Abdominal wall endometriosis is not a rare disease as supposed
Abdominal wall endometriosis is an iatrogenic type of endometriosis defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue on the abdominal wall including skin, the rectus abdominis muscle, and rectus muscle sheath. Cyclical pain, mass located on the abdominal…
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 SummaryHow reliable are the patient questionnaires in predicting endometriosis?
It is well known that the diagnosis of endometriosis is delayed in the majority of patients throughout the world. The burden that this brings has many effects on the patients’ lives as well as the society. The radiological developments in…
Key Points Lay SummaryDistribution of tubal endometriosis
The incidence of tubal endometriosis was previously reported in a percentage of 4 to 11, but recent studies gave a prevalence up to 42.5 % which indicates the actual incidence of this disease is underestimated. Some studies in recent literature…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel contribution to patient management in endometriosis by immunohistochemistry
Dr. Tarumi and associates from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan published their retrospective cohort study on the importance of progesterone receptors on recurring ovarian endometriosis in "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism". Surgery for endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich of the suggested environmental risk factors are indeed related to endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a complex disease with genetic and environmental factors in its poorly understood pathogenesis. Even though many epidemiological studies in the literature have proposed several risk factors, the lack of clear establishment and modification of these potential risk factors…
Key Points Lay SummaryListening to patients’ complaints is the first step on the way to a diagnosis of endometriosis.
Early diagnosis and management of endometriosis are not possible due to the wide spectrum of symptoms and absence of non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. Particularly the adolescent population is at risk for the diagnostic delay because pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea are very…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre the studies based on the nationwide databases more accurate?
One of the most common localizations of endometriosis is the ovaries, and therefore, ovarian endometriomas are among the most surgically treated endometriotic lesions. Dr. Roman from Denmark has recently written an editorial about the surgical interventions on ovarian endometrioma and…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis diagnosis and management based on the best available evidence from published literature
ESHRE, "European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology" published a Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in 2005 and then revised it in 2013. Based on new research and development there was a need to renew the last…
Key Points Lay SummaryMedicinal Cannabis Use for Endometriosis in Australia and New Zeland
Cannabis use leads to positive outcomes for the management of endometriosis according to the results of an online survey among patients from Australia and New Zealand. These findings, which were published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research suggest that…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis information coming from the social media
Today’s changing and evaluating world led everything to be lived online. For sure endometriosis and searching for cures or support for endometriosis have been transferred to online social media platforms too. The study conducted by Julian Matthias Metzler et al…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat are the most common symptoms of endometriosis and how are they related to age?
Even though the incidence of endometriosis is relatively high and numerous studies are being conducted to elucidate its pathogenesis, it is still a highly underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. The symptoms of the disease are well-known; however, the correlation between the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA revolutionary view on endometriosis related pain
Dr. Lydia Coxon and colleagues from Oxford University, UK, have recently published their cross-sectional study on the categorization of endometriosis-related pain in the journal "Frontiers in Pain Research". As a chronic inflammatory condition, endometriosis results in pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrevalence of endometriosis and adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound.
Women who present dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, dyschezia, chronic abdominal, and pelvic pain, and infertility would benefit from the early investigation. If the correct diagnosis of endometriosis and/or adenomyosis can be made in advance, early treatment will improve the quality of…
Key Points Lay SummaryMindfullness Can Hep Reduce Endometriosis Pain
A brief mindfulness-based intervention can be useful in managing pain related to endometriosis and restoring patients’ psychological well-being, found a new study published in the European Journal of Pain. This finding contributes to the applicability of mindfulness-based interventions in people…
Key Points Lay SummaryPlanning surgery for recto-sigmoid endometriosis with 3D virtual models.
Efforts to reduce the high complication rate of rectosigmoid surgery in deeply infiltrated endometriosis are of great interest to gynecologists. 3D printing, currently used in various surgical specialties to support surgical planning and guide intraoperative procedures may be a way…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-invasive diagnostic tools for endometriosis revisited
Dr. Signorile and associates from the Italian Endometriosis Foundation have published the results of their retrospective study on a large cohort of endometriosis patients in a recent issue of the periodical, In Vivo. Endometriosis lacks precise scientific knowledge and this brings…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe underlying reason of implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility
Endometriosis is most frequently encountered in reproductive-aged women, with a prevalence of 10-15% in the general population. However, endometriosis is more frequently diagnosed in infertile women, with a prevalence of 25-40%. Although the exact mechanism explaining the association between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryCannabis use in the management of endometriosis-related pain during the COVID19 pandemic
Pain management in endometriosis has been challenging owing to many reasons. Since the pathways that cause pain in endometriosis have not been elucidated extensively, the medical and surgical management of pain remains to be symptomatic. Alternative pain management methods have…
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 French National Study Concerning The "Recovery Protocol" After Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Surgery.
