian functions are crucial when applying a cyst removal is inevitable. In the retrospective study conducted by Lingli Xin…
Key Points Lay Summary
Genomic evidence: The recognition of endometriosis as an inflammatory systemic disease
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Bao and associates from Shangai-China published a new article on the genomic features of endometriosis that could yield information on its inflammatory basis and possible therapeutic potential in a recent issue of “Frontiers ın Immunology”. Endometriosis is a systemic process…
Key Points Lay Summary
Research Identifies Blood Proteins Associated With Endometriosis in Adolescents
By Özge Özkaya
Proteins related to angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels and cellular migration are enriched and more active in the blood of adolescents with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. These are the findings of a new study published in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis-associated infertility: How to manage?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Although the underlying reason for endometriosis has not been fully established, there is an association between endometriosis and infertility. Endometriosis is thought to be involved in 40-50 percent of infertility cases. However, natural conception can still occur even in women…
Key Points Lay Summary
How do regional differences affect the incidence rates of endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
Despite all the ongoing work for endometriosis awareness, it continues to be an underdiagnosed disease. Several different factors are responsible for this. The variations of its symptomatology play a big part as well as the lack of understanding of the…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of chronic endometritis on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women having minimal/mild endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is frequently diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. Infertility can be associated with endometriosis in these women depending on several pathophysiologic mechanisms such as anatomic distortion, and implantation failure. Thus pregnancy rate is so important, especially…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between inflammatory cytokines and fertility in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis suffer not only from a broad spectrum of symptoms including pain including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain but also fertility problems. Endometriosis-associated infertility develops depending on a combination of several mechanisms such as distorted pelvic anatomy,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preferential expression of some membrane type matrix metalloproteinase proteins
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Maoga and associates from academic institutions located in Germany and Kenya have published their findings on the immunohistochemical expression of MT-MMP proteins, namely MT2-MMP (MMP15) and MT3-MMP (MMP16) in the eutopic endometrium of healthy and endometriotic patients; and also…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preoperative detailed ultrasound is effective for the prediction of surgical extent.
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis surgery is like opening the box of pandora when you start the surgery. A preoperative guide is extremely important for the surgeon to draw a road map. In the study conducted by Alessandra Di Giovanni et al, the effectiveness…
Key Points Lay Summary
A novel contribution to patient management in endometriosis by immunohistochemistry
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Tarumi and associates from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan published their retrospective cohort study on the importance of progesterone receptors on recurring ovarian endometriosis in "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism". Surgery for endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Are the studies based on the nationwide databases more accurate?
By Eylül GÜN
One of the most common localizations of endometriosis is the ovaries, and therefore, ovarian endometriomas are among the most surgically treated endometriotic lesions. Dr. Roman from Denmark has recently written an editorial about the surgical interventions on ovarian endometrioma and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis diagnosis and management based on the best available evidence from published literature
By Selma Oransay
ESHRE, "European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology" published a Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in 2005 and then revised it in 2013. Based on new research and development there was a need to renew the last…
Key Points Lay Summary
What are the most common symptoms of endometriosis and how are they related to age?
By Eylül GÜN
Even though the incidence of endometriosis is relatively high and numerous studies are being conducted to elucidate its pathogenesis, it is still a highly underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. The symptoms of the disease are well-known; however, the correlation between the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Prevalence of endometriosis and adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound.
By Selma Oransay
Women who present dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, dyschezia, chronic abdominal, and pelvic pain, and infertility would benefit from the early investigation. If the correct diagnosis of endometriosis and/or adenomyosis can be made in advance, early treatment will improve the quality of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Quality of Life Is Negatively Correlated With Anxiety and Depression in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Planning surgery for recto-sigmoid endometriosis with 3D virtual models.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Prolactin receptor antibodies: A novel treatment proposal for endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Prolactin, a hormone that also acts as a proinflammatory cytokine through its receptor PRLR has been shown to be involved in endometriosis pathogenesis. Previous studies reported that women suffering from endometriosis had elevated prolactin levels. Also, in experimental studies done…
Key Points Lay Summary
Urinary Tract Endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis is mostly seen in patients of fertile age, and urinary tract endometriosis affects 1.2 to 6% of women with endometriosis. French coloRectal Infiltrating ENDometriosis Study (FRIENDS) group investigated the characteristics of urinary tract endometriosis in 232 patients from 31 centers. Authors…
Key Points Lay Summary
Surgery before in-vitro fertilization – Is it beneficial in patients with deep endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
Deep pelvic endometriosis is thought to be related to infertility by altering the pelvic environment and anatomy due to pelvic adhesions, and the changes in endometrial receptivity contribute to it. The discussion on whether the surgical intervention was beneficial started…
Key Points Lay Summary
Quality of life assessment in women with endometrioma
By Eylül GÜN
Like most chronic diseases, endometriosis poses a significant risk of diminishing the quality of life in patients suffering from it, particularly with its most considerable symptom; chronic pelvic pain. Although it is known that endometriosis is more common in East…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is intrauterine insemination effective in women having endometriosis-associated infertility?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Fertility Problems and Pregnancy Complications: Are They Coming From the Same Root Theory?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The necessity of laparoscopy for unexplained infertility.
By Selma Oransay
The standard for accepting a couple as "infertile" is the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. When this condition is met, assessing the number of motile sperm in the male partner and certifying the patency at…
Key Points Lay Summary
Association of psoriasis and endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by scalpy, red, and well-demarcated skin plaques that are observed in 2-4% of the population. Approximately 30% of psoriatic patients additionally have joint pain, stiffness, and swelling called psoriatic arthritis. The mechanism…
Key Points Lay Summary
How likely is it to get pregnant and have a baby after undergoing surgery for high stage endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
As one of the most common causes of infertility in women, endometriosis might be surgically interfered with depending on the stage. For Stage I and II endometriosis, surgery is recommended in the latest guidelines to ameliorate fertility rates, however, there…
Key Points Lay Summary
Envorinmental metals harmful for female reproductivity
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The quality of life and mental health in endometriosis patients
By Eylül GÜN
One of the most important aspects of having a chronic illness comes with its relative effect on the patients’ quality of life and mental health status. Being among the most debilitating diseases in women in the reproductive period, endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Machine learning tools to predict endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The higher the Endometriosis Fertility Index, the higher the chance of getting pregnant
By Hale Goksever Celik
The women who desire to get pregnant may also suffer from fertility problems depending on several mechanisms such as anatomic distortion, peritoneal adhesions, tubal dysfunction, impaired quality of oocytes, and impaired endometrial receptivity. One of the most important problems in…
Key Points Lay Summary
What do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Emotions on the 'Surgery Requirement' in patients with bowel endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
An Overview on Treatment of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Placenta praevia and cesarean section more common in patients with ART for Endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Even though endometriosis is known to be associated with infertility, these women still have a chance to get pregnant spontaneously or by assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with the aid of recent technological developments. A It has also been shown that…
Key Points Lay Summary
Matrix metalloproteinases and their role in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
The extracellular matrix harbors important macromolecules such as collagen and glycoproteins which are required for tissue remodeling, differentiation, and homeostasis. The main group of enzymes responsible for these properties is called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has been proven that MMPs…
Key Points Lay Summary
Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
There is no difference between the oral progestin dienogest and combined oral contraceptive pills in managing pain and increasing quality of life in women with endometriosis, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. However, there was…
Key Points Lay Summary
Evaluation of patient self-reported outcome measures for endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis symptomology is multifactorial and it changes over time based on the patient's life experience, perceptions, and medical treatment. These changes require the agility of adaptation for both clinicians and patients to respond properly. The documentation of the patient's specific…
Key Points Lay Summary
Sexual Function in Women With Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
The sexual function of women diagnosed with endometriosis is impaired confirmed a new study by Spanish researchers published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. According to the study, the strongest predictive factors for poor sexual function are deep disease, depression,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for prediction of postoperative pregnancy
By Hale Goksever Celik
Among women with endometriosis, 30 to 50 percent are estimated to have infertility, and 25-50% of infertile patients are found to have endometriosis. Anatomic distortion, diminished tubal peristalsis, diminished sperm movements, dysfunctional folliculogenesis, luteal phase dysfunctions, and alterations in endometrial…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is it the new gold mine for endometriosis: oral GnRH antagonists
By Bahar Yuksel
Progestins and combined oral contraceptive pills are the first step hormonal options for women with endometriosis. But the more the use expands the more cases are seen with resistance to progestins. This gave birth to a need for different therapeutic…
Key Points Lay Summary
A plea from pathologists: standardized protocols for adenomyosis and endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Pharmacological Therapy for Endometriosis Pain
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
How does adenomyosis affect IVF outcomes?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis Increases the Risk of Premature Labor Study Reports
By Özge Özkaya
Women with endometriosis who conceive naturally are at a high risk of giving birth prematurely and having their baby admitted to neonatal intensive care unit, compared to women without the disease, according to the results of a clinical study. The…
Key Points Lay Summary
Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Women with and without Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis causes infertility in one-third of patients, while in approximately 25-35% of infertile women, the cause is endometriosis. The primary interest and the question of Moss et al. from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia was "the differences in the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Impact of surgery before IVF in infertile women with endometrioma
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Body Mass Index and indicators of metabolic syndrome in women with Endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a disease of reproductive-aged women and has common pathophysiological mechanisms with other chronic health morbidities due to its estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory background. The changes in the inflammatory components of adipose tissue may have an impact on the quality of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Potential new Target to Reduce Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
The inflammatory mediators, bradykinin, and bradykinin B1 receptor may play a role in the onset of endometriosis-associated pain according to a new study by Chinese researchers. They do so by inducing the prostaglandin signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting these biological pathways…
Key Points Lay Summary
Altered Decidualization and Pregnancy Complications
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Catching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Research Identifies New Genes That Could Be Targeted to Treat Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers identified three new genes that could help understand the invasiveness of endometriosis. They also identified one new gene that could be related to the recurrence of the disease. These genes may potentially be new therapeutic targets for endometriosis. In…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ovarian Cancer Survival in the presence of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometrioma post-surgical-recurrence risk factors
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Depression and Anxiety Common in Women with Endo
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
The incidence and prevalence of endometriosis in a United States population-based study .
