Impact of Nerve Preservation During Parametrectomy on Urinary Retention in Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is the most advanced form of the disease, characterized by lesions penetrating deeper than 5 mm. Surgical treatment requires a meticulous approach to minimize functional complications. Deep lesions involving the parametrium, uterosacral ligaments, and anterior rectal…
Key Points Lay SummaryPre-Diagnosis Hospital Utilization Patterns in Women With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is commonly associated with symptoms such as painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Diagnosing the condition is challenging due to symptom overlap with other gynecologic and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as the need for advanced imaging or laparoscopic…
Key Points Lay SummaryImaging findings in postmenopausal endometriosis
Most women diagnosed with endometriosis during their reproductive years become asymptomatic in postmenopausal period, but lesions remain biologically active despite lower estrogen levels. The pathophysiology of postmenopausal endometriosis remains unclear, though lesions appear less active and extensive. The risk of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of endometriosis surgery on female sexual functions
Sexual dysfunction is almost twice as prevalent in women with endometriosis compared to those with other benign gynecological conditions. Deep dyspareunia, a hallmark symptom of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, poses a ninefold higher risk in affected women. This symptom profoundly impacts…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdenomyosis as a Barrier to Effective Surgery for Dyspareunia in Rectovaginal Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis often experience severe pain during intercourse, known as dyspareunia, which can deeply affect their quality of life and intimate relationships. One form of this condition, rectovaginal septum endometriosis, involves deep, scarred tissue that can cause pain during…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes endometriosis have an adverse effect on sperm activity?
Infertility is one of the symptoms encountered in up to 40-50% of women with endometriosis. There are several pathophysiological theories suggesting the development of endometriosis-associated infertility such as altered pelvic anatomy, adhesions, disrupted ovarian reserve/function and compromised endometrial receptivity as…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe prevalence of deep and superficial dyspareunia in women with endometriosis..
Almost half of the women affected by endometriosis experience both superficial and deep dyspareunia. While superficial dyspareunia is less studied, deep dyspareunia is often linked to mechanical pressure on endometriotic lesions or tissue rigidity. To address the sexual difficulties faced…
Key Points Lay SummaryNerve-Sparing Surgery Safe in DIE
Robot-assisted nerve-sparing modified radical hysterectomy is associated with longer operative times and lower estimated blood loss compared to the conventional laparoscopic approach to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of…
Key Points Lay SummaryBladder Endometriosis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions
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 SummaryA new pathogenetic hypothesis of endometriosis
Recent research has focused on perimenopausal women who experienced hematoperitoneum and lower abdominal pain, subsequently developing deep infiltrating endometriosis within a few months of the initial episode. Ultrasonographic evaluations revealed that a bleeding functional ovarian cyst was the primary cause…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhy we should prefer nerve-sparing surgery in deep endometriosis?
Despite its benign nature, deep endometriosis can mimic malignant processes and infiltrate multiple organs, blood vessels, ligaments, and nerves within the pelvis. When conservative medical management fails, the need for surgical excision of endometriotic lesions arises. The surgeons aim to…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis relief: How vitamins C and E can make a difference
Recent studies indicate that oxidative stress significantly contributes to the onset and progression of endometriosis. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause cellular damage and enhance inflammation, leading to the pain associated with the condition. Antioxidants like vitamins…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat Factors Affect the Chance of Being Diagnosed With Endometriosis?
There are demographic disparities in the diagnosis of endometriosis among women in the US, ages 15 to 50 according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. These disparities suggest that intersecting barriers may prevent some…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiminished physical activity in women with endometriosis due to chronic pelvic pain
Endometriosis is a systemic, chronic, inflammatory disease defined as the localization of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom in these women resulting in abstinence from school or work and psychosocial problems. Physical activity…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe depth of the iceberg: Parametrial involvement in deep endometriosis
Academicians led by members of the International School of Surgical Anatomy from Italy have published their paper on parametrial involvement of deep endometriosis in the medical periodical named “Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology”. Deep endometriosis is troublesome when…
Key Points Lay SummaryUterine innervation and its impact on endometriosis related pelvic pain.
Advancements in immunochemistry, fluorochromes, computer-associated anatomical dissection, and 3D reconstruction of uterine micro-innervation brought substantial progress in pelvic neuroanatomy. The complex uterine innervation and its interactions with uterine parts and layers are yet fully revealed. Austruc et al., from the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe location of adenomyosis, and recurrent abortion
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 SummaryDo I Need Assisted Reproduction to Become Pregnant After Endometriosis Surgery?
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 SummaryUltrasonographic findings and the clinical symptoms of pelvic endometriosis
Imaging techniques achieve the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis, which affects 10-15% of all women of reproductive age. Suspected patients with clinical history and symptoms need a systemic examination of the uterus, ovaries, adnexa, and peritoneal covering the rectouterine, retrocervical, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryChronic stress may be involved both in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis
Chong Lu and associates from Shangai, China have published their novel research on chronic stress and endometriosis in a recent issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences. During the natural course of endometriosis many patients are under chronic stress, which…
Key Points Lay SummarySpontaneous Conception After Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Deep endometriosis is a severe form of endometriosis where lesions invade deeper than 5 mm into subperitoneal space. Surgical management of the disease is a challenging task requiring a multi-disciplinary approach and significant expertise in the field. Anastomotic leaks, fistula,…
Key Points Lay SummaryCoupled torture due to endometriosis and depressive symptoms
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 SummaryNovel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a genetic background resulting in familial clustering. Although multiple susceptibility loci have been identified in genome-wide association studies, high-risk predisposing variants have not been defined yet. A group of scientists from Finland, published a study…
Key Points Lay SummaryPotential New Therapeutic Avenue for Deep Endometriosis
The use of lipid nanoparticles carrying methotrexate seems to be safe and feasible in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The approach could, therefore, be a new…
Key Points Lay SummaryReviewing all you want to know on endometriosis !
