Childhood Adversity Associated With Increased Risk of Endometriosis and Fibroids
Childhood adversity such as physical and sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, peer bullying before 18 years of age may be associated with the development of endometriosis and fibroids later in life, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Fertility and Sterility. …
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune Cell Infiltration and Genetic Drivers in Endometriosis Development
The development of endometriosis is closely linked to immune cell infiltration, where immune cells and their secreted cytokines play a key role in driving inflammation and the formation of lesions. Studies highlight increased neutrophil infiltration in ectopic tissues, which release…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of Nerve Preservation During Parametrectomy on Urinary Retention in Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is the most advanced form of the disease, characterized by lesions penetrating deeper than 5 mm. Surgical treatment requires a meticulous approach to minimize functional complications. Deep lesions involving the parametrium, uterosacral ligaments, and anterior rectal…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryRetrograde Menstruation: Insights from Humans and Non-Human Primates
Vigano et al.from the Academic Center for Research on Adenomyosis and Endometriosis of Milan University, Italy, conducted a comprehensive literature review over a span of 23 years to evaluate retrograde menstruation in both humans and non-human primates, focusing on its role…
Key Points Lay SummaryIntrinsic Potential Factors in Retrograde Menstruation
The mechanistic model of endometriosis pathogenesis suggests that anatomical factors promoting retrograde menstruation are crucial and biologically sound. This model is supported by the strong link between obstructive Müllerian anomalies and endometriosis, indicating a causal relationship between the amount of…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat are Patients with Endometriosis Discussing Online?
People mostly use online health communities about endometriosis to learn about the symptoms of the disease and share their own medical experiences, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. The posts and comments of the…
Key Points Lay SummarySleep Disorders and Endometriosis
A new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology by a team lead by Bruno et al., reveals that endometriosis is associated with decreased sleep quality and hyperarousal. Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting millions of women, often causing…
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 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 SummaryEndometriosis and musculoskeletal function of pelvic loin complex
Endometriosis is an inflammatory and estrogen-dependent disease which is diagnosed in reproductive-aged women most frequently. These women present with a broad clinical spectrum including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility. All of these symptoms and signs may harm women’s lives…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostmenopausal endometriosis is often neglected
Romanian academicians led by Dr. Mihai-Daniel Dinu have published their review of the published scientific data related to postmenopausal endometriosis in a recent special issue of the medical periodical Life. Even though endometriosis is accepted as a hormone-dependent disorder of…
Key Points Lay SummaryRecommendations of experts on transvaginal ultrasonography
Following June 2022, the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound composed of a panel of 16 experts in imaging and management of endometriosis, the recommendations have been published in a recent issue of Radiology. Transvaginal sonography is accepted as a first-line…
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 SummaryRevolutionizing endometriosis diagnosis: Advances in radiological imaging
With recent advances in diagnostic radiological imaging, the diagnosis of endometriosis, particularly for deep and ovarian endometriosis, has been revolutionized. Updated guidelines now recommend the initial use of endometriosis transvaginal ultrasound (eTVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) for diagnosis, although…
Key Points Lay SummaryCurrent practice in robotic surgery for deep-infiltrating endometriosis
Today, surgical excision of endometriotic lesions is the only cytoreductive procedure for managing endometriosis. Hormonal treatment may partly relieve the symptoms, but it suppresses rather than cytoreduction of the disease. Minimally invasive surgery is usually the most preferred method due…
Key Points Lay SummaryCurrent status of non-invasive biomarkers for endometriosis
Laparoscopy has been the gold standard for the diagnosis of endometriosis, however, the understanding of how many people have the condition is limited because not everyone undergoes surgery. The different treatment modalities for patients with unexplained infertility and the invasiveness…
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 SummaryFamily history of endometriosis and its characteristics
Depression and migraine are two familial disorders affected by menstrual cycle and endometriosis patients have an increased likelihood of suffering from these comorbidities. A correlation of endometriosis, migraine and depression has been already reporteed in the literature, however a link for…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryDiagnosis and the Treatment of Postmenopausal Endometriosis
