By Selma OransayEndometriosis in Adolescents: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Challenges
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis is a condition that affects not only adult women but also adolescents, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. It can cause significant pain, including dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain. Research has shown that up to 20% of transgender…
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Macrophage Phenotypes Induced by Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Endometriosis
In a study published in the Biomolecules, Martínez-Zamora et al. investigated the potential effect of circulating sEVs in the plasma of well-characterized patients with endometriosis on macrophage phenotype. This study explores how sEVs, which are tiny particles found in the blood of women…
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Women's willingness to donate menstrual blood for endometriosis research
By Selma Oransay
The menstrual blood is 50-100 ml/per cycle, with 80% lost during the first three days. On the heaviest bleeding day, 2 to 8 ml may be collected from a cup worn for four hours. This fluid could be investigated by…
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Early use of hormonal contraceptives and the probability of endometriosis diagnosis later in life
By Selma Oransay
Hormonal contraceptives are the first-line medical treatment of endometriosis. If an adolescent has chronic pelvic pain and is an "unresponder" to hormonal therapy, the likelihood of having an "endometriosis diagnosis" is higher. This sign should warn clinicians about endometriosis diagnosis…
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Peritoneal fluid in young women with endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Many blood substances are present in peritoneal fluid due to their derivation from the transudation of blood through the peritoneal surface. Ectopic endometriotic lesions can also change the medium to contribute to the definition of the local environment of the…
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Family history of endometriosis and its characteristics
By Selma Oransay
Depression and migraine are two familial disorders affected by menstrual cycle and endometriosis patients have an increased likelihood of suffering from these comorbidities. A correlation of endometriosis, migraine and depression has been already reporteed in the literature, however a link for…
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By Bahar YukselThe Molecular Mechanisms of how herbal medicine Actaea racemosa modulates Endometriosis Progression
By Bahar Yuksel
Increased proliferation, dysregulated apoptosis, and a pro-inflammatory and oxidative environment are the hallmarks of endometriosis. In the article published in the Journal of Molecular Sciences, penned by Livia Interdonato et al, the molecular mechanisms of the extract from a plant…
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Is continuous hormonal treatment safe and healthy method for endometriotic patients?
By Selma Oransay
One of the studies related to the search for new markers in pathophysiologic causes of endometriosis is circulating microparticles and their subset "tissue factor". In response to damage, activation, or apoptosis, these microparticles are found in human plasma, urine, saliva,…
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Dienogest versus combined oral contraceptives treatment in postoperative endometriosis care
By Selma Oransay
Dienogest is a synthetic progestin derivative, like oral contraceptives, used to prevent endometriosis recurrence after surgery. Randomized clinical trials verified a significantly higher reduction in endometriotic lesions, clinical symptoms, and improved quality of life obtained when dienogest was given to…
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By Özge ÖzkayaPreclinical organ-on-chip models of endometriosis lesions - Linda Griffith, PhD
By Özge Özkaya
Professor Linda Griffith, Professor of Biological and Mechanical Engineering and the director of the Center for Gynepathology Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology gave a presentation about their preclinical organ on-chip models of endometriosis lesions at the 14th Annual International…
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2023 MedicalConferance: Pros and cons of hormonal interventions for endometriosis - Sarah Berga, MD
By Bahar Yuksel
Prof. Berga, MD., who is the Chair of Ob&Gyn at Jacobs School Medicine and Biomed Sciences, presented this speech at the 2023 EFA Medical Conference. Dr. Berga explains that the primary goals of endometriosis treatment are to reduce pain and improve quality…
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What causes pelvic pain? Androgens or estrogens?