By Selma Oransay
To define the accurate incidence and prevalence estimates of endometriosis among nonselected cohorts in the USA, Christ et al. from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Washington, Seattle, planned a retrospective cohort study using the electronic KPWA…
Key Points Lay Summary
Long noncoding RNAs to predict the endometriosis recurrence
By Hale Goksever Celik
Despite extensive research, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism of endometriosis remains unclear; and the absence of non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose endometriosis is still a big problem both for clinicians and patients. The recurrence of endometriosis is another challenge that is difficult…
Key Points Lay Summary
The clues for pain and infertility in endometriosis/adenomyosis complex
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Drs. Gruber and Mechsner from Charite University-Berlin, Germany published their comprehensive review on pathophysiological background of endometriosis and adenomyosis in the scientific periodical “Cells”. Chronic pain and fertility problems are the main clinical issue in endometriosis and adenomyosis patients. In order to…
Key Points Lay Summary
A scoping review proposal for the diagnostic and treatment delay of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis suffer from pain for a prolonged time due to diagnostic and treatment delay which is the most challenging aspect of endometriosis. Cromeens et al, from the USA, published a review entitled “Timing, delays, and pathways to the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Adenomyosis, fertility, and obstetric outcomes
By Hale Goksever Celik
Adenomyosis is the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells within the myometrial wall. Although magnetic resonance imaging has a higher ability to discriminate and identify adenomyosis, transvaginal ultrasonography is a cheaper, more accessible, and practical method in daily clinical practice for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Analyses of the main classification systems of endometriosis in terms of utrasound, MRI and surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A hot research topic: macrophage reprogramming for endometriosis treatment
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Predictors for achieving pregnancy in patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Adenomyosis and endometriosis are benign conditions, however, both situations are associated with deterioration of life quality, a requirement of hospital administrations, and infertility. Laparoscopic surgery is the main treatment option especially for women who desire pregnancy. Shi and colleagues aimed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Retinol-binding protein in endometriosis pathogenesis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Jae Chul Lee and associates from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, have published the recent results of their research on endometriosis regarding the role of retinol-binding protein4…
Key Points Lay Summary
What causes distress in women with endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometriosis scar disruption may lead to "spontaneous hemorrhage in pregnancy" and can be life-threatening.
By Selma Oransay
Kollikonda et al from Cleveland Clinic Women's Health Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, US penned a case report about their hemoperitoneum experience during labor, which was recently published in the "Journal of Obstetrics and Gyneaecology Canada". The aim is to warn obstetricians…
Key Points Lay Summary
Low-Dose Aspirin as a Potential Treatment for Endometriosis-Related Infertility
By Özge Özkaya
Treatment with low-dose aspirin could downregulate progesterone resistance and increase the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) during the implantation window, according to a study that used a rat model of endometriosis. This, in turn, could improve endometrial receptivity and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis from the "EVOLUTIONARY" point of view
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Natalie Dinsdale and associates from the Canadian Simon Fraser University Department of Biological Sciences published a critical review titled “ The evolutionary biology of endometriosis” in a recent issue of the journal “Evolution, medicine and public health”. This review focuses…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Communication Gap Between Specialists for Endometriosis Diagnosis and Management
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometriosis alters women’s self-behavior
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis diagnosis is given to almost 15% of women of reproductive age. Although endometriosis could be asymptomatic, many women with endometriosis are faced with several symptoms including chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria, and infertility. The wide variability of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Postoperative infertility management using Endometriosis Fertility Index in endometriotic women
By Selma Oransay
"Endometriosis Fertility Index '' score, described by the World Endometriosis Society in 2017, is a robust score and assists to predict the spontaneous pregnancy rate of women with endometriosis, within 3 years after their operation. Its calculation is possible by patient…
Key Points Lay Summary
Progestin suppression for endometriosis before IVF
By Hale Goksever Celik
“Dienogest is a suitable and safe substitute for GnRHa pretreatment in endometriosis patients”, according to the Khalifa et al., from Egypt. Endometriosis is one of the leading reasons for infertility due to decreased oocyte/embryo quality, fertilizability, tubal function, and aberrant endometrial…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometrial epithelial stem/progenitor cells have links to endometriosis with potential therapeutic research aspects
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Cousins with colleagues from Australia and the USA published their review paper on a not well-known subject, the epithelial stem/progenitor cells of the endometrium. This interesting paper is recently published in the scientific journal named "Frontiers in Cell and Developmental…
Key Points Lay Summary
What Happens to Endometriosis Patients After Endometriosis Surgery?
By Özge Özkaya
Although few patients with endometriosis who undergo a hysterectomy need repeat surgery, up to 25% of them need minor surgery. Around 20% of patients who undergo conservative surgery with ovarian preservation require additional endometriosis surgery. Up to one in three…
Key Points Lay Summary
Optimal management of infertility in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
Pelvic pain and infertility are the main symptoms of endometriosis patients. Although the pathophysiological mechanism for infertility is not clearly understood, there are several theories explaining decreased fertility potential in women with endometriosis. Ata and Telek, from Koc and Istanbul Universities…
Key Points Lay Summary
Improvement of the quality of life after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis is the most severe form among the endometriosis types. The required laparoscopic approach is the appropriate excision of endometriotic foci from pelvis, by consideration of failure and side effects of the medical treatments. The specialist endometriosis centers…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative long-term estro-progestin therapy for endometrioma
By Selma Oransay
After the removal of ovarian endometriomas, the major concern is the high recurrence rate of symptoms and endometriotic cysts. The estimated recurrence rate of endometriomas is up to 50% at 5 years after surgery. To prevent the recurrence, postoperatively long-term…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative treatment and pregnancy points to decreased recurrence risk for ovarian endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis, ART, fertility preservation
By Selma Oransay
This review entitled "The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques: role of fertility preservation" was written by Necula et al. from Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, Biel, Switzerland, and recently published in the journal "Hormone, Molecular Biology and Clinical…
Key Points Lay Summary
Selected Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers May Help Identify Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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
The effects of endometriosis on life satisfaction.
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Endometrial receptivity after the removal of ovarian endometriotic cysts
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Mikhaleva and associates from the "Russian Research Institute of Human Morphology" published their results in “Reproductive Sciences” yielding their novel morphological findings of eutopic endometria in patients following surgical excision of endometriotic ovarian cysts. Current therapeutic measures are targeting to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Managing the physical and emotional effects of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Impaired fertility potential in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
Infertility is frequently encountered in endometriosis patients because of anatomic distortion, alterations in endometrial receptivity, diminished tubal peristalsis and sperm movements. Garcia-Fernandez and García-Velasco, from Edinburgh, UK and Madrid, Spain, published a mini-review titled “Endometriosis and Reproduction: What We Have…
Key Points Lay Summary
The improvement of fertility rate and symptoms of superficial endometriosis following laparoscopic peritoneal stripping
By Selma Oransay
Pain, in the form of diverse entities, including dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, is the main symptom of endometriosis patients. The severity of pain is independent of the extent and the location of the disease, and generally causes a negative impact on…
Key Points Lay Summary
Vitamin D supplementation, endometriosis symptoms and metabolic profiles
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The role of hormonal treatment after endometriosis surgery
By Bahar Yuksel
Postoperative hormonal suppression after endometriosis surgery still does not have a uniform approach. The meta-analysis study conducted by Zakhari et al. aimed to find a significant answer regarding this burden. They analyzed the database systems including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Live Birth Rate in Women Who Underwent Fresh Embryo Transfer Using Freshly Retrieved Donor Oocytes
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
What is the cause of Dienogest-resistance in patients with endometrioma?