About 190 million women around the world are diagnosed with endometriosis. The majority of the cases are between 30 and 40 years of age. After menopause, the incidence of endometriosis declines to 2-5%, and it is more common in women…
Key Points Lay SummaryAsia-Pacific: Expert panel's suggestions for improving endometriosis-related health issues
"Endometriosis should be diagnosed as early as possible for the sake of the patients" and the Asia-Pacific Endometriosis Expert Panel sought to address the reasons for diagnostic delays in this part of the world and published a consensus report in…
Key Points Lay SummarySacral neuromodulation for endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain
Sacral neuromodulation is a therapeutic technique that involves electrical stimulation of a sacral nerve route to modulate a neural pathway. The device is an implantable neurostimulator, and the procedure is a minimally invasive procedure with good long-term outcomes. This technique…
Key Points Lay SummaryMenstruating eye: Very rare but possible
Extragenital cyclical bleeding during a menstrual cycle is called vicarious menstruation and it is mostly reported to be seen in the nasal mucosa but can involve any other organ such as the lungs, stomach, kidney, etc. Endometriosis is a common…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis as a "syndrome" made out of different clusters
Endometriosis has been classified according to surgical findings. In the study conducted by Antonio Sarria-Santamera et al., the authors aimed to classify the patients with their comorbidities. The study explored the multidimensionality of endometriosis using cluster analysis. It categorizes women…
Key Points Lay SummaryVicious cycle: The promoting role of previous endometriosis foci for new lesions
An experimental animal study on the pathogenesis of endometriosis from the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Hamburg has been published in a recent issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Endometriosis is a well-known common gynecological ailment…
Key Points Lay SummaryAlterations of mitochondrial dynamics in endometriosis
Mitochondria are known as the batteries of the cell with the ATP that they produce through oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial dynamics are important mechanisms for mitochondria to maintain their integrity by continuously undergoing changes. Mitochondrial fusion is the joining of two…
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 SummaryEndometriosis of the skeletal muscular system
Endometriosis of the skeletal muscular system (ESMS) is characterized by the presence of endometrial cells in skeletal muscles, bones, or joints. Despite its rare occurrence, ESMS has been reported in various muscle and joint locations, leading to atypical symptoms and…
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 SummaryMenopause-management strategies for women with endometriosis.
Menopausal hormonal therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, sweating, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and joint pain. Approximately 75% of all women experienced some degree of these symptoms, while 2-4% were diagnosed with endometriosis. Menopausal…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Model Can Help Understand How Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer Develops
Researchers from Japan and the US developed a new mouse model in collaboration, that can be useful to better understand how endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer develops. This new model can help to assess new treatment options for both diseases. The team…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen With Chronic Pelvic Pain Have a Negative Experience With Doctors
Women with chronic pelvic pain have a negative experience with the healthcare system, according to a study by US researchers published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is the case regardless of whether or not they have…
Key Points Lay SummaryGathering brings relief to endometriosis pain.
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that should be managed on a multidisciplinary basis. In a study conducted in Porto Rico, the authors designed a multitask organization to support women with endometriosis and analyzed its feasibility and accessibility. In order to define…
Key Points Lay SummaryIron and toxic environmental elements in ovarian endometriomas
It is well-known that the growth of endometriotic lesions is estrogen-dependent and supported by inflammatory processes. In addition to oxidative stress, it is believed that several other factors, including chemicals and environmental factors, and genetic predisposition may play a potential…
Key Points Lay SummaryTime to change out taboos about the radiologic evaluation of scar endometriosis
Scar endometriosis is one of the rare forms of endometriosis. According to traditional belief, it has always been evaluated radiologically on menstruation days. In the study conducted by Balaban et al, the authors compared the differences in lesions according to…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Increases Risk of Sexual Dysfunction But Only Before Menopause
Endometriosis increases the risk of sexual dysfunction, found a new study by US scientists. But this is the case only before menopause. This finding can guide doctors in decision-making about evaluating the sexual function of women with endometriosis who have…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the possible mechanisms of pain.