By Selma Oransay
A comparison between women and men reveals that women suffer more pelvic pain. This reality raises the possibility of the pain-relieving effect of testosterone or androgens. It would be a wise solution to investigate how androgens affect pain at different…
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Exposure to toxic metals and the risk of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Mercury, lead, and cadmium are the best-studied heavy metals for several adverse effects on the human reproductive system. Mercury can induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and lead exposure is associated with menstrual disorders, preterm birth, and miscarriage.…
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Combined Birth Control Pills May Be Beneficial in Reducing Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
Treatment with an extended regimen of ethinylestradiol and drospirenone improves health-related quality of life, according to a new study conducted on Japanese women with painful periods or pelvic pain due to endometriosis. (Ethinylestradiol and drospirenone are medications that are widely…
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An Overview on Treatment of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
There are different guidelines by different gynecological societies for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, which is an extremely complex illness. Kalaitzopoulos and Samartzis et al. from Switzerland worked on and compared six national and two international widely used guidelines to…
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By Eylül GÜNMatrix metalloproteinases and their role in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
The extracellular matrix harbors important macromolecules such as collagen and glycoproteins which are required for tissue remodeling, differentiation, and homeostasis. The main group of enzymes responsible for these properties is called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has been proven that MMPs…
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Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
There is no difference between the oral progestin dienogest and combined oral contraceptive pills in managing pain and increasing quality of life in women with endometriosis, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. However, there was…
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Pharmacological Therapy for Endometriosis Pain
By Eylül GÜN
The negative effects of endometriosis on women’s quality of life are indisputable. Women who suffer from endometriosis might have to deal with problems in many aspects such as psychological, sexual, social, and economic. Pain which is one of the most…
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By Nasuhi Engin AydinInflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Elisa Giacomini and colleagues from medical centers in Milan, Italy have published their review manuscript on the inflammatory and genetical pathogenetic background of endometriosis in a recent issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”, suggesting also new therapeutic approaches. The inflammatory…
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Combined contraceptive pills and immune system cells in the endometriotic cyst wall
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Wanwisa Waiyaput and associates from Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, have published their results on the immune regulatory cells of the surgically resected endometriotic cyst walls in the “Journal of Ovarian Research”. The defective immune response is believed to have…
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Women reject using hormonal drugs for endometriosis, an accelerating need for nonhormonal medications
By Bahar Yuksel
Although the pathophysiology of endometriosis is poorly understood, endocrine drugs are widely used for reducing inflammation and patients’ symptoms. Burla and colleagues aimed to evaluate the patients’ thoughts and expectations about the endocrine drugs which are used in the treatment…
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Postoperative long-term estro-progestin therapy for endometrioma
By Selma Oransay
After the removal of ovarian endometriomas, the major concern is the high recurrence rate of symptoms and endometriotic cysts. The estimated recurrence rate of endometriomas is up to 50% at 5 years after surgery. To prevent the recurrence, postoperatively long-term…
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The role of hormonal treatment after endometriosis surgery
By Bahar Yuksel
Postoperative hormonal suppression after endometriosis surgery still does not have a uniform approach. The meta-analysis study conducted by Zakhari et al. aimed to find a significant answer regarding this burden. They analyzed the database systems including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL,…
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The peculiarity of adolescent endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Recent studies showed the prevalence of endometriosis in adolescents with chronic cyclic or acyclic pelvic pain is about 60-70%. Moreover, all stages of endometriosis, including deeply infiltrating endometriosis can be found in this population. Gubbels et al. from the Department…
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Is Endometriosis More Common Among Women of Certain Race/Ethnicity?
By Özge Özkaya
Race/ethnicity seems to have an influence on the prevalence of endometriosis with black women appearing to be less likely to be diagnosed with the disease compared to white women. However, other factors such as access and response to treatment may…
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Racial and ethnic disparities and women health
By Selma Oransay
The well documented racial and ethnic disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the US make available to use them as an indicator of implicit bias in giving unequal health and care service to minorities. Dr. Bryant from Massachusetts General Hospital,…
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Endometriosis Diagnosis in White, Black, and Asian Women
By Özge Özkaya
In a commentary published in the "International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology", Drs. Farland and Horne talk about a study by researchers in Canada and the Philippines, which found that black women are less likely, and Asian women are more likely to…
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By Ellen TumimbangMenstrual Blood Proteins for Endometriosis Diagnosis
By Ellen Tumimbang
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder characterized by endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The backflow of menstrual blood from the uterus through the fallopian tubes is thought to be the cause of endometrial tissue growing outside the uterine cavity when…
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By Dr. Youngran ParkRace, socioeconomic status, and health
By Dr. Youngran Park
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…
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Diagnosis and treatment algorithm for endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis is a chronic and progressive disease that affects 25-30% of women between 25-35years, clinicians commonly experience during their gynecologic practice. However, the diagnosis is still late or sometimes incorrect, and this creates severe health problems and worse outcomes. A…
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By Hale Goksever CelikEndometriosis by Race
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed in reproductive-aged women with an incidence of approximately 10%. The most common presenting symptoms are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility in patients with endometriosis. Some risk factors have been identified for the development of…
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Discrepancies between racial/ethnic groups and choice of hysterectomy procedures
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Pollack and associates from Washington University, St.Louis, made multistate research regarding the patient profile in hysterectomies and published their results in the 2019 December issue of "The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology". The most frequently performed nonobstetric surgery in…
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How Can Racial and Ethnic Disparities Be Reduced Among Women’s Health and Healthcare?
