The Dysregulated IL-23/TH17 Axis in Endometriosis Pathophysiology
In a study published in the Journal of Immunology, Sisnett et al. explored the therapeutic potential of endometriosis with IL-23/TH17/IL-17 axis with structured into three main investigative components: human sample analysis, in vitro cell culture experiments, and an in vivo mouse model of endometriosis. The study…
Key Points Lay SummaryMay it be a new non-hormonal treatment option for endometriosis patients?
Heidi Ledford published a news in Nature, entitled “How understudied endometriosis causes pain for hundreds of millions of women”. She aimed to summarize the recent status about endometriosis treatment options. Pain-sensing nerves and immune cells interact to worsen both pain…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Sheds Light on the Role of Programmed Cell Death in Endometriosis
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 SummaryPost Surgery Endometrioma Recurrence
Endometrioma is a common form of endometriosis. Endometrioma cystectomy is the preferred treatment, as it is more effective than ablation or laser vaporization in reducing pain and recurrence. While medical treatment can help prevent recurrence after surgery, postoperative hormonal therapy…
Key Points Lay SummaryRobot-assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis of bowel
Deep infiltrating endometriosis is characterized by lesions larger than 5 mm that penetrate the peritoneum or invade the muscular layer of adjacent organs, affecting over 20% of women with endometriosis. Bowel involvement occurs in 5-12% of cases and may present with…
Key Points Lay SummaryA literature review about postmenopausal endometriosis.
Typically, endometriosis disease brings relief to women after menopause, but some individuals continue to develop some endometriosis-related issues even after the cessation of menstruation. This enigmatic condition, called postmenopausal endometriosis, needs to be understood, and the disease must be diagnosed…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Identifies Factors Associated With the Risk of Adenomyosis Progression
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 SummaryEarly diagnosis of deep infiltrating endometriosis in adolescence
Dysmenorrhea is widely observed in adolescence, and endometriosis is one of its causes. However, endometriosis diagnosis is usually made after 25 years of age. It is clear that early diagnosis and management of this progressive disease is essential and will…
Key Points Lay SummaryPsychological effect of endometriosis due to chronic pelvic pain
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 SummaryPsychosocial Factors Must Be Taken Into Account When Dealing With Endometriosis
It is crucial to take into account both physical and psychosocial factors to maintain physical and mental health in patients with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Psychology & Health. “Treatment should address both pelvic…
Key Points Lay SummaryA herbal product has promising results in experimental endometriosis
Neroli oil (bitter orange) is a nontoxic volatile substance from the flowers of Citrus aurantium that belongs to the Rutaceae family. This oil has notable anti-inflammatory effects besides potent antioxidant activity with 100% singlet oxygen scavenging activity. Contemporary pathophysiological views…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe urgent need for research and compassionate care in endometriosis
Endometriosis, a common yet little-known inflammatory disorder, has significant patient and public health impacts due to underinvestment in its research and care. Delayed diagnosis and inadequate care persist due to reliance on surgical methods and limited advancements in medical therapies.…
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 SummaryIs continuous hormonal treatment safe and healthy method for endometriotic patients?
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 SummaryIntegrative medical management of endometriosis
This lecture entitled "Integrative Medical Management of Endometriosis" was presented by Dr. Pinar Kodaman, Director of the endoscopic reproductive surgery program and Assoc. Professor of Clinical ObGyn and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine. In addition to surgery which…
Key Points Lay Summary2023 MedicalConferance: Pros and cons of hormonal interventions for endometriosis - Sarah Berga, MD
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 SummaryAnti-IL-8 antibody ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis: A promising treatment for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition associated with chronic inflammation and fibrosis, and there are limitations and side effects with current treatments such as hormonal therapy and surgery. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) are inflammatory cytokines that play a crucial…
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 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 SummaryGestrinone May Be Safe and Effective in Treating Endometriosis Symptoms
Gestrinone seems to be safe for the treatment of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. It also may be more effective than danazol and other medical treatments. However, these findings…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-hormonal medication for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain
The thought of benefiting from non-hormonal therapy in endometriosis pain is based on the pathophysiological findings that include angiogenesis, fibrosis, the presence of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells, apoptosis, and stem cell theory. But the effect of this treatment in…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Identifies Factors Associated With Risk of UrinaryTract Endometriosis Recurrence
Being younger than age 25 and having an autoimmune disease are significant predictors of the recurrence of urinary tract endometriosis after surgery according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Adjuvant hormonal therapy, on the…
Key Points Lay SummaryValidity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Deep Pelvic Endometriosis.