The most common clinical symptoms of endometriosis are chronic pelvic pain and infertility. It is often not enough to treat pain symptoms with hormonal therapy or a surgical approach. Moreover, the stage of endometriosis has weakly associated with the amount,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe association between severe endometriosis and venous thromboembolism
For clarifying the issue of whether endometriosis patients are at risk for venous thromboembolism due to both their local immune and inflammatory responses and hormonal treatments, Wiegers et al, from the Netherlands, published an explorative cohort study entitled “Risk of…
Key Points Lay SummaryResearchers Develop New Mouse Model of Endometriosis
Researchers from China developed a new mouse model to study endometriosis that could help researchers better understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of endometriosis and develop potential new treatments for the disease. Even though many animal models…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian tube occlusion in infertile women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from fertility problems with an incidence of 40-50%. Among the pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting in impaired fertility in women with endometriosis, distorted pelvic anatomy due to adhesions, impaired follicular quality-quantity, dysfunction of tubal peristalsis, and implantation problems…
Key Points Lay SummarySex Education For The Sexual Quality Of Life
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Decreased quality of life due to pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression can lead to sexual dysfunction in women with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryChasing gold to find endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a disease that doesn’t have a proper preoperative diagnostic test. Thus, animal models to study endometriosis are vital to show the effects of drugs and the effects of the disease on the body. In the study conducted by…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe evaluation of sexual dysfunction in infertile women
Infertility constitutes a serious health problem in women and men worldwide. The most common causes of women’s infertility are reported to be endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The prevalence of infertility in women with endometriosis is as high as 50%.…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe incidence of ovarian cancer after histologically diagnosed endometriosis.
Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, these patients are generally diagnosed in advanced stage due to their non-symptomatic nature. Therefore, preventative strategies have enormous importance for the management of ovarian cancer. Dr. Hermens and colleagues…
Key Points Lay SummaryPotential New Approach to Treat Endometriosis
Inhibiting ribosome biogenesis could be a potential therapeutic approach for endometriosis according to a new study published in the scientific journal Biomedicines. Ribosome biogenesis plays a key role in protein homeostasis during cell growth and division. Previous research has shown…
Key Points Lay SummaryFull understanding the role of nervous system in endometriosis could yield new gateways to novel therapeutic approaches
Dr. Velho and associates from Berlin, Germany have recently published their comprehensive review on the role of the nervous system in endometriosis in a recent issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. Understanding the role of the peripheral nervous system…
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 SummaryEmotions on the 'Surgery Requirement' in patients with bowel endometriosis
Endometriosis is known to have many adverse effects in patients’ lives such as a significant decrease in the quality of life, psychosocial problems, loss of productivity and focus while working. With the constant chronic pain, the patients mostly present with…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of hormone therapy after surgical menopause on endometriosis recurrence
Definitive surgery for severe and advanced endometriosis is hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, which may cause vasomotor symptoms, sleep deprivation, mood change, and dyspareunia in the patients. Furthermore, after the surgical removal of the ovaries, the sudden drop in estrogens causes…
Key Points Lay SummaryEtiopathogenesis of Endometriosis and Links with Endometrial Cancer
Professor Terzic and colleagues from the Medical School of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan published their review on the molecular aspects of endometriosis and endometrial cancer in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis has remained controversial, with recent studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryA rare complication of endometriosis
Morales et al. from the Monterrey School of Medicine, Mexico, reported a case of bowel intussusception in a woman with severe endometriosis to draw attention to this very rare endometriosis complication. The case is a 27 years old young female…
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 SummaryDepression and Anxiety Common in Women with Endo
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are frequent among women with endometriosis and are related to chronic pain, confirms a review of the literature and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Women's Health. According to the study authors, correlating factors should…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryStrong Geographical Gradient in Endometriosis Incidence Identified
The geographical distribution of new endometriosis cases showed a very strong north-south spatial gradient in the highly industrialized Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “The cluster of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPromising therapeutic results in experimental endometriosis model