In recent years especially for complex surgeries, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been implemented in several surgical specialties. This is based on a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach centered on the patient’s perioperative situation designed to improve patient management and reduce…
Key Points Lay SummaryInternational Working Group's review on endometriosis classification systems
International Endometriosis Working Group including AAGL, ESHRE, ESGE, and WES published a comprehensive review on endometriosis classification, staging, and reporting systems in a recent issue of the journal named "Facts, Views & Vision in Obstetrics and Gynecology". Classification and staging…
Key Points Lay SummaryImaging Techniques Able to Predict Depth of Endometriosis Before Surgery
Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed by a specialist can accurately predict the depth of rectosigmoid endometriosis before surgery, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Both approaches are similar…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel scoring tool to standardize surgical complexity for gynecologists.
The field of gynecologic surgery needs a more comprehensive, objective, and reproducible method for assessing and communicating surgical complexity than the current approach. Actually, there is no formal image-based system that allows surgeons to categorize and communicate the complexity of…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn important enigmatic promoter of endometriosis: immune dendritic cells
Dr. Larinha and associates from a Brasilian academic center have published their comprehensive review on the role of immune dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis in a recent issue of the "Journal of Reproductive Immunology". Antigen-presenting dendritic cells of…
Key Points Lay SummaryA quick insight into the latest research on endometriosis diagnosis and management
Endometriosis research has been expanding with many new studies ranging from new techniques and markers in diagnosis to updates in clinical management and treatment of the disease. The journal Frontiers in Surgery recently brought together articles that reflect important and…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmunotherapy in endometriosis: a challenging research topic
Dr. Maksym and associates from academic centers in Poland have published their comprehensive review on endometriosis emphasizing the immunological aspects of the disease in a recent issue of the "Journal of Clinical Medicine". Even though endometriosis is a multifactorial disease,…
Key Points Lay SummaryAlgorithm for pain management in endometriosis
One of the debilitating symptoms of endometriosis is pain. Mostly due to delayed diagnosis and the high recurrence rate, even after the surgical and hormonal therapy pain control may not be sufficient causing the patient to suffer for decades. Endometriosis-associated…
Key Points Lay SummaryA New Non-Invasive Marker for Endometriosis?
The reactivity of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) with fucose-specific lectins AAL, LCA, and LTA could be a useful diagnostic biomarker for endometriosis, according to a new study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research. It could also be a clinical…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs "non-hormonal therapy" effective in women with endometriosis-associated pain?
Women with endometriosis require effective treatment due to the negative impact of the disease on quality of life. Hormonal treatments including oral contraceptives, and progestins are usually recommended to suppress ovulation and decrease pelvic pain. However, some women do not…
Key Points Lay SummaryRisk of cardiovascular disease in endometriosis patients
A well-known fact about endometriosis is the inflammatory processes that underlie its pathophysiology. The inflammatory markers have been thought to play a role in many additional disorders in endometriosis patients. One of the primary markers of inflammation is C-reactive protein…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe consequences of endometriosis on the quality of life
The most common clinical findings of endometriosis patients are pelvic pain and fertility problems, resulting in impairment of quality of life. These women are affected especially during the menstruation period. Olliges et al., from Germany and Switzerland, published a study…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgery for the Treatment of Endometriosis of the Diaphragm and Thorax
Diaphragmatic and thoracic endometriosis starts in the abdominal wall of the diaphragm and later invades the thorax, based on findings from a series of patients surgically treated for the disease, reports a study published in the Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiaphragmatic defects, liver herniations and catamenial pneumothorax
Dr. Arakawa and associates from The Jikei Katsushika Medical Center, Japan, have published their recent case of catamenial pneumothorax with diaphragmatic defect and liver herniation in the "Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery". Catamenial pneumothorax is an uncommon condition with a reported…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis of the Diaphragm, What do the Doctors Know About it?