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis may cause infertility in women, leading to adhesions in the pelvis, besides affecting the ovaries. Clinicians concern about the child-bearing desire of their patients when treating them surgically or with hormonal therapy. Dienogest (DNG) is a kind of progestin,…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Yu YuThe "metabolome" of follicular fluid in deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Yu Yu
Endometriosis encompasses three different phenotypes, being superficial endometriosis, deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and ovarian endometrioma (OMA). The latter is the most severe form and has an unfavorable impact on ovarian function. Infertility associated with endometriosis has been linked to chronic…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Irem OnurAnalysis of women with endometriosis-related pain before the multidisciplinary endometriosis care management
By Irem Onur
Endometriosis patients are generally treated by a single provider and they frequently report dissatisfaction with care. To decrease diagnostic delays, improve pain management, and promote patient satisfaction, multidisciplinary endometriosis centers emerged. But, baseline data assessing the efficacy of the multidisciplinary…
Key Points Lay Summary
High-dose progestin intake and sexual functions in endometriosis patients
By Selma Oransay
Dr. Oppenheimer et al. from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Preservation of Antoine Beclere University Hospital, Clamart, France, recently published this bi-center observational prospective study in "Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica". The study was designed to put forth…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Ellen TumimbangEndometriosis, Fatigue and Productivity
By Ellen Tumimbang
Fatigue is one of the prominent and distressing symptoms of endometriosis-associated with insomnia, depression, pain, occupational stress, and reduced health-related quality of life. Endometriosis-related fatigue causes significant impairments in workplace productivity and daily activities of women with endometriosis. Loss of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative pregnancy rate in infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is fibrous/muscular infiltration of organs and anatomical structures containing endometrial tissue below the peritoneum regardless of the depth of infiltration. Another definition describes DIE as infiltration of the peritoneum by endometriotic lesions deeper than 5 mm. Pain,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Insoluble Dilemma of Adenomyosis: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment - Errico Zupi, MD
By Selma Oransay
The prevalence of adenomyosis has been reported to range from 1% to 70% in different studies. This large range can be explained by the lack of standard diagnostic criteria by imaging modalities or pathological analyses. Sixty-five% of the women with adenomyosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Implantation failure in endometriosis patients - Jovana Lekovich, MD., PhD.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Limits of endometrioma surgery in infertility patients - Liselotte Mettler, MD, PhD
By Selma Oransay
The removal of endometrioma may affect ovarian reserve because healthy follicles near endometrioma could also be excised during this procedure. Another concern about the ovarian reserve is that it may be already low before the surgery. Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH)…
Key Points Lay Summary
In vitro fertilization protocols in endometriosis patients - Pinar Kodaman, MD., PhD.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Could Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Increase the Risk of Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometrioma size and anti-Müllerian hormone levels
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriotic lesions are encountered in different locations in the pelvic cavity, including but not limited to the ovaries, the pouch of Douglas, the ureters, the bladder, and the bowel. Cystic endometriosis lesions located in the ovary are called "endometrioma". Endometriomas have…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and chronic opioid use
By Selma Oransay
The members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have declared that gynecologists prescribe opioids after laparoscopic hysterectomy, or for relieving endometriosis pain, although guidelines are not available for when or how to use opioids for the treatment of endometriosis-associated…
Key Points Lay Summary
Reduced risk of "small for gestational age baby" following frozen embryo transfer in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
Infertility is encountered frequently in patients with endometriosis. These women could be managed using assisted reproductive technology (ART) including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve pregnancy. However, some adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes are experienced more…
Key Points Lay Summary
A pilot study for Endometriosis Potential biomarkers
By Ellen Tumimbang
Endometriosis is one of the most common female health disorders typically causing dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain, and may contribute to infertility. It is necessary to identify potential molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and regulatory factors behind the disease. The study…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Dr. Youngran ParkEndometriosis and Natural Killer Cell Immunity
By Dr. Youngran Park
It is known that approximately 25 to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30% to 50% of the women with endometriosis have infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Previous studies have shown that women suffering endometriosis have abnormal NK cell…
Key Points Lay Summary
Segmental bowel resection could be predicted using MRI in patients with rectal endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Assessment of Reproductive Health for Women With Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers in Iran developed a new and reliable patient-generated instrument to measure the reproductive health of women with endometriosis. Health providers as well as researchers can use the questionnaire to better understand the impact of the disease on women’s reproductive health…
Key Points Lay Summary
Psychometric properties of Endometriosis Health survey-Swedish version
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disease resulting in a broad spectrum of symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Additionally, gastrointestinal and urinary systems may be affected by this disease. All of these clinical findings impair…
Key Points Lay Summary
Stem cell and exosome therapy
By Dr. Youngran Park
These days, two experimental methods, stem cell, and exosome therapy are getting more attention. Stem cell therapy has shown promising effects in regenerative medicine, including myocardial infarction, nervous system impairment, retinal damage, and liver diseases. Recent studies showed that stem…
Key Points Lay Summary
The intensity of pelvic pain is higher in endometriosis patients
By Irem Onur
Silva J.B. et al., researchers from Brazil, conducted a case-control study to determine the intensity of clinical pain, the average body composition, and the anthropometric markers including the body mass index, the perimeters (waist, abdomen, hip), and the percentage of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Woof Woof – Bone marrow cells are coming
By Yu Yu
Bone marrow contains cells that can travel to multiple organ sites and differentiate into specific tissue cells. Bone marrow-derived stem cells have also been associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis. These cells can affect epithelial and stromal cell regeneration both…
Key Points Lay Summary
The more than expected prevalence of endometriosis in patients with Mullerian abnormalities
By Bahar Yuksel
Congenital müllerian anomalies resulting in a spectrum of uterine abnormalities are caused by the abnormal embryologic fusion of the müllerian ducts to form a normal uterine cavity. They are often unrecognized because they are usually asymptomatic. The presence of a uterine…
Key Points Lay Summary
Depression and anxiety levels in "in vitro fertilization" patients with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis-related obstetrical complications and their outcome
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Cellular communications: Exosomes in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Exosomes have been reported as cell-to-cell communicators, transfer many molecules such as miRNAs, RNAs, and proteins, and their alteration may cause many disease processes, including endometriosis. Considering the role of exosomes and their cargos in a cell to cell communication as important…
Key Points Lay Summary
Predictors of voiding dysfunction after surgery for deep endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
While surgery for deep endometriosis provides relief and improves the quality of life in symptomatic patients for whom medical therapy has limited effect, it may also create postoperative lower urinary tract dysfunction. Moreover, postoperative voiding dysfunction could affect the quality…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Timur SeckinFactors affecting the quality of life of women with endometriosis
By Timur Seckin
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 Summary
Deep Endometriosis or Recto-uterine Obliteration Without Endometrioma
By Selma Oransay
The diagnostic help of ultrasound is increasing by its ability to diagnose deep infiltrating and rectouterine pouch obliteration in patients who are suffering from chronic pelvic pain. Clinicians are used to evaluating the rectal and parametrial areas of the endometriotic…
Key Points Lay Summary
The advantages of combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach on voiding dysfunction for rectovaginal endometriosis
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Inhibiting killer on the move
By Yu Yu
The three main forms of endometriosis are superficial, ovarian, and deep endometriosis. The latter is defined by the presence of endometriotic nodules that are deeper than 5 mm. Deep endometriosis is considered the most aggressive and is associated with severe…
Key Points Lay Summary
The impact of laser vaporization on reproductive outcomes in women with endometrioma
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Progesterone Receptors and Endometriosis.
By Ellen Tumimbang
Endometriosis is characterized as a chronic and inflammatory disease in which the specific cause has not been completely understood. Nonetheless, altered estrogen signaling and progesterone resistance are the common attributes of endometriosis. Progesterone resistance is partly attributed to a decrease…
Key Points Lay Summary
Immune cells and endometriosis pain
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder in women. This disease leads to dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and infertility. The immune reaction is one of the most widely accepted pathologies of endometriosis. Estrogen dysfunction stimulates immune cells in the peritoneal cavity affecting…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis prevalence among adolescents with pelvic pain
By Irem Onur
An updated review conducted by the investigators at EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, United Kingdom, in collaboration with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Foundation Trust of the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research at the University of Birmingham…
Key Points Lay Summary
Reproductive capacity and recurrence rate after surgery for Stage III/IV endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Early maternal separation and endometriosis progression in adult mice
By Hale Goksever Celik
The quality of life in the women affected by endometriosis depends on the symptoms and signs of endometriosis such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Although several studies have been performed to investigate the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism, it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is Endometriosis More Common Among Women of Certain Race/Ethnicity?
By Özge Özkaya
Race/ethnicity seems to have an influence on the prevalence of endometriosis with black women appearing to be less likely to be diagnosed with the disease compared to white women. However, other factors such as access and response to treatment may…
Key Points Lay Summary
Hysterectomy as a choise of chronic pelvic pain relief in endometriotic women.
By Selma Oransay
Sandstrom et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Umea University, Sweden, found a significant and long-lasting reduction in pain symptoms after hysterectomy among women with confirmed endometriosis and recently published their results in "BJOG". The authors performed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Cabergoline or Progesterone not Effective in Rat Model of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Adolescent dysmenorrhea diagnosis and management
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. However, recent literature proved that clinical symptoms of endometriosis are also seen the adolescent girls and young women. Dysmenorrhea, the most common gynecologic complaint among this age group, can develop due to endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Nadire DuruBone morphogenetic protein and endometriosis
By Nadire Duru
Endometriosis is a chronic 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. Although endometriosis is categorized as a benign lesion, the ectopic endometrial…
Key Points Lay Summary
International experts commentary for assisted fertility treatment facilities amidst COVID-19
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
A multinational and multi-institutional commentary led by Dr. Alviggi from Italy and Dr.Esteves from Brazil has addressed important issues on assisted reproductive technology treatment amid COVID-19 lockdown suggesting remedies in the journal of "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology" May 2020 issue.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Racial and ethnic disparities and women health
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Menstrual Blood Proteins for Endometriosis Diagnosis
By Ellen Tumimbang
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder characterized by endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The backflow of menstrual blood from the uterus through the fallopian tubes is thought to be the cause of endometrial tissue growing outside the uterine cavity when…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is oocyte cryopreservation useful for fertility preservation in ovarian endometriosis?
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Endometriosis surgery and future pregnancy complications
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis is one of the known diseases for infertility in the reproductive period of women. Several studies revealed that endometriosis itself maybe the reason for some unfavorable obstetric outcomes. Localization, the type of endometriotic lesions, and the stage of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Neglected needs of endometriosis and infertility patients during COVID-19 pandemic
By Timur Seckin
With the global outbreak of the COVID-19, hospitals canceled surgeries and people are afraid of going to hospitals. However, chronic diseases still need to be managed. Rowe H. and Quinlivan J., researchers from Australia, pointed out the neglected needs of…
Key Points Lay Summary
White blood cell neutrophils link to immunosuppressive environment in ovarian endometrioma
By Yu Yu
Recently the contribution of neutrophils to the pathogenesis of endometriosis has been suggested. Several observations fuelled this suggestion, such as the accumulation of neutrophils in the peritoneal fluid of ovarian endometriosis; neutrophil extracellular traps were found in the peritoneal fluid of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Laparoscopic surgery for COVID-19 positive patients: A Dilemma
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Resveratrol for infertility: A frenemy?
By Selma Oransay
Ovarian aging is defined by an age-specific decline of the functional ovarian reserve. Female ovarian reserve declines progressively with increasing chronological age. Chronic damage by reactive oxygen species results in deterioration and aging through mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening, cohesion dysfunction,…
Key Points Lay Summary
miR-92a and progesterone resistance in endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. This incidence of this disease is 35% to 50% among those who suffer from chronic pelvic pain and infertility, which has a negative effect on the quality of life and on health. Recent genome-wide associations…
Key Points Lay Summary
Are endometriosis patients at higher risk of bipolar disorder?