Tiziana Genovese and associates from Italian academic centers reported their pioneering findings in an experimental model of endometriosis administering an anti-tumor agent and glucocorticoid combination, published in the scientific periodical “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”. Endometriosis is a worldwide common disease…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative endometrioma diagnosis
The current clinical experience of gynecologists and radiologists indicates that distinguishing a hemorrhagic cyst from endometriomas or ruptured corpus luteal cysts is compelling. For this reason, chosen criteria that can lead to decisive distinctions are valuable for preoperative identification of endometriomas.…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdenomyosis, fertility, and obstetric outcomes
Adenomyosis is the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells within the myometrial wall. Although magnetic resonance imaging has a higher ability to discriminate and identify adenomyosis, transvaginal ultrasonography is a cheaper, more accessible, and practical method in daily clinical practice for…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative Opioid use after Robotic operations for endometriosis, compared to non-endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common disease in patients of fertile age, and many patients require surgery. Robotic surgery is accepted as a minimally invasive method in the management of endometriosis and other benign conditions. However, postoperative pain status and the best pain…
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 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 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 SummaryThe endless burden: sexual dysfunction and endometriosis
The relationship between endometriosis and sexual health in women is one of the hottest topics in obstetrics and gynecology practice. There are some previous reports that investigated the effect of endometriosis on the loss of libido, arousal disorder, orgasmic dysfunction,…
Key Points Lay SummaryChronic Opioid Use in Women with Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis are at a higher risk of chronic opioid use compared to those without the disease, according to a new study by researchers in the U.S. This could be due to other diseases that accompany endometriosis. This finding…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the risk of Systemic lupus Erythematosus: A report from Taiwan
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage that affects mostly women, with an M:F ratio of 1:9. Recent evidence has also shown that endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryVitamin D supplementation, endometriosis symptoms and metabolic profiles
Patients with endometriosis suffer from dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. These women are also at higher risk for ovarian and breast cancer, cardiovascular events, and metabolic abnormalities. Several medical and surgical alternatives have been recommended to these patients…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryDeep endometriosis treatment options based on the patient's decision
Deep endometriosis, defined as endometriotic lesions penetrating deeper than 5 mm into the peritoneum comprise approximately 20% of all endometriosis cases. This invasive disease causes a significant reduction in the quality of life, social participation, and sexual health of affected…
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 SummaryLaparoscopic Approach to Rectus Muscle Endometriosis and Inguinal Endometriosis - Ted Lee, MD
Rectus muscle endometriosis and inguinal endometriosis are two rare types of endometriosis. Operation room videos of several patients with different rectus muscle endometriosis and inguinal endometriosis are shared during the presentation of Dr. Lee to clarify the methods of the…
Key Points Lay SummaryFurther Evidence that endometriosis is related to tubal or ovarian cancer - Togas Tulandi, MD
Most authors suggest an association of endometriosis mainly with clear cell, low-grade serous, and endometrioid ovarian cancer. But in two large cohort studies, no correlation between them is reported (Olson et al. 2002 and Tseng et al. 2019) Dr. Tulandi…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis involving the Sacral Plexus and Sciatic Nerve
Endometriosis rarely involves the sacral and sciatic nerves. A retrospective analysis led by Rouen University Hospital, France and Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, has evaluated preoperative complaints, intraoperative findings, surgical procedures, and postoperative…
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 SummaryPain in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and infertility. It affects approximately 10% of women globally and more than 60% of women diagnosed with endometriosis report CPP. However, the mechanisms underlying the associated pain…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Signaling Pathway Could Be Crucial in the Development of Endometriosis
RAMP1 signaling is crucial for growth and blood and lymphatic vessel formation in endometrial tissue, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. This suggests that blocking RAMP1 could be a new way to…
Key Points Lay SummaryA pilot study for Endometriosis Potential biomarkers
Endometriosis is one of the most common female health disorders typically causing dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain, and may contribute to infertility. It is necessary to identify potential molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and regulatory factors behind the disease. The study…
Key Points Lay 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 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 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 SummaryClinical characteristics linked to recurrence of ovarian endometrioma
Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women. Three types of endometriosis are peritoneal, ovarian, and deep infiltrating endometriosis. Ovarian endometriosis is the most common type of endometriosis with a high rate of recurrence. Laparoscopy is the gold standard treatment for endometriosis and…
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 SummaryOpioids use in women with endometriosis, what does it tell us?