The median time between the first consultation with a primary care physician and receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis of the diaphragm is two years according to a study by U.K. researchers. In the worse case, it took 23 years for…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe largest series of diaphragmatic endometriosis
Diaphragmatic endometriosis is one of the most common extra pelvic endometriosis types, yet the correct incidence is unclear. In the study conducted by Ceccaroni Marcello et al from the International School of Surgical Anatomy, Verona, Italy, the authors analyzed the…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiaphragmatic endometriosis
Diaphragmatic endometriosis is a rare clinical condition that may show signs and symptoms like chest pain, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, shoulder pain, pleuritic pain, hemothorax, pneumothorax, hemoptysis, and thoracic endometriosis syndrome while the major part of the patients is…
Key Points Lay SummaryThoracic endometriosis: the most frequent endometriosis involvement outside abdominopelvic cavity
Six to ten percent of reproductive-age women are affected by endometriosis, and about 12% are estimated to be outside the abdominopelvic cavity - the most frequent location being the thorax. Endometriosis within the pulmonary parenchyma or on the diaphragm and…
Key Points Lay SummaryUrinary Tract Endometriosis
Endometriosis is mostly seen in patients of fertile age, and urinary tract endometriosis affects 1.2 to 6% of women with endometriosis. French coloRectal Infiltrating ENDometriosis Study (FRIENDS) group investigated the characteristics of urinary tract endometriosis in 232 patients from 31 centers. Authors…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich surgical technique is best for rectal endometriosis?
One of the common sites for deep endometriosis is the intestines, with a rate of 3-37%. Intestinal endometriosis constitutes a serious cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, and the alteration of the quality of life, with the rectum and sigmoid colon being…
Key Points Lay SummaryNerve-sparing technique for deep infiltrating endometriosis and its impacts on pelvic organ and sexual functions.
Deep infiltrating endometriosis and involvement of parametrium cause severe pelvic pain and dysfunction of some pelvic organs resulting in a reduction in women's quality of life. Although surgery for DIE aims to relieve pelvic pain, entering into the posterior parametrial…
Key Points Lay SummaryEffects of Bowel Endometriosis Surgery on Mode of Delivery
Less than a third of doctors counsel women about the possible effects of surgical treatment of bowel endometriosis on their mode of delivery should they become pregnant, according to a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.…
Key Points Lay SummaryA comparison of endometriosis Classifications: rASRM, EFI or Enzian?
None of the endometriosis classifications provide a clinically valuable system since the very first description of the disease in 1860. One unique terminology to describe the localization and the extension of the disease is needed, which should be the same…
Key Points Lay SummaryEgg or chicken, which is causing bladder symptoms, DIE or surgery for DIE?
Urinary symptoms could be overwhelming and sometimes could be hidden behind pain symptoms, but still might cause secondary damages on kidneys and bladder if remain undetected. In the prospective study conducted by Laterza et al, the authors questioned whether the…
Key Points Lay SummarySurgery before in-vitro fertilization – Is it beneficial in patients with deep endometriosis?
Deep pelvic endometriosis is thought to be related to infertility by altering the pelvic environment and anatomy due to pelvic adhesions, and the changes in endometrial receptivity contribute to it. The discussion on whether the surgical intervention was beneficial started…
Key Points Lay SummaryQuality of life assessment in women with endometrioma
Like most chronic diseases, endometriosis poses a significant risk of diminishing the quality of life in patients suffering from it, particularly with its most considerable symptom; chronic pelvic pain. Although it is known that endometriosis is more common in East…
Key Points Lay SummaryEvaluation of daily diary for endometriosis-related pain.
Some endometriosis patient-reported outcomes elements have been previously developed in accordance with regulatory and best practice guidelines including Endometriosis Pain Daily Diary, the Endometriosis Symptom Diary, and Endometriosis Impact Scale. The aim of this study was to develop another content-valid…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis: Beyond the naked eye visibility
The gold standard method for endometriosis diagnosis is histopathologic evaluation of the resected lesions. The study conducted by Sara-Michelle Gratton et al. in Canada evaluated the possible effect of developed laparoscopic skills and equipment on the endometriosis diagnosis, and whether…
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 SummaryEndometriosis Seems to Affect The Development of the Embryo
Embryos development is impaired in embryos from women with endometriosis found a new study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. In spite of this, the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are similar for patients with endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs intrauterine insemination effective in women having endometriosis-associated infertility?