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Maternal body mass index and neonatal outcomes in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Its prevalence is 10-15% in the general population of this age. However, endometriosis is diagnosed more frequently in infertile women with a prevalence of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Hysterolaparoscopy Plus Assisted Reproduction Improves Fertility in Women with Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Hysteroscopy and laparoscopic surgery is an effective and reliable therapeutic procedure, confirmed a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Medicine". The approach is even more effective when combined with assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination and in vitro…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Yohan SuryoSteroid hormone receptors in endometriosis
By Yohan Suryo
Therapeutics that target the steroid hormones are the standard treatment for women with endometriosis because steroid hormones play an important role in endometrial physiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis. Examples of these therapeutics include anti-estrogens, estrogen receptor (ER) modulators, progestins, and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Recurrence following surgery for subtypes of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a disease identified by the location of endometrial stromal and glandular cells outside the uterine cavity. It is considered as a gynecological disease of reproductive-aged women. Three subtypes of endometriosis are peritoneal endometriosis which defines the endometriotic lesions…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fertility conservation in women with endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women in their reproductive period and almost half of them may need Assisted Reproductive techniques to conceive. Moreover, increased malignancy risk is threatening the women with severe endometriosis in addition to their decreased ovarian reserve. Due…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fertility preservation protocols in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Infertility is one of the major symptoms in women with endometriosis. Childbearing at a delayed age is preferred by the majority of women recently who consult for the demand for fertility preservation procedures. There are several techniques for fertility preservation…
Key Points Lay Summary
Urgent Need For Building Resilience
By Timur Seckin
According to Naeem et al.’s article, “Coping with Covid”, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the ideal intervention tool to increase resilience. Their study has recently been published in "Kyber Medical University Journal". The authors investigate the psychological impact of the Covid-19…
Key Points Lay Summary
Early Life Factors for Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women. Despite the significant impact, the etiology of endometriosis is still unclear. A recent systematic review of 15 studies of adolescents found that overall 65% of girls undergoing laparoscopic investigation were diagnosed with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Long-term Pregnancy Results after Surgical Removal of Endometrioma
By Irem Onur
Sun et al., from China, investigated the pregnancy outcomes and the related factors in patients with endometrioma and stage III-IV endometriosis along with a long-term follow-up postoperatively. Their study has recently been published in the journal named "Advances in Therapy".…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Relationship Between Dyspareunia and Infertility in Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Does Getting Pregnant Really Help When You Have Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
Pregnancy has a favorable impact on the volume of deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions according to a study published in the scientific journal "PLoS One". This is the first study that demonstrates such a favorable impact of pregnancy on endometriosis lesion…
Key Points Lay Summary
The predictive factors for early spontaneous miscarriage in IVF/ICSI cycles
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Regulation of Inflammation in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent and multifaceted gynecological condition. Unfortunately, this disease frequently causes chronic and cyclic pelvic pain. Though there are several treatments are available, there is not an actual cure for this disease. Therefore, the development of new therapy…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Demet Candaş GreenHow well do providers understand endometriosis?
By Demet Candaş Green
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 Summary
Primary care physicians have a crucial role in the early diagnosis of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Integrated bioinformatic analysis for endometriosis diagnosis
By Nadire Duru
Endometriosis is considered as a non-malignant disease, but it is associated with several unfavorable conditions including non‑menstrual pelvic pain and infertility. Surgical resection and hormone suppression are common means of treatments; however, several side-effects and the recurrence are not preventable.…
Key Points Lay Summary
The role of acidic ribosomal protein P1 in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. The disease develops and composed of the ectopic endometrial-like tissue which establishes primarily in the pelvic cavity. Previous findings clearly show that estrogen-related factors are critical for endometriosis development and progression. However, we do have…
Key Points Lay Summary
The prevalence and severity of endometriosis today
By Irem Onur
Ghiasi M. et al., a group of researchers from the USA, presented a comprehensive review of the prevalence, incidence, and stage of endometriosis worldwide as reported over the past 30 years. Researchers performed a search in four databases, including PubMed,…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between endometriosis and ectopic pregnancy
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a broad spectrum of symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and fertility problems. It has been understood in the light of scientific evidence that endometriosis is also associated with other poor…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis signaling: the role of IL-34
By Yu Yu
An increasing number of studies have suggested that the pathogenesis of endometriosis is mediated by cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)−17, which promoted the formation and progression of endometriosis by up-regulating angiogenesis and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. IL-34 is a newly described…
Key Points Lay Summary
How to design patient-centered interventions to meet the needs of endometriosis patients
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
When to do - and when not to do surgery for endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. It was estimated to affect about 176 million women in the world and usually causes pelvic pain and infertility. Unfortunately, the current understanding of this disease is very limited. Though there are many remaining questions,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Surgery and the endometriosis associated-pain: A systematic review
By Selma Oransay
The surgical approach for pelvic pain-related to endometriosis depends on the stage and the type of the endometriotic lesion and ranging from ablation and the excision of the lesions to radical surgery as hysterectomy with removal of ovaries and presacral…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is deep infiltrating rectosigmoid endometriosis a progressive disease?
By Demet Candaş Green
This study by Netter at al., published in "Human Reproduction" in November 2019 aimed to assess the risk of progression of deep endometriotic nodules infiltrating the rectosigmoid and to evaluate the influence of continuous amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation) on the development…
Key Points Lay Summary
Risk of placenta previa is elevated in endometriotic women who underwent surgery.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Regret assessment in women under 35 years who underwent hysterectomy
By Hale Goksever Celik
Hysterectomy is the most common gynecological operation in women for the management of benign or malign indications. Leiomyomas, menorrhagia, endometriosis, and pain unresponsive to medical treatment can be accepted as the most common indications for hysterectomy. However, hysterectomy, as the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis features vs Patient age
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis, a common gynecological disease, has significant negative impacts on patients’ daily life. Especially in younger women who have yet to achieve pregnancy, effective management should consider the disease progression. Though it is still under debate, some people suggest that…
Key Points Lay Summary
Cloverleaf Sign: A new MRI sign for diagnosing DIE
By Selma Oransay
Magnetic resonance imaging provides accurate information for the staging of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, especially when the patient is virgin, obese or has limited transvaginal examinations due to pelvic pain. In this recently published study in Investive Radiology, Harma et al.…
Key Points Lay Summary
How Best to Assess Productivity at Work Among Women with Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
The health-related productivity questionnaire (HRPQ) is a valid tool to evaluate patient-reported productivity at work and at home among women with endometriosis found a study by U.S. researchers. This finding is important because it shows that HRPQ can be used…
Key Points Lay Summary
A new target for the treatment of endometriosis?
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis affects around 10% of women in reproductive age, estimating more than 176 million women worldwide. Inflammation in the pelvic cavity is very common in endometriosis patients. Therefore, there are high concentrations of cytokines and immune cells in the peritoneal…
Key Points Lay Summary
M1 and M2 macrophages in ovarian endometriomas
By Yu Yu
Macrophages play an essential role in the immune response during inflammation and have been implicated in diseases such as inflammatory conditions and cancers. Broadly, macrophages are classified into M1 and M2. The M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory, and in contrast, the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Increased obstetrical complications after ART therapy in endometriosis patients.