Academicians from the International University of Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Lincoln Medical School, UK have written a comprehensive updated review on endometriosis covering many aspects of endometriosis and published their paper as an open-access manuscript in the journal “Pathology-Research and Practice”. …
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis in Asia
Academicians from the University of Philippines led by Dr. Velarde have published a recent review on endometriosis and Asian women in the scientific periodical “Endocrine Connections”. The endometriosis prevalence rate is variable among ethnicities, and Asian women including Filipinos, Indians, Japanese,…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of two different surgical approach to deep colorectal endometriosis in terms of postoperative outcomes.
Deep colorectal endometriosis affects one-fifth of women with endometriosis, which is commonly associated with more pelvic pain and severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Three surgical approaches for deep colorectal endometriosis are segmental colorectal resection, full-thickness discoid resection, and shaving operation. Choosing the…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring endometriosis symptoms and their effects on women's lives
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 SummaryThe Molecular Mechanisms of how herbal medicine Actaea racemosa modulates Endometriosis Progression
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 SummaryTreatment of superficial dyspareunia using topical estrogens in postmenopausal women with a history of endometriosis
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is defined as a collection of symptoms and signs caused by hypoestrogenic changes to the labia majora/minora, clitoris, vestibule/introitus, vagina, urethra, and bladder that occur in menopausal patients. Sexual dysfunction and superficial dyspareunia can be experienced…
Key Points Lay SummaryA comparative analysis of male and female perspectives on sexuality in couples dealing with endometriosis
Sexual relationships of patients with endometriosis have been an area of research lately, however, studies have focused mostly on female perceptions and opinions leaving out the males. Helfenstein et al. from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria conducted a multicenter cohort study…
Key Points Lay Summary"Transumblical single-port laparoscopy" for deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Deep infiltrating endometriosis patients have multi-system involvements, severe pelvic adhesions, and pelvic pain. Dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, infertility, gastrointestinal symptoms, and lower urinary tract symptoms seriously affect their quality of life. Although hormonal therapy may be the first choice for treating endometriosis,…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Starch-Based Gel Barrier Reduces Pain and Improves Fertility After Endometriosis Surgery
The development of pain was reduced in women with endometriosis who underwent surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) resection and the "gel barrier 4DryField® PH" was used during the operation, according to results from a randomized controlled trial. Moreover, fertility was improved. "4DryField® PH"…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative outcomes of laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection for bowel endometriosis.
Rectosigmoid endometriosis comprises 80-85% of all bowel endometriosis cases and can be localized in the rectovaginal septum, uterosacral ligaments, retro-cervical region, and parametrium. Symptoms of rectosigmoid endometriosis include abdominal bloating, constipation-diarrhea, lower-back pain, dyschezia, and sometimes cyclic rectal bleeding. Minimally…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain Scoring System for Deep Endometriosis
The numeric pain scale is commonly used to interpret pain score values. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, pain scores of 4-7 points indicate moderate, and 8-10 points indicate severe pain. Patients with a local pain score of…
Key Points Lay SummarySpheroids: 3D-mini-models for Understanding Endometriosis
The pathogenesis of endometriosis is not fully understood, and there is a need for better models to study the disease. Spheroids are 3D clusters of cells that mimic the structure and function of endometrial tissue. These mini models have several…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of dienogest vs ethynyl estradiol/dienogest on quality of life in women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain that diminishes the quality of their life. Both physical and mental components of quality of life have been affected by endometriosis-associated symptoms. There are several medical and surgical treatment…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich surgery for deep endometriosis? Laparoscopic shaving or rectal resection?
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 SummaryIs there any advantage of addition of hysterectomy on deep endometriotic pelvic pain or on the quality of life?
The addition of hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy to the endometriosis excision surgery provided greater benefits when compared to excision surgery alone, according to the results of a comparison study that was recently published in the journal named "Facts Views and Visions in Obstetrics…
Key Points Lay SummaryLaparoscopic resection of bladder endometriosis
When we talk about deep-infiltrating endometriosis, one of the most commonly affected organs in the urinary tract is the bladder, with a prevalence of 80%. Bladder endometriosis can be defined as the existence of the endometrial glands and stroma inside…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of two surgical approaches for endometriosis.
Endometriosis is one of the causes of infertility in women. But the pathophysiology of infertility caused by endometriosis is not yet clear. Hormonal disorders, abnormal peritoneal function, distorted pelvic anatomy, and multiple cesarean deliveries are among the accused. Dr. Li…
Key Points Lay SummaryFrom Finland : How to increase health issues in endometriosis patients
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 SummaryHypoxia and endometriosis: A review of mechanisms
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 SummaryThe effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of dysmenorrrhea
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 SummaryConventional IVF or ICSI: Which one is more accurate in endometriosis-related infertility?
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 SummaryWeighting (side)effects when dealing with endometriosis-associated pain.