Video laparoscopy has become a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing endometriosis in recent years. In cases associated with deep infiltrating endometriosis, the need for a non-invasive diagnostic method before laparoscopic evaluation paves the way for using MRI. The use…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes the timing of endometriosis diagnosis affect optimal infertility treatment?
Based on a retrospective population-linked data study in "Human Reproduction", the ESHRE journal club featured a detailed discussion with 50 participants, patients’ representatives, and experts (Paola Vigano´, Mathew Leonardi, Thomas D’Hooghe, Louise Hull), together with the authors of the original article, mainly…
Key Points Lay SummaryProlactin receptor antibodies: A novel treatment proposal for endometriosis
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 SummaryA New Simultaneous Tool to Assess Endometriosis Symptoms
Researchers from the Netherlands developed a new digital tool to assess the symptoms of endometriosis using the experience sampling method. This new method may help overcome the limitations of current questionnaires. “After validation and testing, future studies will be planned…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn Overview on Treatment of endometriosis
There are different guidelines by different gynecological societies for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, which is an extremely complex illness. Kalaitzopoulos and Samartzis et al. from Switzerland worked on and compared six national and two international widely used guidelines to…
Key Points Lay SummaryPharmacological Therapy for Endometriosis Pain
The negative effects of endometriosis on women’s quality of life are indisputable. Women who suffer from endometriosis might have to deal with problems in many aspects such as psychological, sexual, social, and economic. Pain which is one of the most…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new "nonhormonal" treatment target in endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects millions of women globally. With pelvic pain being its most common symptom, the cost of the treatment of disease-associated symptoms has been found to be almost as high as type 2 diabetes.…
Key Points Lay SummaryOutpatient neuromuscular protocol may improve the quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a complicated entity causing central and peripheric sensitization of nerves. The sensitization processes start a loop of unbreakable pain chain causing resistance to conventional therapy methods. The study conducted by Soha Patil et al covering data…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring a bonafide biomarker to predict endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex disease affecting many women in the reproductive age group. As it is important to figure out the mechanisms responsible for the disease, it is also crucial to identify biomarkers that can be used in the diagnosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors affecting complications and the recurrence of operated deep infiltrating endometriosis
Deep infiltrating endometriosis is classified as penetrating the endometrial tissues more than 5 mm deep on the peritoneal surface, mainly uterosacral ligament, rectovaginal septum, ovarian fossa, pelvic peritoneum, bowels, ureters, and bladder. Treatment of the disease depends on the need…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative treatment and pregnancy points to decreased recurrence risk for ovarian endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease most frequently diagnosed in women of reproductive age and negatively affects the quality of life. The most common localization for endometriosis is ovaries with a prevalence of 17-44%. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy performed as excision or ablation…
Key Points Lay SummaryManaging the physical and emotional effects of endometriosis
Endometriosis is known to affect 5-10% of the general population, but some women are underdiagnosed due to physical and psychological disability. Due to the symptoms including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and infertility, endometriosis has a negative effect on the quality…
Key Points Lay SummaryEgg Freezing for Endometriosis: Should she rush - Tomer Singer, MD
In this presentation, Dr. Tomer Singer, a fertility specialist and the medical director at Shady Grove Fertility in Manhattan, New York talks about egg freezing and its importance for women with endometriosis. He emphasizes the importance of having an endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis: Less is better. How to improve the integration between surgical and medical therapy - Errico Zupi, MD
In this presentation, Dr. Errico Zupi, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rome talks about the importance of an integrative approach comprising of both medical and surgical interventions to treat endometriosis. "The first…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in adolescents
The belief that dysmenorrhea, the primary symptom of endometriosis, in adolescents is an inevitable condition seen in menstruation as well as unwillingness to perform diagnostic laparoscopy may cause the delay of diagnosis of endometriosis. This is according to a recent…
Key Points Lay SummaryHormone Therapy Before Endometriosis Surgery
Hormonal therapy can be effective for endometriosis, although laparoscopic surgery is required for the frequent drug-resistant symptoms. Laparoscopic surgery can markedly improve endometriosis-associated pain. The administration of GnRH agonist prior to endometriosis laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial to improve surgical…
Key Points Lay SummaryCabergoline or Progesterone not Effective in Rat Model of Endometriosis
Oral treatment with cabergoline or micronized progesterone for four weeks is not effective in the regression of endometriotic implants in a rat model of the disease. This is according to a study published in the "Journal of Investigative Surgery". Cabergoline…
Key Points Lay SummaryBone morphogenetic protein and endometriosis
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 SummaryEstrogen Receptors and Endometriosis: What do we know now?