By Selma Oransay
To examine the impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis on ART therapy, Harada et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Tottori University, Japan, planned a prospective cohort study and published their results recently in PLoS One. The study…
Key Points Lay Summary
Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels for predicting spontaneous pregnancy after endometriosis surgery
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. Although there are several medical and surgical therapeutic options, the most effective treatment modality has not yet been elucidated. The main…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis as an epigenetically regulated disease
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is defined as the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. It affects about 10% of reproductive age women resulting in severe pain and infertility. Among various theories of endometriosis pathogenesis, not a single one has successfully…
Key Points Lay Summary
Consquences of endometriosis in menopausal period.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
New Protein for Endometriosis Diagnosis
By Özge Özkaya
A protein called TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3) could be used for the diagnosis and prognosis (likely course) of endometriosis. The early diagnosis of endometriosis is of paramount importance because it can help to diagnosis and thus initiate the right…
Key Points Lay Summary
How does pregnancy affect endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is the localization of endometrial stromal and glandular cells outside the uterine cavity. Pregnancy is offered as a treatment option for patients with endometriosis because it causes atrophy of endometrial cells similar to progesterone treatment. Progesterone predominance during pregnancy,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and the quality of life
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Melatonin receptors and their role in endometrial cell proliferation
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis demand therapy for the most common symptoms, which are pelvic pain and infertility. Despite extensive research, the exact pathophysiological mechanism and the optimal management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Management of endometriosis should aim to relieve pain,…
Key Points Lay Summary
The accuracy of "lower endoscopic ultrasound" for the preoperative diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis affects reproductive-aged women most frequently with a prevalence of 5% to 15%. If the endometriotic lesions involve the bowel especially sigmoid colon and rectum, this subtype of endometriosis is named as "bowel" or "rectosigmoid" endometriosis. Rectosigmoid endometriosis is encountered in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pregnancy with endometriosis
By Demet Candaş Green
Current literature suggests that complications of endometriosis during pregnancy are rare; however, a non-negligible increase in the likelihood of placenta accreta (placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall), preterm birth, and cesarean delivery has been reported. With the increase…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Deniz KocasPrescription Opioid Use in Women With Endometriosis
By Deniz Kocas
In this study, researchers examined opioid use, opioid prescribing patterns, and timing of the first opioid prescription in endometriosis patients compared with matched women in the control group without endometriosis. A retrospective analysis of Optum Clinformatics Data Mart was conducted.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Infertility in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The Effect of Imbalanced Progesterone Receptors-A/B on Gelatinase Expressions in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is a benign disease which affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women and is one of the most common reasons for infertility. Though the underlying mechanisms of disease progression have not been clearly understood, it develops as a consequence of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Health care resource utilization and cost in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Importance of monocytic myeloid derived supressor cells in endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells MDSCs are immature myeloid cells that play a major role in immunosuppression in various disease processes. Ya Sun and associates have investigated these cells in endometriosis utilizing various laboratory methods. published their results in the "American Journal of…
Key Points Lay Summary
"Endometriosis", "Fibromyalgia" and "Autoimmune diseases"
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Seven Hormonal Biomarkers for Diagnosing Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition characterized by implantation and invasive growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Although it is benign, endometriosis has cancer-like features, a mutation profile similar to that of ovarian cancer, and increased ovarian cancer risk.…
Key Points Lay Summary
The link between autoimmunity and endometriosis
By Yu Yu
A popular model to explain the etiology of endometriosis is Sampson’s theory of retrograde menstruation. In this model, the viable endometrial tissue is spread and attached to the peritoneal cavity through the fallopian tubes during menstruation, resulting in an inflammatory…
Key Points Lay Summary
Searching new biomarkers for endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
This recent article published in Advances in Clinical Chemistry, is an overall summary of characteristics, physiopathological theories, diagnostic approaches and variety of biomarkers to diagnose endometriosis and penned by Coutinho et al. from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Belo Horizonte,…
Key Points Lay Summary
The reason for lower BMI and less body fat in women with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Zolbin et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA, recently published the results of their prospective controlled research on adipocyte alterations in endometriosis, in the journal "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology". Endometriosis can…
Key Points Lay Summary
Behavioral Symptoms in an Animal Model of Endometriosis
By Yu Yu
Recent studies suggest that there is a relationship between endometriosis and some behavioral symptoms. Prolonged pelvic pain and the other endometriosis symptoms can often affect psychological and social functioning, resulting in issues with social relationships, sexuality, and even mental health.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Proposed algorithm for a clinical diagnosis of endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
This recently published article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology is about the challenge of diagnosing endometriosis, its impact on women's daily life and authored by Agarwal et al. from The University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. Authors called attention…
Key Points Lay Summary
The postoperative functional outcomes of deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
A new trial to reduce the failure of IVF/ICS protocols in severe endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis and nuclear receptors
By Dr. Youngran Park
It is well recognized that endometriosis is a steroid-dependent disorder. In endometrial stromal cells, progesterone regulates retinoic acid production and action. Retinoids also act via a number of nuclear receptors (NRs) and are involved in normal endometrial function and endometriosis. Estrogen…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ovarian stimulation regimes: Concerns on progression or recurrence of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Somigliana et al., from the University of Milan, Italy, performed a literature review to predict the endometriosis-enhancing effect of ART regimes on infertile women and reported their results in Reproductive Biomedicine Online. Their points of interest were increasing dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-menstrual pain and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preoperative factors to predict unresponsiveness in women undergoing endometriosis surgery
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Nutraceuticals may help for endometriosis pain
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Estrogen Receptor Signaling and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Factors Affecting Women’s Choices to Enter Clinical Trials
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Immunologic Disorder in the Progression of Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis becomes increasingly a health-social problem. However, definite diagnostic biomarkers and more effective treatments for endometriosis are still missing to this day. Many researchers focus on the peritoneal microenvironment of patients with endometriosis, especially the immunological microenvironment. Recently, Jørgensen et…
Key Points Lay Summary
The miscarriage rate in women with endometriosis undergoing IVF fresh cycles
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
A link between endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Which comes first in endometriosis management: In vitro fertilization or surgery?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence is found to be 7%–10%, but among infertile women, it increases up to 50%. Early diagnosis and personalized management are important to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometrioma, Fertility, and Assisted Reproduction
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis can negatively impact a woman’s health and quality of life. Surgery has been considered the primary treatment to overcome infertility in cases of ovarian endometrioma. Patients struggling with endometriosis often pursue assisted reproductive technologies (ART) due to fertility issues.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Assistive Reproduction a Suitable Option for the Treatment of Endometriosis-Associated Infertility
By Özge Özkaya
Assistive reproductive techniques do not lead to a worsening in quality of life and only cause a slight worsening of pelvic pain, according to a study published in the scientific journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. This is the case…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between the development of endometriosis and dietary habits
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a chronic disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence is found to be approximately 10% in the general population. Endometriosis is associated with infertility, pelvic pain, and increased…
Key Points Lay Summary
Bowel endometriosis: What you need to know
By Demet Candaş Green
When the endometrial tissue infiltrates the intestinal walls and reaches inside the intestines, this condition is called "bowel endometriosis". It is estimated that between 3.8% and 37% of women with endometriosis are affected by bowel endometriosis. The endometriosis lesions infiltrating…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Mistletoe as a Potential Candidate for Endometriosis Treatment
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis, one of the common benign gynecologic disorders, is defined as the ectopic presence of endometrial cells outside of the uterine cavity. Although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, the most accepted hypothesis is that endometrial cells pass through…
Key Points Lay Summary
Surgical techniques for rectosigmoid endometriosis, and functional outcomes
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
By Murat OsmanDevelopment of Less Invasive Diagnostic Tests for Endometriosis Through Proteomics
By Murat Osman
Proteomics is a field which utilizes various methods to carry out large-scale studies of proteins. Due to the inherent nature of the field, proteomics focuses on the identification, localization, and functional analysis of the protein make-up of a given type…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is the mystery for progression of endometriosis hiding out in abnormally located endometrial cells?
By Selma Oransay
This prospective study was conducted by Hapangama et al. in Research İnstute of the University of Liverpool, UK, and the results have recently published in the Journal of Human Reproduction. The authors hypothesized that abnormally located endometrial basalis-like (SSEA1/nSOX9+)cells could be contributing to…
Key Points Lay Summary
The role of circulating microRNA's in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. This disease affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women and 20% to 50% of infertile women. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is an essential transcriptional regulator coordinately regulating multiple genes involved in estrogen biosynthesis. SF-1 is known…
Key Points Lay Summary
Factors related to delay in endometriosis diagnosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Moniek van der Zanden, a gynecologist from Netherlands has recently made a nationwide survey on the impact of key recommendations of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines on endometriosis and aimed to assess factors influencing diagnostic delay of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Lipophilic Statins inhibit growth and invasiveness of human endometrial cells
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis is a disease process whereby cells of the endometrium grow and invade structures outside of the uterus. Through recent research, it has been seen that endometriotic foci in women with endometriosis exhibit an altered phenotype that contributes to its…
Key Points Lay Summary
What clinicians know about adenomyosis? Any association with severe endometriosis?
By Selma Oransay
Dior et al. from the Royal Women's Hospital in Parkville, Australia, designed a prospective study to assess the association between severity of endometriosis and sonographic evidence of adenomyosis (SEOA) in their recently published article appearing in The Journal of Minimally…
Key Points Lay Summary
Anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of "Quercetin" on endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
Quercetin is a major flavonol that is mainly derived from capers and involves a daily consumption of approximately 25–50 mg through various vegetables. In recent studies, Quercetin is reported as a functional compound in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This compound…
Key Points Lay Summary
Not True That Women With Endometriosis Can’t Conceive
By Özge Özkaya
The common assertion that women with endometriosis are unlikely to conceive is countered by a new study published in The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care. This finding supports the need for healthcare and information to address all…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Serdar BalciProgesterone Receptor Status in Endometriosis
By Serdar Balci
Some patients do not respond to progesterone hormone therapy. In this study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the authors led by Hugh S. Taylor from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences from Yale…
Key Points Lay Summary
Programmed-cell death pathway and immune dysfunction in endometriosis
By Irem Onur
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, immune-associated disease. Women with endometriosis have different proportions of the activated forms of immunocompetent cells, such as T cells and macrophages compared to those from women without. Immune cell dysfunction in the uterine and abdominal cavity…
Key Points Lay Summary
How to predict natural conception in women underwent endometriosis surgery?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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, and infertility. The prevalence of endometriosis increases in the infertile population. Thus, the important…
Key Points Lay Summary
An overlooked symptom of endometriosis: Fatigue
By Timur Seckin
A majority of endometriosis patients experience fatigue. This is according to a multicenter study conducted by a group of researchers from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Fatigue, and feeling spoonie, may be a symptom of endometriosis affecting the daily activities and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is Physical Exercise Effective in Endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The diagnosis and management of endometriosis in Korea
By Selma Oransay
The Korean Society of Endometriosis has scrutinized the present published literature of endometriosis in the domestic and international platform to provide new guidelines and the clinical management of the disease. The study was recently published in the journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Kasthuri NairAutophagy, proteolysis and Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
Sui et al., a group of researchers from the Qiqihar Medical University and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, recently published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. The piece titled “Expression and significance of autophagy genes LC3, Beclin1 and MMP-2 in endometriosis”…
Key Points Lay Summary
Best endometriosis articles of the past year.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Programmed cell death 4 suppresses endometriosis by inhibiting autophagy and NF-κB/MMP2/MMP9 signal pathway
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is a kind of benign disease but shares many similar features with cancers, such as abnormal cell migration, invasion, and unrestrained growth. It has been known that some genes are expressed differentially in eutopic endometrium of EM patients compared…
Key Points Lay Summary
How Ovarian Endometriomas and DIE affect ART outcomes
By Murat Osman
Previous studies have evaluated the impact of an ovarian endometrioma on ovarian reserve and its impact on the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes have controversial results. ART is a method by which a woman’s own hormones are used…
Key Points Lay Summary
Will Getting Pregnant Make My Pain Go Away?