The treatment options for endometriosis-related pain are so many. And the guidelines leave the selection to the clinicians, which causes obscurity between preferences. In the study by Christine Poulos et al, the authors analyzed the response of clinicians on the…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen With More Severe Endometriosis Have Fewer Eggs
Severe endometriosis negatively affects ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, according to a new study published in JBRA Assisted Reproduction. However, the rate of fertilization does not seem to be affected by endometriosis stage. These findings could…
Key Points Lay SummarySexual function in infertile women with PCOS and endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from several symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility which have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. Sexual dysfunction also is a common problem for endometriosis patients due to complex…
Key Points Lay SummaryYounger Women With Endometriosis Feel More Pain
Younger women with endometriosis feel more period pain (dysmenorrhea) and pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) compared to older women with the disease, found a new study published in the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Acknowledging this fact can make sure…
Key Points Lay SummaryScientific unfolding will lead new drug targets
Drs. Dolmans and Donnez from academic institutions located in Brussels, Belgium, have published their comprehensive review on the current pathophysiological concepts in endometriosis with possible drug treatment potentials in the recent issue of a scientific journal named “Biomolecules”. As a…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian endometriomas, ovarian reserve, oocyte quality and IVF/ICSI outcomes
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 SummaryEndometriosis Hospitalization Trends in Spain
According to the general assumption, one in every ten women is believed to have endometriosis. However, recent literature shows a big difference in the prevalence rates ranging from 1 to 5%, likely because most cases remain undiagnosed. The need for…
Key Points Lay SummaryDeep lateral parametrial endometriosis nerve-sparing surgery
Dr. Kanno et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Kurashiki medical center, Okayama, Japan recently published a deep lateral parametrial endometriosis case report in the journal named Fertility and Sterility. The aim is to demonstrate the technical and…
Key Points Lay SummaryOrganizing structural protein Ezrin and its active form in endometriosis biopsies
Dr. Alessandra Peloggia and colleagues from Brazil have published their results on immunostaining of Ezrin protein and its phosphorylated active form in endometrial tissues in a recent issue of “Clinics” Possible factors on endometrial cell implantation and proliferation in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryPelvic pain characteristics in young girls with endometriosis.
The occurrence of severe and frequent pelvic pain in young women is a piece of evidence that endometriosis begins and develops at an early age. Two-thirds of women with endometriosis who were diagnosed in their adulthood reported the onset of…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Prediction by "Machine Learning"
To develop a predictive model for endometriosis and to re-assess the contribution of known risk factors, Blass et al. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel used the data of the UK biobank by machine learning-based models. They compared and…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effects of resveratrol on endometriotic cells
The current treatment methods for endometriosis still carry recurrence risks and side effects from medications. Herbal medicine has been investigated and used as an additional alternative method. Derived from several plants and found in some dietary sources, resveratrol is a…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnkylosing Spondylitis and Endometriosis
There are several theories contributing the development of endometriosis: one of the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms is the abnormality in immune and inflammatory system. Several immunologic diseases coexist with endometriosis depending on the common immunologic characteristics such as Tumor necrosis Factor…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe clearance system is defective for women who develop endometriosis
Endometriosis is both a hormonal and an immune disease thus overcoming the immune response by improving the underlying mechanism would help fight the disease. In the study conducted by Dr.Guidice group at the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat are the most common symptoms of endometriosis and how are they related to age?
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 SummaryPrevalence of endometriosis and adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound.
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 SummaryAlgorithm for pain management in endometriosis
One of the debilitating symptoms of endometriosis is pain. Mostly due to delayed diagnosis and the high recurrence rate, even after the surgical and hormonal therapy pain control may not be sufficient causing the patient to suffer for decades. Endometriosis-associated…
Key Points Lay SummaryNerve-sparing technique for deep infiltrating endometriosis and its impacts on pelvic organ and sexual functions.
Deep infiltrating endometriosis and involvement of parametrium cause severe pelvic pain and dysfunction of some pelvic organs resulting in a reduction in women's quality of life. Although surgery for DIE aims to relieve pelvic pain, entering into the posterior parametrial…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain During Intercourse, What Does it Feel Like?
