Özge Özkaya, PhD
Özge has a Phd in Molecular Biology and several years experience working as a bench scientists. She has been working in science communication since 2014.
Another New Approach Could Help Diagnose deep Infiltrating endometriosis
Elastography could help distinguish deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) nodules from non-endometriotic tissue at different locations, according to a new study published in Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound. The potential of the technique in improving the diagnosis of DIE, distinguishing different DIE lesions, and monitoring the evolution of DIE, should be further tested according to the authors of the study. In order to assess the features of DIE elastography and test whether the technique could identify endometrial…
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Women With Endometriosis Are at a Higher Risk of Uterine Cancer
Women with endometriosis are at a greater risk of cancer of the uterus, compared to controls, according to a new study published in the journal Cancers. The study found that women who are younger and who have had endometriosis for three to five years are at the highest risk. These findings are of great importance because they identify the endometriosis population that should be screened and treated early to prevent cancer. “We especially recommend that the younger females, who had…
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Modeling the feto-maternal interface using pluripotent stem cells
Researchers from Columbia University led by Dr. Mijo Simunovic created a model using which they can study the relationship between the developing human embryo and the endometrium. The findings were presented at the Annual International Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation of America held in New York on April 1-2, 2023. The new model can not only help answer some fundamental biological questions about embryonic development but could one day even be used to understand diseases such as endometriosis. Dr. Simunovic and…
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Preclinical organ-on-chip models of endometriosis lesions - Linda Griffith, PhD
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 Medical Conference of the Endometriosis Foundation of America held in New York on April 1-2, 2023. During her talk entitled "Preclinical 'Microphysiologcal Systems' Models of Endometriosis Lesions - Humanizing Drug Development", Prof. Griffith described their models that “take patient samples and rebuild…
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How to cope with the probable complications of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Laparoscopic hysterectomy to treat endometriosis and adenomyosis can lead to complications, which are “non-negligible”, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. It is, therefore, of great importance to know the factors that are associated with a higher risk of complications so that clinicians can provide the right counseling to their patients before the operation. In order to investigate the complications that may arise following a laparoscopic hysterectomy to treat endometriosis and/or adenomyosis, a team…
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Women 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 had a history of sexual trauma. These women have clear needs and preferences about their gynecological care, the authors of the study said, and added that they could “provide feasible suggestions for improving care delivery”. In order to assess the…
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Does Endometriosis Surgery Increase the Rate of Pregnancy?
Surgery to treat colorectal endometriosis leads to a high rate of pregnancy following the operation, found a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. The authors of the study said, “studies with a high level of evidence are needed to determine good candidates for this type of surgery.” It is not clear what the rate of pregnancy is following surgery to treat colorectal endometriosis. In order to find out, a team of researchers from France conducted a…
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A Multidisciplinary Surgical Team Is a Must in Deep Endometriosis Surgery
Endometriosis must be managed by a team of multidisciplniary specialists, especially in case it causes damage to the digestive tract, according to a new study published in the journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. According to the authors, the presence of a skilled digestive surgeon during bowel endometriosis surgery can ensure a balance is established between the effectiveness of the surgery, the risk of complications, and the prognosis with a reduction in severe complications after the operation. Endometriosis surgery can…
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Current AAGL Staging System Not Good at Predicting Complexity of Endometriosis Surgery
The link between the stage of endometriosis as defined by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) and the level of surgical complexity is weak or moderate, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. “Across all key indicators, the AAGL system did not perform as well in this external validation,” wrote the authors of the study, “nor did it outperform rASRM”. There are different endometriosis classification systems, but these often do not correlate with…
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How Good is Ultra-Long GnRH-a Treatment Before IVF for Women With Endometriosis?