By Özge Özkaya
Pregnancy can relieve the symptoms of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. However, for most women, the pain usually returns like in the case of hormonal therapy. This…
Key Points Lay Summary
Maternal and fetal outcomes in women with endometriosis : A review and meta-analysis
By Selma Oransay
Lalani et al from Dept. of Obstet. and Gynecol. , University of Ottowa, Canada, recently published this systemic review and meta-analysis of observational studies in the Journal of Human Reproduction, aimed to present the difference in the maternal and fetal…
Key Points Lay Summary
Non-assisted reproductive technology treatment: Is it effective in infertile patients with advanced endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
The marriage and childbearing ages delay due to the life-style changes in developed countries. As a result, advanced age becomes a major concern in infertility treatments which consist of non-ART and ART modalities. Non-ART treatments include mild ovarian stimulation together…
Key Points Lay Summary
PROPOFOL: a new combat for endometriosis?
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Quality of life for women with endometriosis
By Irem Onur
Endometriosis symptoms may cause difficulties in daily activities and social life, altering general health and personal relationships and severely decrease the quality of life. Yoldemir T. evaluates the factors affecting the quality of life in endometriosis patients and the management strategies in…
Key Points Lay Summary
How to preserve fertility in women with “ovarian endometriosis”?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Although there are many treatment modalities in endometriosis, optimal treatment has not been developed yet. The aim of the treatment is to reduce pain, to preserve and improve fertility and to delay recurrence. Ovarian ischemic and perfusion damage during endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Shedding light on the fertility preservation debate in women with endometriosis: a swot analysis.
By Deniz Kocas
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 Summary
Cosmetics and some household products could be responsible for worsening endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
A controlled clinical study recently published in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, composed by Nazir et al. from the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. The study compared the blood diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) levels of fifty infertile women laparoscopically diagnosed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Transvaginal ultrasound for "rectosigmoid endometriosis" diagnosis: Is bowel preparation necessary?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Rectosigmoid endometriosis is a severe form of deep endometriosis. Women having rectosigmoid endometriosis present with pain and several intestinal complains such as constipation, diarrhea, intestinal cramping, abdominal bloating, feeling of incomplete evacuation, the passage of mucus and rectal bleeding during…
Key Points Lay Summary
IVF Is the Best Option to Become Pregnant for Women with Severe Endometriosis, or Is It Not?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometriosis in adolescents
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
A Balancing Act: How Endometriosis Invades the Body
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis is a disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. Ectopic endometrial tissues have been shown to have some features that mimic malignancy. For example, endometriosis can invade surrounding structures and attach to surfaces such…
Key Points Lay Summary
The vaginal delivery rate of singleton term pregnancies still remains the same after total deep infiltrating endometrosis excisions
By Selma Oransay
This recently published report in the Journal of Fertility Sterility is planned as a matched case-control study, by Nirgianakanis et al. from the University of Bern, Switzerland. Authors claimed their study is the first because previous studies on pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic…
Key Points Lay Summary
Prior endometriosis surgery and the risk of pregnancy complications
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
GnRH Analogues Not Beneficial For Superovulation and Intrauterine Insemination
By Kasthuri Nair
Bansal et al, a group of authors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, recently published a paper titled “The Role of GnRH Analogues in Improving Outcome in Women Undergoing Superovulation and Intrauterine Insemination after Surgical Correction of Mild…
Key Points Lay Summary
Impact of coping strategies on quality of life of adolescents and young women with endometriosis.
By Deniz Kocas
González-Echevarría et al. report in J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. that symptoms caused by endometriosis have been found to be associated with negative quality of life (QoL) in women with endometriosis and the type of coping strategies adopted by patients have been shown…
Key Points Lay Summary
Could the Sleep Hormone Treat Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
Melatonin blocks cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in both normal and endometriotic epithelial cells, according to a study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. Melatonin could, therefore, be a potential treatment for endometriosis The formation and progression…
Key Points Lay Summary
Adrenomedullin: The Pervasive Peptide
By Kasthuri Nair
Dr. Aboulghar, from the Cairo University, recently penned an article titled “Role of adrenomedullin in reproduction and endometriosis” that was published in Fertility and Sterility. This article looks at the function of Adrenomedullin (AM) in pregnancy and endometriosis and it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Development: Pathogenesis and genomics
By Selma Oransay
In this review recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Baranow et al from Saint Petersburg, Russia, hypothesize the existence of an endometriosis development genetic program (EMDP) that governs the origin of endometrium stem cells programmed for endometriosis; their transition…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between endometriosis, adenomyosis and preterm delivery
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are diseases of the same spectrum which have common features and coexist in some but not all patients. Both diseases are characterized by endometrial implants outside of the uterine cavity. Endometriosis is defined as the localization of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Polymorphism of IL12B May Help Solve Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
Zhao et al. recently published a paper titled “A functional promoter polymorphism in interleukin 12B gene is associated with an increased risk of ovarian endometriosis” in Gene. The research group from Hebei Medical University wanted to explore the potential roles…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pain catastrophizing, perceived injustice, and pain intensity impair life satisfaction
By Deniz Kocas
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 Summary
Is there a definitive guideline for the surgical management of endometriosis?
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Unfortunately, endometriosis continues to be a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age. This article titled,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Predictors of psychological distress
By Deniz Kocas
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 Summary
Key to Understanding Ovarian Endometriosis may lay in the Peptides
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
Oral Contraceptives and Low-Cost Progestins to Reduce Endometriosis-Associated Pain
By Özge Özkaya
Most women with endometriosis-associated pain did not feel the need to use expensive progestin or undergo surgery. Instead, they were satisfied with a low-cost progestin to treat their symptoms. This is according to a study published in the journal Fertility…
Key Points Lay Summary
Effectiveness of the Endometriosis Symptom Diary
By Kasthuri Nair
Seitz et al., a research group from Bayer AG and the University of Giessen, recently published an article titled “Patterns of missing data in the use of the endometriosis symptom diary” in BMC Women's Health. The authors were analyzing data…
Key Points Lay Summary
Elevated levels of adrenomedullin in eutopic endometrium and plasma from women with endometriosis.
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the eutopic endometrium, commonly in the peritoneum of the pelvis and in pelvic organs, and often causing scarring and pain. The nonspecific nature of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Altered Immunity in Endometriosis
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
Ambiguous experience: Destructive or Constructive
By Deniz Kocas
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 Summary
Will my Endometriosis Respond to Hormone Therapy?
By Özge Özkaya
Every woman has a different set of hormone receptors in the lining of their uterus. Yet, hormone-based therapies that are used to treat women with endometriosis do not take into consideration these differences among patients. Analyzing, which particular hormone receptors…
Key Points Lay Summary
How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Our Understanding of the Genes Associated with Endometriosis.
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the development of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. A number of studies have shown that endometriosis could have a genetic basis and numerous genes have been studied and proposed to help explain its pathogenesis.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Animal models of endometriosis
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
Therapeutic strategies involving uterine stem cells in reproductive medicine
By Murat Osman
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that often serve to regenerate tissue in states of injury or apoptosis. The endometrium has progenitor cells that replace tissue lost after each menstrual cycle. It has been postulated that excessive stem cell recruitment to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Non-coding RNAs in endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
The pathophysiological mechanisms causing the development of endometriosis, which is a heterogeneous disease remain enigmatic, and a lack of effective biomarkers necessitates surgical intervention for diagnosis. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules, which are important regulators of cellular function, have been implicated…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is the Endometriosis Fertility Index Reliable?
By Kasthuri Nair
Zhang et al. recently published a paper titled “Prediction of Endometriosis Fertility Index in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility after laparoscopic treatment” in Reproductive BioMedicine Online. The research group from the West China Second University Hospital in Sichuan University wanted to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Could Endometriosis Be Caused by Bacteria?
By Özge Özkaya
A new concept called the bacterial contamination hypothesis in endometriosis has been proposed for the first time by researchers in Japan. This means that new potential therapies approaches could exist for this condition in addition to the conventional estrogen-suppressing therapies.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Extending the Female Fertility Clock
By Kasthuri Nair
Varela, Sanchez-de-Puerta, and Garcia-Velasco are a group of scientists from various institutions in Spain and they recently published a review article titled “Fertility, IVF and reproductive genetics” in Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In this publication, the authors discussed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Increasing IVF Success Rates
By Özge Özkaya
DuoStim or double ovarian stimulation is the most promising approach to increase the number of eggs collected to be used in IVF, according to a review article published in the journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Pain and infertility…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis surgery and preservation of fertility, what surgeons should know
By Murat Osman
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 Summary
Stem cell therapy for the premature ovarian failure
By Dr. Youngran Park
Premature ovarian failure (POF) is one of the common disorders found in women. The cause of POF is not fully known, but various factors have been suggested. In genetically, X and autosomes chromosome abnormalities could result in some POF. The…
Key Points Lay Summary
Most Effective Embryo Transfer Strategy
By Kasthuri Nair
Bourdon et al., a group of scientists mainly from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, recently published a paper in PLOS ONE titled “The deferred embryo transfer strategy improves cumulative pregnancy rates in endometriosis-related infertility: A retrospective matched cohort study.” This study…
Key Points Lay Summary
Reproductive delay and social egg freezing
By Yu Yu
The data collected from Office for National Statistics in England and Wales has suggested a major shift in the timing of motherhood. In the mid-1970s, the average age of motherhood was 26.4 years of age to, while in 2016, it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis From an Epigenetic Lens
By Kasthuri Nair
Samadieh et al. from the Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, recently published an article in Reproductive Sciences titled “Epigenetic Dynamics of HOXA10 Gene in Infertile Women With Endometriosis.” In this paper, the researchers wanted to observe HOXA10 gene expression in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Treatment of Endometriosis in Adolescents
By Özge Özkaya
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
Endometrial stem cells and Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
An Unusual Case "Free Floating Omental Endometrioma"
By Kasthuri Nair
Capaccione et al. published an article in Radiology Case Reports titled “Massive endometrioma presenting with dyspnea and abdominal symptoms.” This publication is centered around a particularly unique case report of a woman who was ultimately diagnosed with endometriosis. The patient…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Chance of Getting Pregnant of a Woman with Endometriosis May Soon Be Predictable
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers have found a new way of predicting whether or not an embryo will be able to successfully implant into the womb of a woman with endometriosis. These findings could make it possible to predict whether she is likely to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ectopic Pregnancy Risk Factors
By Kasthuri Nair
Jacob, Kalder, and Kostev recently published an article titled “Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Germany: a retrospective study of 100,197 patients” in German Medical Science. The retrospective German study hoped to elucidate the risk factors for ectopic pregnancies. The…
Key Points Lay Summary
Potential New Target to Treat Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
Special cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) could be playing a role in the development of endometriosis, suggests a study published in the European Journal of Immunology. These cells could, therefore, be targeted by novel therapeutic agents to treat endometriosis. …
Key Points Lay Summary
Blood vessels formation in endometriosis
By Yu Yu
The endometrium undergoes dynamic changes during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen-driven angiogenesis is associated with the proliferative phase, and progesterone-driven vascular maturation occurs in the secretory phase. Hence, it is reasonable that the vascularization of endometriosis is also under complex regulation…
Key Points Lay Summary
Can Getting Pregnant Make my Pain Go Away?