The presentation, severity, and impact of painful intercourse caused by endometriosis differ between patients, found a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. According to the authors of the study, these findings are important because they can help…
Key Points Lay SummaryShining like fireflies: a new approach to visualize early endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex and unsolved disease that requires animal studies in order to understand its nature. There are a group of animal models designed for endometriosis studies, but most require sacrificing the animal. In the experimental study designed by the team…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis
The trigger mechanism of endometriosis formation is still under investigation. But it is clear that there is an iron overload on endometriotic lesions. In the study conducted by Guojing Li et al, the mechanism of iron on endometriosis formation has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryFrom Spain: execution for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain unresponsive to conventional therapies
The current conventional therapy for chronic pelvic pain for endometriosis is defined as either hormonal or non-hormonal medical treatment starting with combined oral contraceptives progestins or dienogest, and then gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs and/or surgery. Although conventional therapies usually are successful, still…
Key Points Lay SummaryIndocyanin Green dye for recognition of occult endometriotic lesions
The surgery for endometriosis is challenging and the resection of all lesions is not accurately related to not catching all lesions under white light (WL) conventional laparoscopy. In the study conducted by Luigi Carlo Turco et al., in a tertiary…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain During Sex in Women With Endometriosis
Pain during intercourse or dyspareunia due to endometriosis manifests itself in multiple forms such as deep, introital, and/or positional. Pain can also occur at orgasm and during and/or after intercourse. These are the findings of a systemic literature review published…
Key Points Lay SummarySexual Function in Women With Endometriosis
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 SummaryAdenomyosis in adolescents
Dr. Exacoustos and colleagues from two tertiary referral university hospitals in Italy published their results on adenomyosis in adolescent patients in a recent issue of “The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology”. Adenomyosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of physical examination and interview in Endometriosis Diagnosis
Today we know that the most accurate diagnosis of endometriosis necessitates surgery and histopathological examination of the excised lesions. However, many women are misdiagnosed due to various symptoms of endometriosis which mystify gastrointestinal, urinary, and musculoskeletal diseases. Nawrocka-Rutkowska and colleagues…
Key Points Lay SummaryTransvaginal Ultrasound Accuracy for Uterosacral Ligament, Torus Uterinus and Posterior Fornix Endometriosis
The accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of deep endometriosis depends on the location. The sensitivity is up to 80% when the lesion is in the rectosigmoid, but it decreases up to 66% for the detection of posterior vaginal…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe clues for pain and infertility in endometriosis/adenomyosis complex
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 SummaryImpact of adenomyosis on sexual life
Considering the similar etiopathogenesis and pain symptoms between adenomyosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis, Alcalde et al. from the Department of Gynecology, University of Barcelona, Spain, aimed to call attention to the presence of potential sexual dysfunction not only in patients with deep…
Key Points Lay SummaryMedical Examination Reduces Anxiety in Women With Suspected Endometriosis
Anxiety levels go down after medical examination in women with suspected endometriosis, found a study by Italian researchers that was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. This was especially pronounced in women who had higher baseline distress and who…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe higher the cyst fluid iron concentration, the more severe the pain symptom for endometrioma
Endometriosis usually is encountered in three different forms: superficial peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian cysts (endometrioma) and deep infiltrating endometriosis. Endometrioma can be identified as cystic lesions consisting of dark brown endometrial fluid and are sometimes referred to as "chocolate cysts." The presence…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis scar disruption may lead to "spontaneous hemorrhage in pregnancy" and can be life-threatening.
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 SummaryLow-Dose Aspirin as a Potential Treatment for Endometriosis-Related Infertility
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 SummaryPostoperative infertility management using Endometriosis Fertility Index in endometriotic women
"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 SummaryA gentle touch on nerves affects dyspareunia
Endometriosis is a common disorder among women. Previous studies reported endometriosis-related deterioration of the quality of life. Deep dyspareunia is a common symptom of endometriosis and young patients face dyspareunia twice as much. Surgical treatments are alternative to medical therapies in cases…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdenomyosis: accuracy of the diagnostic methods and the synchronism with deep infiltrating endometriosis
Dr. Alborzi and associates from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, have published their comprehensive retrospective research conducted on 3725 patients with clinical symptoms of endometriosis over a period of 3 years, in "Reproductive Sciences" medical journal. A relationship between…
Key Points Lay SummaryDNA damage response in eutopic endometria of endometriosis patients
The DNA damage response (DDR) is a network of cellular pathways that sense, signal, and repair the lesions occurring in DNA. Surveillance proteins that monitor DNA integrity activate the DNA repair pathways in response to DNA damage and try to prevent the generation of potentially deleterious mutations. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent…
Key Points Lay Summary"Speckle sign": a novel transvaginal ultrasound finding for posterior compartment endometriosis
Dr. Balcacer and associates from three medical institutions located in the USA report the results of their retrospective study on deep infiltrating endometriosis utilizing transvaginal ultrasound examination and the proposed “speckle sign” in the "Journal of Ultrasound Medicine". Pelvic ultrasound…
Key Points Lay SummaryOxidative stress, reactive products, detoxification, endometriosis and pain
Oxidative stress is one factor known to be involved in the pathogenesis, progression, and establishment of endometriosis in women. During oxidative stress, excess reactive oxygen species as a secondary by-product of lipid peroxidation and reactive aldehyde including 4- hydroxynonenal…
Key Points Lay SummaryHigh-dose progestin intake and sexual functions in endometriosis patients
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 SummaryPostoperative pregnancy rate in infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis
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 SummaryOperative techniques for Deep Endometriosis Surgery - Shaheen Khazali, MD
In this presentation, Dr. Shaheen Khazali, an endometriosis surgeon specialized in gastrointestinal and urinary tract endometriosis excision and in neuropelveology, talks about the general principles and some techniques for endometriosis surgery focusing on rectovaginal endometriosis. He also describes the "ten…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring Pelvic Pain: Deep to Ischial Spine Including Pre-Sacral Roots - A. Taner Usta, MD
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pain in the pelvic area that lasts for 6 months or longer and results in functional or psychological disability or requires intervention and treatment by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. There are…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the sexual relations of the couples
From the viewpoint of endometriotic women, the pain during the penetration is not the only complaint. They also have growing depression and anxiety leading to difficulties with their social and sexual relationship, work, and study. The emotional impact of sub-infertility,…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and chronic opioid use
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 SummaryAdolescent endometriosis: Diagnostic clues?