Endometriosis is a debilitating disease that can cause many painful symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal pain, and sacral or low back pain. More than half of women diagnosed with endometriosis suffer from chronic pelvic pain.…
Key Points Lay SummaryNeglected needs of endometriosis and infertility patients during COVID-19 pandemic
With the global outbreak of the COVID-19, hospitals canceled surgeries and people are afraid of going to hospitals. However, chronic diseases still need to be managed. Rowe H. and Quinlivan J., researchers from Australia, pointed out the neglected needs of…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryPostmenopausal endometriosis: Is it a rare phenomenon?
Endometriosis, the estrogen-dependent disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity, is generally diagnosed in the reproductive-aged women. However, recent literature proved that this disease can also be observed in the premenopausal and…
Key Points Lay SummaryImproved fusion imaging for the detection of Endometriosis
This paper studied a new fusion method for magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound (US) imaging for the appropriate diagnosis of endometriosis. The diagnosis of endometriosis in patients with a chronic pelvic disease is delayed, due to the disease, patient, and physician-led…
Key Points Lay SummaryAppendiceal endometriosis
Jeong et al. from the Departement of Surgery, Trinity School of Medicine, Saint Vincent, recently published their interesting appendectomy case in "Hong Kong Medical Journal". In their case, endometriosis inside the cavity of the appendix mimicked appendicitis, the patient submitted…
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 SummaryLeiomyomas have similar genetic background with endometriosis
This multicenter research conducted in institutions located in the USA and UK published in Nature Communications, October 2019 issue. Leiomyomata of the uterus are hormone-dependent tumors with an estimated prevalence of about 20-77%. İn several publications. Research in uterine leiomyoma…
Key Points Lay SummaryTreatment choices for abdominal wall endometriosis
Welch et.al, from the Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, worked with his gynecologist colleagues to underline the current treatment algorithm of abdominal wall endometriosis in Mayo Clinic. Their experience results recently published in the journal "Abdominal Radiology". Abdominal wall…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis is linked with the most common autoimmune diseases
How endometriosis develops is not completely clear, but the involvement of the immune system has been heavily suggested. Women with endometriosis share some common autoimmune disorders, therefore, a potential link between autoimmune diseases and endometriosis has been investigated over the…
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 SummaryEndometriosis and the quality of life
Recent developments of technics and improvement of skill in the laparoscopic field increased the courage of clinicians to attempt early and multiple diagnostic operations on endometriotic patients. Vanuccini et al. from NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy recently published their…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryWhat happens to women with endometriosis after menopause?