By Özge Özkaya
The association between pregnancy and symptoms of endometriosis are controversial and strongly biased, and there is no evidence suggesting that pregnancy reduces the size and number of endometriotic lesions, according to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction Update.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Switching to a Low-Cost Progestin May Help Reduce Endo Pain When Oral Contraceptives Won’t Work
By Özge Özkaya
The majority of women with endometriosis-associated pain were satisfied to have switched to a treatment with norethisterone acetate or NETA, a synthetic, orally active progestin, when their oral contraceptive was ineffective, found a study published in the journal Reproductive Sciences.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis “Changes” the Brain
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis changes the electrical properties of the brain as well as gene expression, according to a study by Yale researchers. These changes increase sensitivity to pain, anxiety, and depression. “While medications can be used to treat endometriosis directly, the effects…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of anti-rheumatic drugs on endometriosis therapeutic outcomes
By Yu Yu
Endometriosis can be described as an autoimmune disease because the abnormalities associated with T and B cell function and various autoantibodies. Although endometriosis has not been found to associate with some severe autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Are there any risk factor associated with the progression of endometriosis to ovarian cancer?
By Murat Osman
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 Summary
Is the presence of endometriosis associated with a survival benefit in pure ovarian clear cell carcinoma?
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Reason Why Hormone Therapy Alone Cannot Cure Endometriosis Uncovered
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers in Belgium have shed light on why hormone therapy cannot cure endometriosis on its own in a study published in the scientific journal Gynecological Endocrinology. Their findings could shape the direction of future research and may help to find…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Not a Risk for Pregnancy
By Özge Özkaya
Women with endometriosis do not seem to be more at risk of having pregnancy-related complications compared to those without endometriosis, according to a study published in the Italian scientific journal Minerva Ginecologica. However, the authors say that larger studies are…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep endometriosis and pregnancy
By Yu Yu
Several previous studies have investigated whether endometriosis can affect the normal development of pregnancy, although the results have been controversial. The aim of this review article by Leone Roberti Maggiore et al. is to provide an updated overview of health…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of endometriosis on preterm birth risk
By Demet Candaş Green
Some studies show that women with endometriosis develop significant complications during pregnancy that lead to preterm labor, and newborns of these women often need neonatal intensive care unit admissions. However, other studies argue that endometriosis have no significant effect on…
Key Points Lay Summary
A Potential New Target for the Treatment of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
A protein called STIP1 could be facilitating the migration of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, therefore, leading to endometriosis according to a study by Taiwanese researchers. The protein could, thus, be used as a potential therapeutic target for endometriosis. For…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Use of Resveratrol as an Adjuvant Treatment of Pain in Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Biomarker Networks Might Help Reveal the Mechanism Behind Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
Scientists have yet to uncover the molecular mechanisms that promote endometriosis disease progression. Xiao et al. recently published a study in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine where they hoped to shed new light on the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In their study…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Deregulated Molecular Functions Involved in Malignant Transformation of Endometriosis to Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Carcinoma
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
How good are the current guidelines on endometriosis?
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Changes in Complement Proteins Affect Infertility in Women with Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
Body Mass Index and IVF outcomes in non-obese endometriosis patients
By Demet Candaş Green
Endometriosis and body mass index (BMI) are inversely related, meaning obese women are at a lower risk of developing endometriosis. Similarly, women with lower BMI are considered high risk for severe types of endometriosis. The severity of endometriosis brings about…
Key Points Lay Summary
Can Ovarian Stimulation Increase Endometrioma Volume?
By Kasthuri Nair
Seyhan et al. recently published a paper titled “Do endometriomas grow during ovarian stimulation for assisted reproduction? A three-dimensional volume analysis before and after ovarian stimulation” in Reproductive BioMedicine Online. The authors initially believe that ovarian stimulation, often used in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Can grapefruits and oranges be used for treatment of endometriosis?
By Demet Candaş Green
Naringenin is a plant-based nutrient found abundantly in grapefruits and oranges with well-known anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. Previous studies showed that naringenin could modify the estrogen receptor signaling, suggesting a role for naringenin in endometriosis. The current study performed…
Key Points Lay Summary
Hormonal Contraceptives and the Risk of Breast Cancer
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
EFA Medical Conference 2017: "Fertility Preservation to BRCA Mutations" Presentation by Dr. Kutluk Oktay
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
EFA Medical Conference 2017: "Hormone and Cytokine Sensitivity in Endometriosis" Presentation by Dr. Robert Taylor
By Kasthuri Nair
The first presenter of the “Estrogen from Inflammation to Cancer: A Distant Link?” section of EFA 2017 Medical Conference was Dr. Robert Taylor from Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Dr. Taylor’s presentation was titled “Hormone and Cytokine Sensitivity in Endometriosis.”…
Key Points Lay Summary
Gestational diabetes risk in women with endometriosis
By Demet Candaş Green
Gestational diabetes (GD) is a common complication in pregnancy with several negative consequences for both mother and baby. The risk of developing GD increases with maternal age and body mass index (BMI). Women with endometriosis conceive later than fertile women,…
Key Points Lay Summary
EFA Medical Conference 2017: "Breast Cancer in Young Women; Early Diagnosis Timely Intervention" Presentation by Dr. Stephanie Bernik
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
Treatment of minimal endometriosis in infertile women
By Demet Candaş Green
For women with mild/minimal endometriosis, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) recommends the removal of endometriotic lesions to improve fertility and increase pregnancy rates. For women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment, there is ongoing debate whether surgical removal of…
Key Points Lay Summary
A Combination Treatment of Psychotherapy With Somatosensory Stimulation for Pain Reduction
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
EFA.MC.2017.“The Abnormal Embryos That Aren’t”,“Tens of thousands of women thought they couldn't have babies: But what if they could.”Dr. Norbert Gleicher Dr. Monica Halem
By Özge Özkaya
The presentation started with the story of Monica Halem who had endometriosis and had been trying to conceive using in vitro fertilization VF), but was told that none of her fertilized embryos would be viable based on pre-implantation genetic screening…
Key Points Lay Summary
Progesterone resistance can cause endometriosis
By Demet Candaş Green
Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced by the corpus luteum of ovaries. Abnormal progesterone signaling (i.e., progesterone resistance) in the endometrium has been implicated in the establishment of eutopic and ectopic endometrial implants. Several causes for faulty progesterone signaling have been…
Key Points Lay Summary
EFA Medical Conference 2017: "The Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer" Presentation by Dr. Marisa Weiss
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
Revisiting the wandering womb: Oxytocin in endometriosis and bipolar disorder
By Dr. Youngran Park
Despite a Hysteria (from Greek hysterikos, meaning ‘of the womb’) was dismissed as causing mental illness, recent evidence links oxytocin with diverse and correlated psychological and physical symptoms and conditions that more frequently affect women than men. This article proposes…
Key Points Lay Summary
Biomarkers as a Diagnostic Tool
By Kasthuri Nair
Ahn, Singh and Tayade discuss the difficulties and delay in diagnosing Endometriosis in their paper titled “Biomarkers in endometriosis: challenges and opportunities.” Thus far research has identified a multitude of potential biomarkers that are found in various parts of the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Role of immune cells in endometriosis
By Demet Candaş Green
Immune cells have essential functions in the body such as detection and clearance of abnormal cells and debris. One of the possible mechanisms for the development of endometriosis is proposed to be the impaired function of immune system cells in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Estrogen Receptor-β in Women’s Health
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
An update of estrogen receptors on human disease
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
Endometriosis May Be Causing Women to Become More Sensitive to Pain
By Özge Özkaya
Inflammation caused by endometriosis may be changing the way a woman perceives pain, found a new study published in the journal Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. According to Dr. Neziri Alban at University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland and the co-authors…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Role of Natural Killer Cells in the Development of Endometriosis Unravelled
By Özge Özkaya
Specialized immune cells called natural killer cells found in the peritoneal fluid of women with severe endometriosis may facilitate the development of the disease, according to a study published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. This finding could help…
Key Points Lay Summary
Roles of Progesterone in Endometrial Cancer, Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, and Breast Cancer
By Yu Yu
Progesterone is an important hormone, which together with estrogen prepares the women endometrium and breast tissue for pregnancy. The roles of progesterone in human tissues and diseases can be difficult to decipher. While there is a strong evidence for the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Does Not Increase Overall Risk of Breast Cancer, Study Finds
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Is there a risk of developing breast cancer for women with endometriosis?