The most common presenting complaints of women with endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably fertility problems. Several underlying mechanisms have been proposed to explain endometriosis-associated infertility including anatomic…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe necessity of laparoscopy for unexplained infertility.
The standard for accepting a couple as "infertile" is the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. When this condition is met, assessing the number of motile sperm in the male partner and certifying the patency at…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Role of Endometrial Cytokines on the Infertility in Endometriosis Patients
The intrauterine microenvironment and underlying immunological mechanisms in endometriosis pathogenesis have been a popular research topic, mainly due to the efforts to comprehend the reason to elucidate infertility that these patients suffer from. Because of their superiority to other immune…
Key Points Lay SummaryAssociation of psoriasis and endometriosis
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by scalpy, red, and well-demarcated skin plaques that are observed in 2-4% of the population. Approximately 30% of psoriatic patients additionally have joint pain, stiffness, and swelling called psoriatic arthritis. The mechanism…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow likely is it to get pregnant and have a baby after undergoing surgery for high stage endometriosis?
As one of the most common causes of infertility in women, endometriosis might be surgically interfered with depending on the stage. For Stage I and II endometriosis, surgery is recommended in the latest guidelines to ameliorate fertility rates, however, there…
Key Points Lay SummaryPhysical activity and exercise in reducing endometriosis symptoms
The treatment modalities to date on endometriosis have focused on the symptomatic relief and management of chronic pain. Hormonal suppression sometimes shows intolerable side effects and is known to lose effect after some time. Surgical interventions may not provide a…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis
The trigger mechanism of endometriosis formation is still under investigation. But it is clear that there is an iron overload on endometriotic lesions. In the study conducted by Guojing Li et al, the mechanism of iron on endometriosis formation has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain alone is not a specific predictor for endometriosis diagnosis
The most common symptoms and signs of women with endometriosis include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. However, diagnostic delay still occurs due to the broad clinical spectrum of the disease and the absence of non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. Gordon et…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe quality of life and mental health in endometriosis patients
One of the most important aspects of having a chronic illness comes with its relative effect on the patients’ quality of life and mental health status. Being among the most debilitating diseases in women in the reproductive period, endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Likely Am I to Conceive After Endometriosis Surgery?
Women with superficial peritoneal endometriosis and just one type of lesion are more likely to conceive after surgery, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. This is important because patients will be better…
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 SummaryThe relevance of mitosis in endometriotic tissue biopsies
Dr. Wetzk and co-workers from the Technical University, Dresden, Germany have published a retrospective study on the diagnostic impact of mitotic activity in the endometriotic lesion biopsies in the recent issue of the journal “Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde”. Guidelines highly recommend a…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe higher the Endometriosis Fertility Index, the higher the chance of getting pregnant
The women who desire to get pregnant may also suffer from fertility problems depending on several mechanisms such as anatomic distortion, peritoneal adhesions, tubal dysfunction, impaired quality of oocytes, and impaired endometrial receptivity. One of the most important problems in…
Key Points Lay SummaryImportance of Language in Communicating Endometriosis Pain
Language is of great importance for women with endometriosis to communicate their pain to their doctor, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health. The study also found that additional tools are needed to help women…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common?
While endometriosis is not a malignant disease, it is for sure known that it shares genetic disorders with cancers. In the bioinformatics study applied by Leyi Ni et al, the researchers analyzed the genetic pathways shared by both ovarian cancers…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel target proposal in endometriosis: Phoenixin
As well as being a hormone-dependent reproductive system disorder, endometriosis is known to be multifactorial, which makes its etiopathogenetic mechanisms even harder to understand. Many new targets have been vastly evaluated with the hope of finding a new diagnostic test…
Key Points Lay SummaryA study design to improve the patient-centeredness in endometriosis care.
It is well known that endometriosis causes impaired daily activity and productivity along with energy loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, and further, infertility accompanies all these negative influences. The chronic nature of the disease forces clinicians to plan long-term care…
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 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 SummaryA trial of exogenous melatonin on dysmenorrhea in women "without endometriosis"
In their recent article published in “European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology”, Dr. Söderman and associates from Stockholm report the results of their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effects of oral melatonin in women with dysmenorrhea -unrelated to endometriosis-. Melatonin is a hormone…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew Endometriosis Clinical Trial Now Recruiting Participants
A new clinical trial investigating the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for endometriosis is now recruiting participants. The randomized, controlled trial aims to recruit 100 participants, ages 18 to 50 with proven endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich one is more effective for the preservartion of postoperative ovarian reserve?