The rates of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents showing endometriosis signs on ultrasound are significantly higher compared to those without. This is according to a retrospective observational study recently published in the journal "Fertility and Sterility". The…
Key Points Lay SummaryReduced risk of "small for gestational age baby" following frozen embryo transfer in endometriosis patients
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 SummaryMagnetic resonance imaging classification for the management of deep pelvic endometriosis
A new study published in the journal "Human Reproduction" reported that operating time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications in patients who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis can be predicted by the MRI. This result may be useful for clinicians to…
Key Points Lay SummaryCA125 do not correlate with pain and its severity among adolescents
Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is a high molecular weight glycoprotein expressed in tissue derived from the coelomic and Mullerian epithelia including the uterus endometrium. Previous studies reported that CA125 is the most studied endometriosis marker. Women with endometriosis experienced different…
Key Points Lay SummaryDyspareunia and Endometriosis
Women experience severe pain during intercourse related to endometriosis and this has a significant negative impact on the lives of women. This is according to an American study published in the "Journal of Pain Research". The study included 638 endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummarySexual Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis
Painful intercourse, more severe period pain, worse health-related quality of life, and unemployment are all associated with worse sexual quality of life in women with endometriosis. This is according to a Dutch study published in the scientific journal Sexual Medicine.…
Key Points Lay SummaryDepression and anxiety levels in "in vitro fertilization" patients with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a reproductive-aged and estrogen-dependent disease. The most common symptoms of this disease are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility affecting the quality of life in several aspects mainly the psychological domain. In the literature, there are many studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain and Quality of Life Following Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis
Currently, laparoscopy is the preferred approach as a surgical treatment of endometriosis. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery to reduce the painful symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with endometriosis in the short term…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors affecting the quality of life of women with endometriosis
Results from a new study suggest that the quality of life of women with endometriosis is significantly affected by their confidence to manage pain and their belief in the evolution of their condition. In this study, led by Rees M. et…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe impact of laser vaporization on reproductive outcomes in women with endometrioma
Despite extensive research, the optimal method for the management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Excisional surgery is claimed with a more favorable outcome than drainage and ablation regarding the recurrence of disease and symptoms. On the other hand, cyst vaporization…
Key Points Lay SummaryBenefits of Nerve-Sparing Hysterectomy
The retroperitoneal spread of endometriosis or cancer may involve pelvic autonomic nerves situated on the lateral aspects of uterosacral ligaments, vesicouterine ligaments, and medial aspects of parametria. During the conventional open hysterectomy operations, nerve-sparing excision is very difficult, simply because pelvic autonomic nerves…
Key Points Lay SummaryNatural history of spontaneous endometriosis in crab-eating monkeys
Kaori Hayashi and associates from Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan, published their observations on spontaneously occurring endometriosis in crab-eating monkeys in "Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine"https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/251/4/251_241/_pdf/-char/en. The presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, i.e., endometriosis is a progressive prevalent…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune cells and endometriosis pain
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 SummaryEnhanced local and systemic inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is not only characterized by the implantation of endometriotic tissue outside of the uterine cavity but also necessitates an impaired immune response. It is suggested that abnormal immunological mechanisms causing the dysfunction of immune cells and their mediators are…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis prevalence among adolescents with pelvic pain
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 SummaryFallopian tubes and endometriosis
There are multiple theories to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis, among which the most popular one is Sampson's retrograde menstruation theory. The role of endometrial stem cells/progenitors are widely studied to support the origin of ectopic lesions in recent decades.…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Impacts Transgender Adolescents
Shim J.Y. et al, from Boston, Massachusetts retrospectively searched the electronic medical records of transmasculine patients younger than 26 years old who were diagnosed with dysmenorrhea and treated at Boston Children’s Hospital, between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2020.…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdolescent endometriosis
A recent article, led by experts from Peking Medical Union College, describes the clinical characteristics and postoperative symptoms of adolescent endometriosis. The authors inform that their report, which is published in the "Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology", can provide…
Key Points Lay SummaryRacial and ethnic disparities and women health
The well documented racial and ethnic disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the US make available to use them as an indicator of implicit bias in giving unequal health and care service to minorities. Dr. Bryant from Massachusetts General Hospital,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of endometriosis on the quality of life
Endometriosis, the disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity, can be diagnosed in the reproductive-aged women with an incidence of 7-15%. However, endometriosis is observed in women with chronic pelvic pain syndrome…
Key Points Lay SummaryA hope for postoperative symptomatic endometriosis therapy
A new chapter in the treatment of symptomatic endometriosis patients may begin since new medical approaches including oral GnRH antagonists, selective progesterone receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, and peritoneal immune response modulators are being actively evaluated. To date, there was only…
Key Points Lay SummaryRacial Bias in Pain Assessment and Treatment Recommendations
This study, published by Hoffmann et al. in the April 2016 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites are associated with the perception that black people feel less pain than do white…
Key Points Lay SummaryRace, socioeconomic status, and health
Racial disparities in health have been long noted in the United States. The differences in socioeconomic status across racial groups are a major contributor to racial disparities in health. However, race reflects multiple dimensions of social inequality. Understanding and effectively…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealth inequalities in USA
Dr. E. Albert Reece, the vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, specialized in maternal and fetal medicine, wrote on health disparities in the American nation, in Obstetrics and Gynecology News, on the website www.mdedge.com, in June…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiscrepancies between racial/ethnic groups and choice of hysterectomy procedures
Dr. Pollack and associates from Washington University, St.Louis, made multistate research regarding the patient profile in hysterectomies and published their results in the 2019 December issue of "The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology". The most frequently performed nonobstetric surgery in…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Can Racial and Ethnic Disparities Be Reduced Among Women’s Health and Healthcare?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a set of recommendations to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health and healthcare and encourage obstetricians, gynecologists, and other health care practitioners to engage in activities to help achieve…
Key Points Lay SummaryCase-control study to develop a questionnaire for early diagnosis of endometriosis
Endometriosis, which affects 5–10% of women of reproductive age, is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus, associated with several discomforts such as pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, and infertility. Ultrasound evaluation…
Key Points Lay SummaryUltrasound diagnosis of endometriosis: One Size Does-Not-Fit-All
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is an advanced form of endometriosis that causes significant morbidity to many women. The Pouch of Douglas (POD), otherwise known as the rectouterine space, is the anatomic area between the posterior cervix and anterior rectum. Its…
Key Points Lay SummaryFatigue from the viewpoint of patients with endometriosis
Fatigue, feeling spoonie, is documented as a significant symptom of endometriosis in many studies. Researchers from three different institutions dealing with reproductive health conducted individual interviews with patients reporting moderate to severe endometriosis-related pain to better understand endometriosis-related fatigue and…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Insomnia
There should be more awareness among clinicians for the relationship between insomnia and endometriosis, the study suggests. There needs to be a suspect of endometriosis whenever the clinician faces women of reproductive age with sleep or insomnia-related symptoms. This symptom is…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre endometriosis patients at higher risk of bipolar disorder?