By Murat Osman
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 Summary
Association between blood inflammatory markers and the risk of endometriosis
By Yu Yu
Previous studies have suggested that aberrant immunologic and inflammatory responses may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Peritoneal fluid collected from endometriosis contains elevated immune cells that may enhance the survival of endometriosis by secreting growth factors and…
Key Points Lay Summary
A Two-Wave Molecular Mechanism for Endometriosis Disease Progression
By Kasthuri Nair
Kobayashi et al. recently published a review paper in Molecular Medicine Reports titled “Pathogenesis of endometriosis: The role of initial infection and subsequent sterile inflammation,” which discusses at length the role of non-specific bacterial infection and sterile inflammation in the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is operation the best option for infertile patients with digestive endometriosis?
By Demet Candaş Green
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 Summary
The Endometriosis Fertility index Could Help Better Predict the Chance of Conceiving After Laparoscopy
By Özge Özkaya
The endometriosis fertility index (EFI) can more reliably predict the chance of a woman getting pregnant following endometriosis surgery compared to the revised-American Society of Reproductive Medicine score, according to a study published in the scientific journal Gynecologic and Obstetric…
Key Points Lay Summary
A New Treatment Time-Table for Controlling Endometriosis-Associated Pelvic Pain
By Kasthuri Nair
It is no secret that Endometriosis is an extremely painful disease. Unfortunately, science has yet to determine a treatment that can effectively treat the disease or the associated pain. In their paper titled “Ethinylestradiol 20 mg/drospirenone 3 mg in a…
Key Points Lay Summary
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 modulates Inflammation in Endometriosis
By Yu Yu
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a serine/threonine kinase, which transduces signals within the cell in response to various environmental stimuli. In doing so, it mediates intracellular signaling of cytokine production, cell proliferation, and apoptosis amongst many other cellular…
Key Points Lay Summary
CCL19/CCR7 Interaction can Casue Characteristic Cell Proliferation
By Kasthuri Nair
In their paper published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology titled “CCL19/CCR7 contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis via PI3K/Akt pathway by regulating the proliferation and invasion of ESCs,” Diao et al. hope to elucidate one of the mechanisms…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fetal Membranes Abnormalities in Pregnant Women with DIE
By Kasthuri Nair
Marcellin, Méhats, and Gogusev formulated a study where they analyzed alterations in the fetal membranes (FM) of women suffering from severe endometriosis. Their paper titled “Histopathological Alterations in Fetal Membranes of Women With Endometriosis” was recently published in the Reproductive…
Key Points Lay Summary
Serum AMH Levels Play an Important Role In Fertility Preservation
By Kasthuri Nair
One of the options available for women who suffer from endometriosis related infertility is cryopreservation. This option is only viable if the woman in question does not suffer from the low ovarian reserve. Garavaglia et al. suggest using pre-surgical serum…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis increases the risk of miscarriage
By Demet Candaş Green
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 Summary
Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Epigenetics
By Kasthuri Nair
In this chapter titled “A Review of the Epigenetic Contributions to Endometriosis,” Grimstad and Decherney examine various epigenetic influences that drive endometriosis disease progression. The epigenetic alterations they discuss include DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin architecture changes, nuclear receptor modulation,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Updates in the Field of Endometriosis: Fertility Preservation
By Kasthuri Nair
“Endometriosis and Fertility” is a chapter dedicated to examining the role of endometriosis and endometriomas in decreasing fertility. In other words, the authors of this chapter discuss the relationship between endometriomas, surgeries, and infertility. Barnett, Banks and Decherney also deliberate…
Key Points Lay Summary
Updates in the Field of Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
Endometriosis Fertility Index Anticipates Pregnancy in Women with Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
Women are often afflicted by endometriosis during their reproductive years and can be faced with the prospect of infertility. These women also undergo treatments and procedures that can further affect their fertility. Consequently, in 2010, Adamson and Pasta came up…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Vishaan NurseyArcyriaflavin A Decreases Endometriosis Cell Viability and Proliferation
By Vishaan Nursey
The purpose of this research topic was to determine whether Arcyriaflavin A could serve as a potential new therapeutic option for those suffering from Endometriosis. Arcyriaflavin A is a Cyclin D1 inhibitor. Cyclin D1 regulates the cell cycle by interacting…
Key Points Lay Summary
A Systematic Review of Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
First-line surgery followed by ART versus ART alone among women with colon-involving endometriosis.
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis, a disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, may cause pelvic and gynecologic complications that affect fertility in women of reproductive age. Several forms of endometriosis have been observed that are characterized by the varying…
Key Points Lay Summary
Dienogest for Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
The Potential Molecular Mechanisms that Drive Endometriosis Progression
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
An Antagonist for Endometriosis Disease Progression: LINC00261
By Kasthuri Nair
The molecular mechanisms surrounding endometriosis remain elusive to this day. Sha et al. from Wenzhou Medical University, China, reported that LINC00261, a long non-coding RNA, may play a substantial role in inhibiting the pathogenesis of this painful illness. Their paper…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Role of IL-35 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
The molecular mechanism that drives endometriosis remains elusive to this day. Zhang et al believe that interleukin 35 (IL-35) plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Their recent publication in Reproductive Sciences titled “Upregulation of Interleukin 35 in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Indirect assessment of endometriosis prevalence in general population
By Özge Özkaya
The prevalence of endometriosis is 10 percent among the general population, estimates a study published in the Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction. It is very difficult to estimate the prevalence of endometriosis in the general population. Seventeen different…
Key Points Lay Summary
Bowel Involvement in Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Cleansing the colon before an ultrasound makes it easier to detect rectal nodules of deep infiltrating endometriosis, found a study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Cleansing the colon before a surgery is called bowel preparation and is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni Formula: A Natural Treatment
By Kasthuri Nair
In the world of modern medicine, natural and herbal remedies are often under utilized. Liang et al. recently published an article in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine where they explored the benefits of using a Chinese Herbal Medicine to treat…
Key Points Lay Summary
Dienogest for endometriosis pain in clinical practice
By Yu Yu
Dienogest is a synthetic progestogen that has been marketed as a medical treatment for endometriosis. Previous randomized controlled clinical trials have shown that it is effective in women with endometriosis at different stages of the disease. Given its recent introduction,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and Productivity at Home and in the Workplace
By Kasthuri Nair
Soliman et al. recently published an original paper in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy that discusses the impact that endometriosis symptoms have on an individual’s productivity level at home and work. This publication is titled “The Effect…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Asli Bahadirli TalbottInhibition of key neurotransmitter could reduce endometriosis-related pain
By Asli Bahadirli Talbott
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 Summary
The Benefits of Primary Surgery
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
ICSI Outcomes for Laparoscopic Intervention of Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
How ERα is regulated in endometriosis?
By Yu Yu
Endometriosis pathogenesis is largely influenced by estrogen. Ectopic endometrium has altered expression of ERα compared to the eutopic endometrium. It is unclear what biological processes regulate such alteration. The article by Toderow et al. in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pregnancy Risks Associated with Severe Endometriosis
By Kasthuri Nair
Living with endometriosis can be painful and challenging; however, the challenges increase for women that are pregnant and have this disease. Recently, BJOG published an article titled “The ominous association between severe endometriosis, in-vitro fertilization, and placenta praevia: Raising awareness,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis, Surgery and Fertility
By Kasthuri Nair
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 Summary
The Endometrium Itself is Genetically Different in Endometriosis Patients
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers in China identified a number of genes that are differentially expressed in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and those without. The researchers think that these genes may be involved in the development of endometriosis and that they…
Key Points Lay Summary
Body size, adult height and endometriosis
By Asli Bahadirli Talbott
Endometriosis is associated with lean body size during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood; tall total adult height; and tall sitting height, found a study published in the scientific journal, Human Reproduction. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between body size across…
Key Points Lay Summary
Women with endometriosis suffer from anxiety and depression
By Demet Candaş Green
Endometriosis is considered a disabling condition that may significantly affect social relationships, sexuality and mental health of patients. Women who suffer from endometriosis report high levels of anxiety and depression and other psychological disorders. In this review article, the authors…
Key Points Lay Summary
Could the cell surface protein "EWI-2" be the new diagnostic marker for endometriosis?
By Murat Osman
Further Understanding: Researchers from the Reproductive Medicine Center of Wuhan University sought to observe the differential expression of EWI-2, (a cell surface protein and an early activation marker, also known as IGSF8 - Immunoglobulin superfamily member 8) in 145 women…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis as a Barrier to Fertility
By Murat Osman
Some of the articles in the from the journal "Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS) issue are discussed in further detail below: Pain caused by endometriosis has been seen to significantly impact women's physical, psychosocial, and sexual health. Although endometriosis has been…
Key Points Lay Summary
Can a cure be developed for endometriosis?
By Asli Bahadirli Talbott
The Lancet correspondence highlights that regardless of the importance of endometriosis; its full socioeconomic impact is underestimated and endometriosis research is considerably underfunded. The Endometriosis Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) which includes women with endometriosis, their supporters, health-care practitioners, endometriosis researchers, and representatives from…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Reduces Chance of Having a Baby Even with Assisted Reproduction, Study Shows
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis significantly decreases the likelihood of conceiving even with assisted reproductive technique such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), according to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. In…
Lay Summary
Scientists Grow Miniature Model of Human Endometrium in the Laboratory
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers in the U.K. managed to grow a miniature functional model of the human endometrium in the laboratory for the first time. These so-called organoids could help scientists better understands events associated with conditions such as endometriosis and help them…
Lay Summary
Women with Endometriosis May Require Additional Care During Pregnancy and Labour
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Metabolomic profiling and biochemical evaluation of the follicular fluid of endometriosis patients.
By Yu Yu
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism from our body. Increasingly the study of metabolite content in biological systems can be used to derive useful information to identify disease-related markers, such as the use of glucose in the blood…
Key Points Lay Summary
Women with Endometriosis Should be Closely Monitored During Pregnancy and Birth, Study Suggests
By Özge Özkaya
Women with endometriosis have a significantly higher risk of developing several complications during pregnancy and delivery such as preeclampsia and placental complications, according to a study by Danish researchers. In addition, babies born to mothers with endometriosis have a higher…
Lay Summary