Endometriosis affects women in their reproductive period of life, with expected regression of lesions in the postmenopausal period. Literature about postmenopausal endometriosis assessing the prevalence, pathogenesis, and treatment is limited. As 2-5 % of postmenopausal women are affected by this uncommon condition, developing stress…
Key Points Lay SummaryMortality of 49956 midlife women with surgically verified endometriosis
Saavalainen L. et al., from Finland recently published a retrospective large cohort study in the journal Human Reproduction, where they retrospectively examined the data of surgically verified endometriosis patients to find out if all-cause and the cause-specific mortality rate is…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrescription Opioid Use in Women With Endometriosis
In this study, researchers examined opioid use, opioid prescribing patterns, and timing of the first opioid prescription in endometriosis patients compared with matched women in the control group without endometriosis. A retrospective analysis of Optum Clinformatics Data Mart was conducted.…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryChronic Fatigue Syndrome and Endometriosis: Comorbid Conditions
In the study of Dr. Boneva et al., from Atlanta, GA, the United States which has recently been published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics evaluated the impact of endometriosis on the health of women with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The authors compared…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe predictors for the coexistence of uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis
Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecological benign tumors affecting 20-25% of reproductive-aged women. Abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, and infertility are major symptoms of these tumors. Endometriosis is another gynecological disease encountered in 10-15% of reproductive-aged women. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryTransvaginal Ultrasound and the Imaging of Endometriosis
Ultrasonography (US) is an imaging tool that uses sound waves to produce a two-dimensional picture inside of the body. The ultrasonography has become especially useful in the assessment of gynecologic pathologies such as endometriosis. Depending on the severity of endometriosis,…
Key Points Lay SummarySeven Hormonal Biomarkers for Diagnosing Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition characterized by implantation and invasive growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Although it is benign, endometriosis has cancer-like features, a mutation profile similar to that of ovarian cancer, and increased ovarian cancer risk.…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe coelomic metaplasia hypothesis of endometriosis in MRKH cases
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity and its incidence is approximately 10% in the general female population. Although the pathophysiological mechanism is not clearly understood, the implantation theory by Sampson…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe reason for lower BMI and less body fat in women with endometriosis.
Zolbin et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA, recently published the results of their prospective controlled research on adipocyte alterations in endometriosis, in the journal "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology". Endometriosis can…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryReducing the Risk of Recurrence After Endometriosis Surgery
The use of compounds called NF-κB inhibitors and β-blockers before and after endometriosis surgery may reduce the risk of the disease recurring, according to a study conducted in a mouse model. According to the study published in the journal Reproductive…
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 guide on the Assessment of Pelvic Endometriosis Imaging
Endometriosis is a disease whereby ectopic endometrial-like tissue invades and survives outside of the endometrial cavity. While biopsy-proven confirmation of endometriosis during laparoscopy has been considered the gold standard for diagnosis, non-invasive imaging modalities are increasingly being utilized for preoperative…
Key Points Lay SummaryEstrogen Receptor Signaling and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer
Andersen et al. published a prospective cohort study in the Journal of Hormones and Cancer to enlighten the estrogen signaling pathway during the transition from endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer. Given the shared pathway of endometriosis and ovarian cancer as…
Key Points Lay SummaryStudy Sheds Light on the Molecular Mechanism of Endometriosis Development
A protein called transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-B1) enhances the capacity of endometriotic cells or cells that make up the lining of the uterus to migrate, invade, and colonize other areas in the body. This is according to a study published…
Key Points Lay SummaryPriorities and Unmet Needs of Endometriosis Management
Endometriosis is a systemic, chronic disease that is a significant contributor to morbidity in young women. Although endometriosis has gained increasing attention in the medical field, scientific progress for an effective and definitive treatment modality is progressing slowly. The Society…
Key Points Lay SummaryExtragenital endometriosis and ultrasound
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a non-invasive imaging method with no exposure to radiation. There are a few reports on the use of CEUS in the assessment of endometriosis in the literature. Dong et al. reported 3 histopathologically proven cases of…
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 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 SummaryQuality of life for women with endometriosis
Endometriosis symptoms may cause difficulties in daily activities and social life, altering general health and personal relationships and severely decrease the quality of life. Yoldemir T. evaluates the factors affecting the quality of life in endometriosis patients and the management strategies in…
Key Points Lay 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 involvement of the pouch of Douglas: TVUS vs pelvic exam
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can lead to a partial or complete obliteration of the pouch of Douglas (POD). POD involvement has been associated with dyschezia, deep dyspareunia, and increased infertility rates. Assessing the extent of endometriosis involvement of the cul-de-sac allows…
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 SummaryGnRH Analogues Not Beneficial For Superovulation and Intrauterine Insemination
Bansal et al, a group of authors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, recently published a paper titled “The Role of GnRH Analogues in Improving Outcome in Women Undergoing Superovulation and Intrauterine Insemination after Surgical Correction of Mild…
Key Points Lay SummaryThoracic Endometriosis Syndrome (TES): Diagnosis by cytology of pleural effusion
Parikshaa Gupta and colleagues from Chandigarh, India report a case of thoracic endometriosis diagnosed primarily by pleural fluid cytology in a most recent article at Cytopathology. A 33-year-old female presented with a long history of recurrent bouts of chest pain…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn Alternative Medical Approach to Treat Endometriosis?