Endometriosis patients are prone to develop certain psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as bipolar disorder, according to a nationwide population-based cohort study from Taiwan. Bipolar disorder formerly called manic-depression is a chronic mental disorder characterized by unusual changes…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntioxidants inhibit autophagy in ectopic endometrial cells
Factors involved in the development of ectopic endometrium are not well-known, but several reports demonstrate a potential role for the pathophysiological processes including autophagy. Studies show that autophagy plays a significant role in endometriosis but the key mechanisms underlying the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Relationship Between Dyspareunia and Infertility in Endometriosis
Wahl et al. from the Center of Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada studied with endometriotic patients suffering from dyspareunia who were referred to their center and built a cross-sectional study to investigate the relations between…
Key Points Lay SummaryKisspeptin and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis
It is known that matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. For example, the upregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may enhance the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, facilitating cell migration and invasion. Kisspeptin (KISS1, also…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe predictive factors for early spontaneous miscarriage in IVF/ICSI cycles
The most common presenting complaints of endometriosis are mainly dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably fertility problems. The clinical pregnancy rate has increased up to 60% in assisted reproductive…
Key Points Lay SummaryCycle-related gastrointestinal complaints in reproductive age young women
An analysis of 1-year data on 266 patients who presented to the Clinic and Polyclinic for Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Jena University Hospital to undergo surgery for endometriosis and its symptoms was performed by Nicolaous K. et al., a…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould my Peritoneal Fluid Have a Negative Effect on my Partner’s Sperm?
The peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis could negatively affect the quality and functionality of sperm, according to a study by Spanish researchers. This could explain infertility linked to the male partners of women with endometriosis. The knowledge could also…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and ovarian reserve
Endometriosis is most frequently encountered in reproductive-aged women. 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 25-40%. Although the exact mechanism explaining the association between…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgery and the endometriosis associated-pain: A systematic review
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 SummaryNew Protein for Endometriosis Diagnosis
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 SummaryPatients preferences for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain
Endometriosis is defined as the location of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterine cavity. The most common presenting complaints are mainly dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility, most of which relate to the menstrual period. Those women affected…
Key Points Lay SummaryClinical trial for the use of oral lactobacillus on endometriosis pain severity
The standard treatment of endometriosis consists of surgery and hormonal based treatment. There is evidence for the efficacy of these types of treatment, although their side effects remain a critical consideration for women. Based on molecular studies, changes in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryHeme impairs macrophage phagocytosis
Heme is an iron-containing molecule that carries oxygen in the blood and also serves many essential biological proteins. It is released from ruptured erythrocytes during hemolysis. If not chelated, heme can cause harmful oxidative damage and inflammation. Thus, heme is…
Key Points Lay SummaryBotox as a promising treatment for chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis
Botulinum toxin (Botox) for treating chronic pelvic pain specifically addressing women with endometriosis has been studied for the first time by Tandon et al., from Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Their paper has recently been published in the journal Regional Anesthesia &…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealth care resource utilization and cost in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 6-10% of reproductive-aged women. The clinical picture of the disease range from asymptomatic findings to dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Endometriosis has also complex etiopathogenetic background. This broad clinical spectrum, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndocrine-disrupting chemicals – yet another environmental factor associated with endometriosis?
This study by Wen et al., published in Gynecological Endocrinology, analyzed evidence connecting endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to the incidence of endometriosis in a collection of 30 previously published studies. Results show that exposure to many EDC's are linked to the…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Link Between Endometriosis and Genetics?
Two new genes have been identified that may be associated with endometriosis. This finding increases our understanding of the biology of endometriosis and may take us one small step further towards the development of new ways of treating the condition. …
Key Points Lay SummaryBehavioral Symptoms in an Animal Model of Endometriosis
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 SummaryThe postoperative functional outcomes of deep infiltrating endometriosis
Rectosigmoid endometriosis is defined as the infiltration of the bowel wall with the endometrial-like glands and stroma, reaching at least the muscular layer. The most commonly involved sites are the rectum and sigmoid colon. For the management of deep infiltrating…
Key Points Lay SummaryA highly sensitive Immunohistochemical Marker for Stromal Cells in endometriosis
Endometriosis is diagnosed histopathologically by the presence of endometrium-like tissues outside the uterus. Positive CD10 immunohistochemistry, highlighting stromal cells of the endometrium, is a useful adjunct for pathologists in the tissue diagnosis. However, CD10 expression is not specific to endometrial stromal…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative factors to predict unresponsiveness in women undergoing endometriosis surgery
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. Despite extensive research, the optimal management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Several treatment options include analgesic medication, hormonal treatments, and surgical intervention. There is…
Key Points Lay SummaryNutraceuticals may help for endometriosis pain
Dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain occur in endometriosis patients in a significant percentage. Anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes including diet form the integrated approach in this regard. However, the medications can be used only for the short term. Natural substances with anti-inflammatory…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and infertility: current concepts
Hungarian and US scientists have published a comprehensive review on infertility related to endometriosis in Frontiers in Endocrinology, November 2018 issue. Endometriosis is a common entity in women of reproductive age which often leads to infertility. Compiled research data reveal…
Key Points Lay SummaryA link between endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and endometriosis.