Although cystectomy is the most preferred treatment of endometrioma, it is still a matter of debate as it may cause a reduction in the quality and number of remaining follicles, especially important for women who are planning to conceive. Anti-Müllerian…
Key Points Lay SummaryPlacenta praevia and cesarean section more common in patients with ART for Endometriosis
Even though endometriosis is known to be associated with infertility, these women still have a chance to get pregnant spontaneously or by assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with the aid of recent technological developments. A It has also been shown that…
Key Points Lay SummaryMatrix metalloproteinases and their role in endometriosis
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryIndocyanin Green dye for recognition of occult endometriotic lesions
The surgery for endometriosis is challenging and the resection of all lesions is not accurately related to not catching all lesions under white light (WL) conventional laparoscopy. In the study conducted by Luigi Carlo Turco et al., in a tertiary…
Key Points Lay SummaryEvaluation of patient self-reported outcome measures for endometriosis.
Endometriosis symptomology is multifactorial and it changes over time based on the patient's life experience, perceptions, and medical treatment. These changes require the agility of adaptation for both clinicians and patients to respond properly. The documentation of the patient's specific…
Key Points Lay SummaryEfficacy of cannabis on endometriosis symptoms
Endometriosis is related to a wide range of symptoms that affect the quality of life of patients in many aspects. Studies have shown malfunctions in the endocannabinoid system in endometriosis patients which led to the idea to target this pathway…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and women’s social lives, work and education.
The women with endometriosis present with a broad clinical spectrum including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. All of these symptoms and signs may have a negative impact on women’s lives by having endometriosis. Mastrangelo and Turnbull, from Australia, published…
Key Points Lay SummaryHerbicide Alters Immune System on the Route to Endometriosis
A popular environmental pollutant and herbicide named 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and its receptor named aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) have been suggested for causing endometriosis, but the mechanism was not clear. In the study conducted by Mahsa Tanha et…
Key Points Lay SummaryIntravascular adenomyomatosis: an important entity to be alert
Pathologists from Stanford University, USA have recently published four novel cases of intravascular adenomyomatosis co-existing with pelvic endometriosis in a recent issue of “Human Pathology”. Intravascular leiomyomatosis is characterized by the presence of smooth muscle in venous and lymphatic spaces…
Key Points Lay SummaryA novel in-vitro endometriosis model with KRAS and PIK3CA mutations
A plethora of research has been ongoing to illuminate the pathogenesis of endometriosis which is a multifactorial disease. These studies have proven the association between some mutated cancer driver genes and endometriosis, and links between certain cancers such as ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs breastfeeding beneficial to endometriosis pain?
Dr. Porta team from Italian academic centers have recently published their research in “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” on breastfeeding mothers who were under follow-up for histologically proven endometriosis. The hormonal milieu is believed to have an important…
Key Points Lay SummaryInternational definition and standardization for endometriosis
There is huge heterogeneity in classifications, subtypes, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions of endometriosis in published literature. The lack of a uniform and widely accepted terminology of the disease rose the necessity to argue and reach a common consensus with organizations,…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for prediction of postoperative pregnancy
Among women with endometriosis, 30 to 50 percent are estimated to have infertility, and 25-50% of infertile patients are found to have endometriosis. Anatomic distortion, diminished tubal peristalsis, diminished sperm movements, dysfunctional folliculogenesis, luteal phase dysfunctions, and alterations in endometrial…
Key Points Lay SummaryRelationship Goals and Sexual Satisfaction for Couples Coping with Endometriosis
"Relationship satisfaction" is based on an individual's emotional judgment. Physical and emotional obstacles may present and negatively affect relationship satisfaction. Endometriosis is associated with multiple life domains, and also includes relationship and sexual satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction, on the other hand,…
Key Points Lay SummaryCross-cultural translation and adaptation of an endometriosis survey
Endometriosis is a disease that presents heterogeneously which makes it hard to identify a causal relationship. A patient-based questionnaire called Endometriosis Participant Questionnaire (EPQ) has been originated by The World Endometriosis Research Foundation Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonization Project. It…
Key Points Lay SummaryA plea from pathologists: standardized protocols for adenomyosis and endometriosis
Pathologist Drs. Camboni and Marbaix from Brussels, Belgium published their comprehensive review on adenomyosis and endometriosis titled “Ectopic endometrium: the pathologists’ perspective” in a recent issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Endometriosis and adenomyosis are well-known entities as…
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 SummaryDoes Surgery Improve the Digestive Symptoms of Endometriosis?