Molecules that act on a protein called SRC-1 could constitute a new medical tool to treat endometriosis, according to a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology. SRC-1 makes certain parts of DNA more accessible therefore increasing gene expression or…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain catastrophizing, perceived injustice, and pain intensity impair life satisfaction
Cognitive appraisals have been shown to have an effect on the experience of pain. Notably, perceived injustice and pain catastrophizing have been shown to play a role, but are rarely examined together. In addition, variability in appraisal processes has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryPersonalised Medicine for Endometriosis?
The lining of the uterus of women with endometriosis is different from that of women without the disease even if they have chronic pelvic pain found a study published in the scientific journal Biology of Reproduction. The difference is found…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian Tube Capability in Women with Pelvic Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
Xia et al. recently published a paper titled “Effects of pelvic endometriosis and adenomyosis on the ciliary beat frequency and muscular contractions in the human fallopian tube” in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. This research group primarily from Shanghai Jiaotong University…
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 SummaryCould Gabapentin Make my Pain Go Away?
Gabapentin could effectively reduce endometriosis-associated pain, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pain Research. The study that was conducted in mice and endometriotic tissues from patients suggests that certain proteins present on the surface of cells…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryA clearer picture of "endometriosis after menopause"
Delfin Avendano Tan and Marie Josephine Guanlao Almeria are obstetrician-gynecologists from the Philippines. They recently published a review article titled "Postmenopausal endometriosis: drawing a clearer picture". In this paper, the authors discussed the pathogenesis, risk factors, and management of postmenopausal…
Key Points Lay SummaryPsychosocial impact of endometriosis
In this review article, researchers from Switzerland report a review to outline the consequences of endometriosis on the psychological, sexual, and interpersonal functioning of both patients and their partners, in the journal Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology.…
Key Points Lay SummaryStenoses in the colorectal anastomose sites after DIE surgery
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a particular form of endometriosis that penetrates at least 5 mm under the peritoneal surface. DIE is primarily located in the rectosigmoid junction and the rectum with an incidence of 70% and 90%, respectively. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryUsing the "Mushroom Cap" sign to describe endometriotic masses
Endometriosis is a disease whereby ectopic endometrial cells attach and grow outside of the uterus. A number of imaging techniques have been used to evaluate and assess endometriotic lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of imaging modality used…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial stem cells and Endometriosis
Human endometrium is a cyclically proliferative tissue, and this monthly regeneration is likely mediated by endometrial stem (or progenitor) cells.The upper functional layer of the endometrium breaks down and is shed into the uterine cavity during menstruation. Re-epithelialization and repair…
Key Points Lay SummaryRestricting Calorie Intake Could Delay or Prevent Endometriosis
Reducing the intake of calories could stop the development of endometriosis according to research conducted in mice. This could be the case even after the lesions are established, i.e. endometriosis has started. Dietary supplements or drug candidates that mimic the…
Key Points Lay SummaryPotential New Target to Treat Endometriosis?