Ciavattini et al.from Polytechnic University Ancona, Italy create a pilot study which recently published in Oncology Letters to clarify the link between endometriosis and endometrioid ovarian cancer. The unfolded protein response (UPR) activity as a promoter of neoplastic progression of malignancies is…
Key Points Lay SummarySexual distress, metacognitive beliefs, and endometriosis
In this study, researchers from the University of Bergamo in Italy investigated the link between sexual distress and psychological and cognitive factors in women with endometriosis. Compared to the general female population, women with endometriosis have a nine-fold increased risk…
Key Points Lay SummaryProgesterone Receptor Status in Endometriosis
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 SummaryAn overlooked symptom of endometriosis: Fatigue
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 SummaryThe pain and its severity in deeply infiltrating endometriosis patients
Liang et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China, recently published an interesting paper in the Journal of Pain Research, a prospective study to reveal the relationship between neurogenesis and other potential…
Key Points Lay SummaryMaternal and fetal outcomes in women with endometriosis : A review and meta-analysis
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 SummaryPROPOFOL: a new combat for endometriosis?
Feng et al, from the Department of Gynecology Weifang Medical University Hospital, Shandong, China, recently published their prospective experimental research in the journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. Propofol, a rapid and short-term anesthetic substance, recently has been shown to prevent cancer through inhibiting…
Key Points Lay SummaryVitamin D and Endometriosis
Scientists from Milan, Italy reviewed the effects of vitamin D on the reproductive health, and in particular "endometriosis" in their article which appeared in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Vitamin D (VD), is a steroid hormone that is activated in…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis, Pain and Quality of Life
Although studies show that pain in endometriosis is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), details as to which pain symptoms contribute to such a decline have not been explored. For the first time in this study, researchers from…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to preserve fertility in women with “ovarian endometriosis”?
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 SummaryFighting with endometriosis
Maduro M.R. reviewed three separate studies on potential new targets to successfully manage endometriosis in her recent paper titled “Novel Strategies to Fight Endometriosis” published in the journal Reproductive Sciences. In the autotransplantation rat model of Torres-Reveron et al., the…
Key Points Lay SummaryReduced pain and increased fertiliy rates after surgery for colorectal endometriosis
This prospective cohort study which recently published in AOGS by Hudelist et al. from Oslo University, Norway is about their one hundred thirty-four laparoscopic operations of DIE cases performed between 2011 and 2016, in a tertiary center in Oslo. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to improve the current ASRM classification of endometriosis?
In this article which recently published in Best Practice&Research Clinical Obst&Gyn. from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Andres et al. penned a review of the classification of endometriosis in chronological order, and discussed the limitations of existing classification systems to…
Key Points Lay SummaryCARD10 and CARD11 Mutations: Another Piece of the Puzzle
Zou et al., a research group from China, recently published a study titled “Analysis of CARD10 and CARD11 somatic mutations in patients with ovarian endometriosis” in Oncology Letters. The paper looked at the effects of caspase recruitment domain family member…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealth-related quality of life in women with Endometriosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
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 and long-term morbidity in women of reproductive age.…
Key Points Lay SummaryN-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain improved endometriosis-associated pelvic pain
Oxidative stress has been implicated in many processes that lead to the development and progression of endometriosis. Typically, women with endometriosis have to endure pelvic pain which negatively impacts their quality of life. Pelvic pain can be chronic and related…
Key Points Lay SummaryCatching Endometriosis Early
Li et al., a group primarily from Sun Yat-sen University in the People’s Republic of China, recently published an article titled “Endometrium metabolomic profiling reveals potential biomarkers for diagnosis of endometriosis at minimal-mild stages” in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryCoping with vulvovaginal pain in intimate situations
Chronic vulvovaginal pain has a serious impact on women’s lives, affecting daily activities including sexual activities. Avoiding sexual activity has been shown to be a central coping strategy in other pain populations and has also been seen in women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryDifficulties Associated with Diagnosing Ascites and Encapsulating Peritonitis in Endometriosis
De Magalhães et al. recently published a paper titled “Ascites and Encapsulating Peritonitis in Endometriosis: a Systematic Review with a Case Report” in Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. The team from the Universidade Federal do Ceará and the Universidade…
Key Points Lay SummaryDeep Infiltrating Endometriosis Impairs Sexual Function
Lima et al., a group of scientists from Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual in Brazil, recently published an article entitled “Female Sexual Function in Women with Suspected Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis” in Revista Brasileira De Ginecologia E Obstetricia. The paper analyzed…
Key Points Lay SummaryThoracic Endometriosis Syndrome : A case report describing endometriosis involvement of the lung
Leonardo-Pinto and authors from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil, have recently published a case report titled, "Hemoptysis and Endometriosis: An Unusual Association - Case Report and Review of the Literature" in the Journal, Revista Brasileira De Ginecologia E Obstetricia describing a…
Key Points Lay SummaryCollaboration Between the Surgical and Medical Experts of Endometriosis Needed
The authors of this perspective article aim to initiate a dialogue regarding the current evidence regarding the surgical and medical treatment of endometriosis. In their view, the quality of data regarding the outcomes of surgery for endometriosis is lacking and…
Key Points Lay SummaryNovel lipid biomarkers may make early detection of endometriosis possible
Currently, specific clinical diagnostic indicators for the early detection of endometriosis have not been found with enough specificity and sensitivity for widespread use. Novel diagnostic biomarkers are needed that are both effective and non-invasive to detect endometriosis as early as…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes asthma increase the risk of endometriosis?