It has been well known that endometriosis is closely associated with steroid hormone metabolism and pathways. Estradiol promotes the growth and progression of endometriotic tissue, together with the associated inflammation and pain-related symptoms. Excess estradiol in endometriosis is mainly produced…
Key Points Lay SummaryInternational experts commentary for assisted fertility treatment facilities amidst COVID-19
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 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 SummaryTransvaginal sonography for predicting the distance between rectosigmoid endometriosis and the anal verge
For optimal surgery, pre-surgical assessment of the distance between rectosigmoid deep endometriosis lesions and the anal verge (Lesion to Anal Verge Distance-LAVD) is recommended by many specialists. A group of researchers from Norway, Austria, and Australia studied the accuracy of…
Key Points Lay SummaryOxidative stress leads to elevated cytokines, excessive structural damage and angiogenesis
Endometriosis is characterized by elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species, which is then believed to upregulate inflammatory cytokines. Reactive oxygen species also regulate the activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), which is closely linked with immune responses.…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgical approach to rectovaginal endometriosis.
Recto-vaginal endometriosis incidence is estimated at 3.8%-37% among women with endometriosis and when it exists it's a part of deeply infiltrated endometriosis, thus advance stage endometriosis. Raimondo et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPhytotherapy as an alternative endometriosis treatment
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease that affects 5–10% of women in fertile age. Different therapeutic strategies are available to treat this disease, such as surgery, hormonal therapies, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical therapy usually consists of different hormonal drugs,…
Key Points Lay SummaryUnderstanding endocannabinoid system in endometriosis
Endocannabinoids and their receptors are expressed throughout the body but have only been recently studied in depth since endocannabinoids were being discovered in 1992. In the female reproductive system, the cannabinoid receptor is expressed in the endometrium, the myometrium, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA review of endometriosis in adolescent girls and young women
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease which is commonly diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. On the other hand, this disease can develop earlier in life due to different etiopathogenetic mechanisms. Especially adolescents who experienced neonatal uterine bleeding are under the risk for…
Key Points Lay Summaryβ-catenin signaling, a new therapeutic target in endometriosis
Endometriosis is characterized by cell proliferation, resistance to cell death and fibrotic scarring. It is treated by surgical removal of the peritoneal lesions and ovarian cysts or using hormonal agents. However, the success of the current treatment is limited by…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to design patient-centered interventions to meet the needs of endometriosis patients
The treatment of endometriosis is not perfect and necessitates the development of patient-oriented care initiatives. On this basis, patient-related transparent information should be the priority for researchers to find out a way for targeted interventions. Steele et al. from Australia and…
Key Points Lay SummaryRecent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is commonly diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. The most common complaints of women with endometriosis are pain and fertility problems. Although many advanced types of research about the etiology, differential diagnosis and treatment have been…
Key Points Lay SummaryRisk of placenta previa is elevated in endometriotic women who underwent surgery.