Pretreatment with ultra-long gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), i.e. for at least three months before in vitro fertilization (IVF), has an adverse effect on patient pregnancy outcomes with endometriosis, according to a meta-analysis of the literature published in the Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction. Previous research has led to controversial findings about the influence of ultra-long GnRH-a treatment on reproductive outcomes for women with endometriosis undergoing assisted reproductive treatments such as IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In the…
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How Common is Adenomyosis Among Subfertile Women?
Around 10% of women who have reduced fertility have isolated adenomyosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The prevalence of the disease seems to vary according to the presence of endometriosis or fibroids. In order to determine how common adenomyosis is in women with reduced fertility, a team of researchers from the UK led by Professor Arri Coomarasamy from the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage…
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GnRH Antagonists Can Effectively Reduce Endometriosis Pain
Oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists are effective in reducing pain associated with endometriosis in 12 weeks, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The safety and efficacy of most drugs were dose-dependent and a high dose was more favorable apart from linzagolix 75 mg. More research is urgently needed on more participants from different ethnic backgrounds to confirm these findings, the authors of the study said. The findings presented here could be…
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How Can Endometriosis Care Be Improved?
Researchers identified 61 areas for improvement in endometriosis care based on the answers of endometriosis patients. Of these the top five areas of improvement were to train caregivers in order to develop their knowledge about endometriosis, to provide better management methods to deal with daily pain and pain attacks, to take symptoms reported by patients seriously, to standardize diagnostic processes for the early detection of the disease, and to have caregivers listen more to the patients. According to the authors…
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Study Highlights Link Between Endometriosis and Mental Health Problems
Endometriosis is associated with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders found a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. This is the first large-scale study showing a link between endometriosis and the mental health of the patients. Endometriosis is a condition that negatively affects almost all aspects of a woman’s life. In order to better understand how the disease affects a patient’s mental health, a team of researchers led by Dr. Renato Polimanti conducted…
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Endometriosis Seems to Increase the Risk of Preeclampsia
Women with endometriosis who conceive spontaneously, i.e. without the help of assisted reproductive technologies seem to be at a higher risk of preeclampsia, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. However, endometriosis does not seem to increase the risk of C-section deliveries and bleeding following delivery, though the authors of the study noted that “ the number of studies was limited, and the heterogeneity was high.” Their aim was to assess the possible link…
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Women With More Severe Endometriosis Have Fewer Eggs
Severe endometriosis negatively affects ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, according to a new study published in JBRA Assisted Reproduction. However, the rate of fertilization does not seem to be affected by endometriosis stage. These findings could help clinicians find appropriate methods of managing advanced endometriosis, according to the authors of the study. In order to explore whether the stage of endometriosis affects the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in infertile women who have not previously had…
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Endometriosis, Age, and Ovarian Reserve
The effect of endometriosis on ovarian reserve can be enhanced with older age, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. This finding is important because it can help clinicians guide their patients in the right manner and help women with the disease make more informed choices. In order to evaluate the combined effects of age and endometriosis on ovarian reserve in infertile women, a team of researchers led by Dr. Togas Tulandi from…
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Younger Women With Endometriosis Feel More Pain
Younger women with endometriosis feel more period pain (dysmenorrhea) and pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) compared to older women with the disease, found a new study published in the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Acknowledging this fact can make sure that patients are diagnosed in a timely manner and receive the treatment they need. “Dyspareunia in adolescents in particular merits clinical attention,” according to the authors of the study. In order to analyze the clinical characteristics and severity of symptoms…
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The "Painful Periods Screening Tool" Could Speed Endometriosis Diagnosis
The Painful Periods Screening Tool (PPST) is a useful tool for women with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. The study's authors said that the tool “ facilitated communication between patients and providers about pain symptoms”. In order to assess the utility and impact of the PPST in improving the delivery of healthcare for patients with pelvic pain, a team of researchers led by Dr. James H. Segars from the Department of Gynecology…
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Gestrinone 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 are based on limited evidence and “should be interpreted with caution,” according to the authors of the study, who also said that “the quality of the evidence provided is generally very low or unclear”. In order to evaluate the safety…
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