Special cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) could be playing a role in the development of endometriosis, suggests a study published in the European Journal of Immunology. These cells could, therefore, be targeted by novel therapeutic agents to treat endometriosis. …
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and its pro-fibrotic nature.
Endometriosis is currently defined as the presence of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells at ectopic sites. However, with advances in disease knowledge, several vital issues challenge this old definition. Especially, endometrial stromal and glands have been shown to represent only…
Key Points Lay SummaryBenign Gynecological Tumors in Women with Endometriosis
Matalliotaki et al. recently published a paper titled “Coexistence of benign gynecological tumors with endometriosis in a group of 1,000 women” in Oncology Letters. The study had two main objectives. The first goal was to understand the link between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis “Changes” the Brain
Endometriosis changes the electrical properties of the brain as well as gene expression, according to a study by Yale researchers. These changes increase sensitivity to pain, anxiety, and depression. “While medications can be used to treat endometriosis directly, the effects…
Key Points Lay SummarySkin Endo Diagnosis
High-frequency ultrasound can be very useful for the early diagnosis of cutaneous endometriosis according to a study published in the journal Skin Research and Technology. The diagnostic tool could be used in patients who have unusual cyclical pain even before…
Key Points Lay SummaryO6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Plays a Role in Endometriosis Development
Shchegolev et al. recently published a paper in Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine that explores the localization and behavior of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, otherwise known as MGMT, a protein that repairs DNA and could potentially possess therapeutic properties. Their paper…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhen Endometriosis Becomes Malignant
Anglesio and Yong recently wrote a review titled “Endometriosis-associated Ovarian Cancers” that was published in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. This review explored the relationship between endometriosis and ovarian cancers. It is important to note that this review is a compilation of…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to Minimize the Costs Associated with Endometriosis Care
Paolo Vercellini, Maria Pina Frattaruolo and Laura Buggio, from Milan, Italy, recently published an editorial titled “Toward minimally disruptive management of symptomatic endometriosis: reducing low-value care and the burden of treatment” in Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Combination Treatment of Psychotherapy With Somatosensory Stimulation for Pain Reduction
Women suffering from endometriosis often cite pelvic pain, anxiety, and depression as some of the worst core symptoms experienced due to the disease; however, emerging research has shown these signs, specifically pelvic pain, may be influenced by psychological trauma. In…
Key Points Lay SummaryUltrasound-guided High-intensity Focused Ultrasound can Treat Abdominal Wall Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful and complicated disease that can manifest in various ways. One particular way is Abdominal Wall Endometriosis (AWE), which usually arises from surgery. As is true for other types of endometriosis, there has yet to be 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 SummaryPlant Compound May Protect Against Endometriosis
Marrubiin, a compound derived from a plant in the mint family called white horehound may have protective effects against endometriosis, according to a study published in the journal Molecular Medicine Reports. Marrubiin is the main analgesic, or painkiller compound found…
Key Points Lay SummaryDetection of Uterine Malformations and its Link to Endometriosis
Dr. Abd El Fattah recently published a research article titled “Uterine Cavity Abnormalities in Patients with Endometriosis in Alexandria: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Study” in Obstetrics and Gynecology International that delineated and presented the results of his study. The study has two…
Key Points Lay SummaryHormonal Contraceptives and Endometriomas
Hormonal contraceptive has recently become a popular choice of birth control for many women. The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology recently published an article entitled “Incidence of ovarian endometrioma among women with peritoneal endometriosis with and…
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 SummaryFemale Sex Hormone Necessary but not Enough to Cause Endometriosis
Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone may be necessary but is not enough to induce endometriosis, found a study published in the Journal of Bioscience. This finding is important because it can help scientists better understand factors that cause endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryElagolix (ABT-620) for endometriosis pain?
Elagolix is an orally active gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist that has just recently completed Phase 3 clinical trial for endometriosis-associated pain (NCT01931670). The review article by Alessandro et al in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics summarized the current research findings on…
Key Points Lay Summary