In the last decade concerns raised for surgical operations performed before pregnancies of endometriotic patients due to significantly increased risk of pregnancy complications such as placenta previa, preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage and small baby…
Key Points Lay SummaryA rigorous literature review on endometriosis
Bulun SE. et al., from Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, conducted a rigorous literature review on endometriosis. This outstanding review by Dr. Bulun et al. addresses the definition, remarkable medical features, clinically useful research findings, prevalence and distribution,…
Key Points Lay SummaryOptimal Management of Endometriosis and the associated pain
Around 5–10 million reproductive-aged women suffer from endometriosis in the United States. The condition is hard to diagnose due to large variation in symptoms, though most women experience pain that can either be cyclical pelvic pain with menses or noncyclic…
Key Points Lay SummaryConsquences of endometriosis in menopausal period.
Marie-Scemama et al. from Foch Hospital, Suresnes, France, referred to endometriosis and menopause which is an actual cruising topic and recently published it in the journal named "Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation". Endometriosis a well-known estrogen-dependent disease has three…
Key Points Lay SummaryMicroRNA Inhibitor as an Endometriosis treatment
Endometriosis is a well-known estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder. This disease affects approximately 20% to 50% of infertile women and 10% of reproductive-aged women resulting in infertility and pelvic pains. In order to find endometriosis-specific treatment, various studies have been tried to…
Key Points Lay SummaryDisparities in Access to Healthcare in Women with Endometriosis
There are significant differences in the use of medical services and prescriptions between women with endometriosis who have private healthcare and those who don’t. This is according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This…
Key Points Lay SummaryA position statement of diagnosing and treating endometriosis for gynecologists.
Endometriosis Treatment Italian Group recently declared 10 "valuable" conducts to evaluate endometriotic patients and published them in Hum. Reprod. Open. This society consists of 16 university departments and training center with expert clinicians on endometriosis from Italy. After arising the idea of…
Key Points Lay SummaryControl on endometriosis progression by a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor"
B cells, which are important players of the immune system, are increased in the blood and peritoneal cavity of endometriosis patients. Activation of B cells and the presence of anti-endometrial autoantibodies have been also been described in women with endometriosis,…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould a defect in phagocytosis cause endometriosis?
The macrophages are important immune cells in the peritoneal cavity because they function to remove aberrant cells or tissues by the process of phagocytosis. In endometriosis, there is an increased number of peritoneal macrophages and heightened production of inflammation molecules…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnti-angiogenic treatment for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder. The wide variety of surgical and medical treatment has been applied for treating endometriosis, but a definitive therapy has not been achieved so far. Thus, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. Among…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntibiotic therapy for endometriosis
Current treatments for endometriosis are surgery and hormone therapy; however, these approaches may have significant side effects and do not prevent a recurrence. Therefore, alternative treatment modalities for endometriosis is needed. Recently, the idea that endometriosis may be influenced by…
Key Points Lay SummaryBladder Endometriosis
Bladder endometriosis is rare – about 1-2% of women with endometriosis may have endometrial lesions in their urinary tract. Diagnosis of bladder endometriosis is difficult because of its nonspecific symptoms such as frequent urination, pelvic pain, and burning sensation when…
Key Points Lay SummaryEfficacy of an antibiotic, clarithromycin for endometriosis
Laparoscopic surgery is the standard treatment for advanced stages of endometriosis, followed by postoperative modalities including to progesterone, antiprogestogens, estrogen-progesterone combinations, danazol, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to reduce recurrence after surgery. However, these drugs interfere with ovulation and fertility. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence of the disease ranges between 6-10% in reproductive-aged women. However, endometriosis is more frequently encountered in women with chronic pelvic pain and…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Brief Review of Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common disease among women of reproductive age. It is more frequently seen among women without prior pregnancies, women with a family history of endometriosis, and women with abnormal menstrual periods. Peiris et al., researchers from the United…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs Physical Exercise Effective in Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility are mostly encountered symptoms of endometriosis. Although there are several theories explaining the pathogenesis of endometriosis, the exact pathogenesis still has…
Key Points Lay SummaryBest endometriosis articles of the past year.
Dr.Stowall, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA penned this letter and recently published it in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology to show his remarks of importance on four best publications of the…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-assisted reproductive technology treatment: Is it effective in infertile patients with advanced endometriosis?