Previous studies have shown an association between asthma and endometriosis but with inconsistency. It is still unclear whether women who have asthma are at a higher risk of endometriosis than women without asthma symptoms. Peng et al., conducted a large…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Oxidative Stress
The etiology of endometriosis is still unclear. However, it is now widely accepted that oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, may be implicated in the pathophysiology of endometriosis causing a general inflammatory response…
Key Points Lay SummaryA New Treatment Time-Table for Controlling Endometriosis-Associated Pelvic Pain
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 SummaryEndometriosis increases the risk of miscarriage
This systematic review was based on four studies in literature and included a total of 31,167 pregnant women with endometriosis. Several studies were previously performed to establish the association between endometriosis and pregnancy loss with contradictory results. This somewhat large…
Key Points Lay SummarySevere Dyspareunia is Related with "Cul-de-sac" and "Uterosacral Ligament" Endometriosis
Endometriosis and especially deep infiltrating endometriosis has been associated with an increased risk of severe dyspareunia. Studies reporting the anatomical sites associated with deep dyspareunia and the severity of pain, and the risk factors of these anatomic sites are incongruent;…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical treatment of colonic endometriosis
In this study, the authors provide a brief report published in the journal "The American Surgeon" which retrospectively reviewed the therapy outcomes in eight consecutive patients who had a laparoscopic surgical intervention for deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) at Anne Arundel Medical Center. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Potential Molecular Mechanisms that Drive Endometriosis Progression
Endometriosis is a mysterious disease in that the exact mechanism that causes the illness is still at large. Yang et al. recently published a paper in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences that hopes to elucidate the molecular…
Key Points Lay SummaryReduced vascularization in ovarian endometriomas associated with less pain
Angiogenesis, i.e., the development of new blood vessels is believed to play an important role in endometriosis pathogenesis and symptoms. Endometriosis is associated and requires neovascularization to proliferate, invade surrounding normal structure in order to establish an endometriotic lesion. Ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombo Therapy of Micronized palmitoylethanolamide/trans-polydatin for Endometriosis Pain
Endometriosis is a painful illness and many researchers in the field work to offer women with the disease some form of respite from the suffering. Indraccolo, Indraccolo, and Mignini are three such researchers and they recently published a paper titled…
Key Points Lay SummarySexual Pain in Endometriosis
Pelvic pain during sexual intercourse (deep dyspareunia) is a major concern for women with endometriosis. As many as half of women with endometriosis experience deep dyspareunia and has been shown to have a detrimental impact on quality of life. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryDienogest for endometriosis pain in clinical practice
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 SummaryInhibition of key neurotransmitter could reduce endometriosis-related pain
This study published in the scientific journalMolecular MedicineReports[link] by Lian et al. from Shanghai, China, aims to explore the relationship between transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and endometriosis-associated pain. Pain is the most common symptom for women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Benefits of Primary Surgery
Ahmad, Hussin, and Ahmad recently conducted a cohort study, and they published the results within an article titled “An evaluation of the quality of life in women with endometriosis who underwent primary surgery: a 6-month follow-up in Sabah Women &…
Key Points Lay SummaryPregnancy Risks Associated with Severe Endometriosis
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 SummaryImmune Response in Endometriosis and Regulatory T cells
The adaptive immune system is crucial for many diseases. Lymphocytes, including T cells, are particularly important in the adaptive immune system. Previous research suggested that defective immune response could play a role in endometriosis. The hypothesis proposes that the immune…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Unresolved Link Between Sexual Dysfunction and Endometriosis
Barbara et al. recently published a systematic review of literature in Reproductive Sciences titled “What Is Known and Unknown About the Association Between Endometriosis and Sexual Functioning” that delves into the effects that endometriosis has on female sexual dysfunction. Endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryTFF3 May Be Involved in Endometriosis Research Suggests
Levels of a protein called TFF3 are significantly increased in the peritoneal cavity (the abdominal space) of women with endometriosis, found a study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. This increase was in line with levels of other known…
Lay SummaryHow rats can help improve colon endometriosis treatment in humans
Colorectal endometriosis forms about 3–37% of all deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) cases. DIE is a highly invasive type of endometriosis, occurs when ovarian endometriomas overgrow and rupture, releasing their contents into the abdominal and pelvic cavity, resulting in the formation…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes laparoscopic excision or laparoscopic ablation offer the best long-term pain relief from endometriosis?
This systematic and meta-analysis of several studies aimed to compile data regarding the reduction of dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), dyschezia (difficult defecation), dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), chronic pelvic pain and Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30) score 2-12 months after treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS)…
Key Points Lay SummaryMetabolomic profiling and biochemical evaluation of the follicular fluid of endometriosis patients.
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