By Özge Özkaya
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a set of recommendations to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health and healthcare and encourage obstetricians, gynecologists, and other health care practitioners to engage in activities to help achieve…
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By Irem OnurThe efficacy of combined hormonal contraception on pelvic pain in endometriosis patients
By Irem Onur
Chronic pelvic pain, which is experienced by more than 33% of endometriosis patients, constitutes a significant challenge for patients and physicians. A new study that appears in the journal Human Reproduction Open has explored the prevalence of endometriosis patients with a history…
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Adolescent dysmenorrhea and future endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Dysmenorrhoea is typically classified as primary, or secondary due to underlying pathologies like fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis or uterine anomalies. Generally, long-term dysmenorrhea is present in endometriotic patient's anamnesis, but until recently, the research to clarify this connection remained retrospective. Knox et…
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Nutraceuticals may help for endometriosis pain
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain occur in endometriosis patients in a significant percentage. Anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes including diet form the integrated approach in this regard. However, the medications can be used only for the short term. Natural substances with anti-inflammatory…
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Exosome: a new avenue for endometriosis research
By Dr. Youngran Park
Endometriosis affects 10% of reproductive-aged women. The pathophysiology of this disease remains mysterious, with a lack of effective biomarkers necessitating surgical intervention for diagnosis. This creates an urgent need for accurate noninvasive diagnostic tests and the identification of effective therapeutic…
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Endometriosis and female pelvic pain in all aspects
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence of the disease ranges between 6-10% in reproductive-aged women. However, endometriosis is more frequently encountered in women with chronic pelvic pain and…
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Endometriosis-associated pain control by contraceptive implant or intrauterine system
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. The most common symptoms are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain, all of which affect the quality of women’s lives. Several studies investigating the…
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By Murat OsmanA Balancing Act: How Endometriosis Invades the Body
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis is a disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. Ectopic endometrial tissues have been shown to have some features that mimic malignancy. For example, endometriosis can invade surrounding structures and attach to surfaces such…
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Oral Contraceptives and Low-Cost Progestins to Reduce Endometriosis-Associated Pain
By Özge Özkaya
Most women with endometriosis-associated pain did not feel the need to use expensive progestin or undergo surgery. Instead, they were satisfied with a low-cost progestin to treat their symptoms. This is according to a study published in the journal Fertility…
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Contraceptives for the management of endometriosis pain
By Murat Osman
Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease that affects many women of reproductive age and is associated with significant morbidity. One of the treatment options for women with endometriosis is the use of oral contraceptives (OCPs) for pain management. However, its…
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By Kasthuri NairWhich Endometriosis Treatment is Better: NETA or Extended-cycle OC (Seasonique®)?
By Kasthuri Nair
Scala et al. recently shared the findings of their patient preference prospective study in a journal article titled “Norethindrone acetate versus extended-cycle oral contraceptive (Seasonique®) in the treatment of endometriosis symptoms: A prospective open-label comparative study,” which was published in the…
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Switching to a Low-Cost Progestin May Help Reduce Endo Pain When Oral Contraceptives Won’t Work
By Özge Özkaya
The majority of women with endometriosis-associated pain were satisfied to have switched to a treatment with norethisterone acetate or NETA, a synthetic, orally active progestin, when their oral contraceptive was ineffective, found a study published in the journal Reproductive Sciences.…
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A Potential New Target for the Treatment of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
A protein called STIP1 could be facilitating the migration of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, therefore, leading to endometriosis according to a study by Taiwanese researchers. The protein could, thus, be used as a potential therapeutic target for endometriosis. For…
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By Yu YuEctoenzymes as endometriosis biomarkers
By Yu Yu
The diagnosis of endometriosis is often delayed by 7 to 11 years because of the lack of a non-invasive diagnostic test. The ovarian endometriomas occur in about 17%-44% of women with endometriosis and cysts which contain endometrial tissue and fluid…
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Hormonal Contraceptives and the Risk of Breast Cancer
By Kasthuri Nair
A study titled “Contemporary Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer” was recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine and was immediately picked up and summarized by many well-known newspapers and broadcasting journals, including but not limited…
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By Demet Candaş GreenZinc and lead levels in blood are altered in endometriosis
By Demet Candaş Green
Trace metals are metals usually present in small but measurable amounts in the body. They are needed by living organisms to function properly and when depleted, can be replenished through diet and environmental exposures. Some common trace metals include iron,…
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The Benefits of Vaginal Administration of Drugs
By Kasthuri Nair
There are numerous methods of drug administration used by healthcare providers today. Buggio and colleagues suggest the vagina as another avenue for delivery. They recently published a paper titled "Per vaginam" topical use of hormonal drugs in women with symptomatic…
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The Most Cost Effective Medical Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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…
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Hormonal Contraceptives and Endometriomas
By Kasthuri Nair
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…
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