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 SummaryHow to evaluate ureteral endometriosis : A review of the literature
In this recently published review of the literature, Barra et al. from Genova, Italy intend to provide a useful tool to guide physicians in the management of deep infiltrating endometriosis. Authors elected 67 abstracts from Pubmed and Medline in accordance with PRISMA…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis in adolescents
Dr. Mama S. T. from Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA, recently has published his review on advances in the management of endometriosis in the adolescent in the journal “Current Opinion Obstetrics and Gynecology”. In adolescence, there is a…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis as a chronic disease: The benefits for the patients
Rebecca O'Hara et al. from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, recently published their qualitative case study in the Journal "Australian Health Review", to build a National Policy about endometriosis considering as a chronic disease. In Australia, long-term complex diseases are managed…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow are endometriosis patients managed clinically?
This review paper by Falcone and Flyckt, entitled “Clinical Management of Endometriosis” published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology aims to summarize the current strategies for treating endometriosis patients with pain, pelvic dysfunction, and subfertility related to their disease. There are many…
Key Points Lay SummaryComplementary treatments for endometriosis symptoms: acupuncture, exercise, electrotherapy, or yoga?
Endometriosis is associated with debilitating symptoms in some women including dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, dyschezia, and dysuria. There are a few therapeutic options to treat these symptoms; however, only a few studies have considered treating the pain symptoms…
Key Points Lay SummaryTherapeutic potential of ginseng based compound in preclinical models of endometriosis
Currently, the drug option for women with endometriosis mainly focus on reducing estrogens levels (e.g., progestins, androgens, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, and aromatase inhibitors). However, these therapies can have low effectiveness with frequent recurrence and considerable side effects. Therefore, there…
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 SummaryOral Contraceptives and Low-Cost Progestins to Reduce Endometriosis-Associated Pain
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 SummaryThe comparison of Chinese women in terms of risk factors, genetics and treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is characterized by endometrial implants outside of the uterine cavity. There is a wide spectrum of symptoms of this disease including dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, extragenital symptoms. The pathogenesis of endometriosis appears to be multifactorial, including ectopic endometrial…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Target for Endometriosis Treatment?
NR4A1 could be a novel target for the treatment of endometriosis, according to a study published in the scientific journal Cell Physiology and Biochemistry. NR4A1 is a receptor protein involved in cell division, inflammation, and programmed cell death. The development…
Key Points Lay SummaryTherapeutic strategies involving uterine stem cells in reproductive medicine
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 SummaryManaging of endometriosis and associated ovarian cancer risk
According to a number of studies, endometriosis is associated with moderate increase in ovarian cancer risk. This risk is elevated in subjects with a long-standing history of untreated ovarian endometriosis. Endometriosis is particularly associated with risk for certain histological subtypes…
Key Points Lay SummaryInvestigational drugs for the treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis treatment involves surgery and medical therapies. Surgery can improve the associated pain, quality of life and sexual function, even though it is technically challenging with potential risks of complications. Medical therapy is often aimed to ameliorate pain symptoms and…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe use of histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis
Histone deacetylase inhibitors prevent the deacetylation of specific gene sequences thereby allowing the increased transcription of certain genes. Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been seen to induce the expression of a pro-apoptotic gene called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene…
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 SummaryThe effect of anti-rheumatic drugs on endometriosis therapeutic outcomes
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 SummaryDiagnostic and treatment guidelines for gastrointestinal and genitourinary endometriosis.
Endometriosis may affect the pelvic reproductive system, but it can also be found in non-reproductive organs such as the gastrointestinal and urinary tract. The article outlined below discusses the diagnosis and management of genitourinary and gastrointestinal endometriosis. Gastrointestinal endometriosis: The…
Key Points Lay SummaryEffects of osteopathic manipulative therapy in patients with colorectal endometriosis
Alternative treatments have been used for colorectal endometriosis, between them Chinese medicine, acupuncture and more recently osteopathic manipulative therapy. The osteopathic manipulative therapy has been shown to reduce the chronic pain working on muscular contractions due to vicious analgesic positions.…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis early pointers
Endometriosis can take a long time to diagnose, thus associated with prolonged symptoms of pain, subfertility and patient frustration/demoralization. It can be difficult to diagnose clinically because the symptoms are common and non-specific so that GP can misconceive them as…
Key Points Lay SummaryTreatment of minimal endometriosis in infertile women
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 SummaryOverview of NICE Endometriosis Guidelines
In this article titled “Diagnosis and management of endometriosis: summary of NICE guidance,” Kuznetsov et al. talk through the recent endometriosis guidelines set forth by The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE). The BMJ publication hopes to elucidate…
Key Points Lay SummaryUpdates in the Field of Endometriosis
A lot of progress has been made thus far in the field of endometriosis. Research has discovered various genetic and epigenetic components involved in endometriosis. There has also been a progression in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease since…
Key Points Lay SummaryArcyriaflavin A Decreases Endometriosis Cell Viability and Proliferation
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 SummaryHuman Endometrium-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cell-based Therapies
Mesenchymal stem cells are a promising candidate for cell-based targeted therapies because they have characteristics such as self-renewal, multipotency, low immunogenicity, and non-oncogenicity. It has the capacity to migrate to sites of inflammation including in endometrial lesions and tumor. Most…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe dose of the GnRHa after laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is considered a routine way to diagnose and remove endometriosis. The primary concern with laparoscopic surgery is the recurrence of endometriosis because of incomplete lesion excision. Hence, the challenge is to decrease endometriosis recurrence rate. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist…
Key Points Lay SummaryReevaluating response and failure of medical treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting more than 10% of women in the fertile age and causing "pain" symptoms, that may require medical therapy. Most medical treatments used for endometriosis exert a hormonal mechanism to curtail estrogen effects either locally…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Most Cost Effective Medical Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Endometriosis
A new study conducted in China found that a class of drugs called Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) is more cost effective for the treatment of recurrent endometriosis despite the fact that they are more expensive than oral contraceptives. The results…
Key Points Lay SummaryInhibition of key neurotransmitter could reduce endometriosis-related pain
This study published in the scientific journalMolecular MedicineReports[link] by Lian et al. from Shanghai, China, aims to explore the relationship between transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and endometriosis-associated pain. Pain is the most common symptom for women with…
Key Points Lay SummarySymptoms of Endometriosis May Be Partly Caused by an Infection and Be Treated with Antibiotics
Women with endometriosis are more frequently diagnosed with chronic endometritis compared to other women found a study published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility. According to the authors, this finding suggests that although no causal relationship between these two…
Key Points Lay SummaryNaturally Occurring Plant Product May Hold Promise for the Treatment of Endometriosis
A natural plant product called apigenin might be a potential new treatment for endometriosis according to a study published in the Journal of Cell Physiology. “ […] Apigenin is a potential novel therapeutic agent to overcome current limitations in the…
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 SummaryHow Resveratrol is effective in endometriosis?
In their review paper, Mohammadi and Arablou recommend using Resveratrol, a plant-derived compound, for the treatment of endometriosis. Resveratrol is abundant in nature and can be found in many different plant species, fungi, berries, peanuts, legumes, and grasses; however, grapes…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Cholesterol-Lowering Drug and an Anticancer Drug May Be Alternative Treatments Against Endometriosis
Crestor (rosuvastatin), a cholesterol lowering drug and Avastin (bevacizumab), an anticancer drug are more efficient in reducing endometriosis in rats compared to progesterone medication, according to a study published in the journal Gynecological Endocrinology. For the study, researchers led by…
Lay SummaryWomen with Endometriosis Undergoing Surgery Often Require Further Treatment
Recurrence of endometriosis is common even in women who underwent surgery, a new study confirmed. This suggests that women with endometriosis should be closely followed up even after treatment with surgery. For the study published online in the Journal of…
Lay SummaryUltrasound Ablation to Treat Endometriosis
Further Understanding: Deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) often presents in the rectosigmoid colon in women with endometriosis and can be the major cause of gastrointestinal and pelvic symptoms. This preliminary study focuses on the utility of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in…
Key Points Lay Summary