Women with deep infiltrating endometriosis involving the bowels have the most significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms following surgery. This is according to the findings of a comparative retrospective study in almost 1,500 women. “Women with severe bowel symptoms and deep…
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 SummaryEnvironmental factors play a role in the development of endometriosis
The proposed mechanisms underlying the development of endometriosis may be classified into three groups: in-situ theory, implantation theories, and induction theories. Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors are also involved as no mechanism is solely responsible for endometriosis development. Although there are…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe new Endometriosis Surgical Complexity Classification: AAGL 2021
Multiple endometriosis categorizations have been approved in the recent forty years. The American Fertility Society proposed ASRM with a desire to score the impact of the endometriosis in 1996, which was updated several times later (rASRM), to predict infertility after laparoscopic operations. For…
Key Points Lay SummaryDietary adjustments do not increase the quality of life of women with endometriosis.
Even though dietary changes do not seem to increase patients’ quality of life, they lead to a perceived reduction in symptoms. No specific adjustment in the diet increases the quality of life of women with endometriosis, according to a new…
Key Points Lay SummaryInflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryIt is "pain" that causes sleep disturbances and fatigue in endometriosis patients
Endometriosis has been studied previously about its effects on quality of life and the possible effects on sleeping periods. The study conducted by Federica Facchin et al. questioned the reason for endometriosis to cause sleep disturbance. The authors have divided…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow does adenomyosis affect IVF outcomes?
Adenomyosis is defined as the localization of endometrial tissue in the muscle layer of uterus. Several theories have been proposed to explain the reasons of adenomyosis-associated infertility including uterine dysperistalsis, abnormal transportation of sperm in the uterine cavity, and embryo…
Key Points Lay SummaryGreen tea as a therapeutic agent in endometriosis
Tea is among the most consumed beverages all around the world. It has many kinds which originate from the same plant “Camellia sinensis” but differ in color after the fermentation process. Green tea is the one produced right after the…
Key Points Lay SummaryMolecular alterations in endometriosis pathogenesis
Endometriosis has been in our lives for decades, however little is known about its pathogenesis making it hard to diagnose and manage. A review study conducted by Balasubramanian et al. from India reveals all the characteristics and the underlying conditions…
Key Points Lay SummaryPhytoestrogens could have promising effects in endometriosis management
Dr. Bartiromo and associates from Milan, Italy published a systematic review on phytoestrogens and endometriosis in the periodical “Nutrients”. Endometriosis has features of chronic inflammation based on uncontrolled hormonal response and immune-mediated dysfunctions. Estrogens are endocrine and paracrine agents that could yield…
Key Points Lay SummaryComplex Relation Between Body mass index and endometriosis
This research aimed to find the relationship between BMI and endometriosis especially related to surgical phenotype and lesion location. An observational cohort study was led by Holdsworth-Carson et al, from Australia. The article was recently published in "RBMO" . Many earlier studies report…
Key Points Lay SummaryUrinary Function Alterations after Surgery for Deep Endometriosis.
Laparoscopic surgery is a mainstay therapy for symptomatic patients with DE. Although our findings of improvement in many domains of urinary function are encouraging, postoperative deterioration in urinary function was found for patients with initial normal function. More research is…
Key Points Lay SummaryResveratrol for endometriosis
Endometriosis has been studied previously about its inflammatory nature and its tendency for causing macrophage disfunction. In the study conducted by Chunyan Wang et al, the researchers analyzed the effect of a flavonoid, "resveratrol" on endometriosis lesions and the mechanism…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe comparison of the effect of hemostatic techniques on ovarian reserve during endometrioma cystectomy
The possible negative effect of the surgical excision of endometriomas on the ovarian reserve has brought up the meticulous implementation of the decision for surgical approach. Dr. Raquel Silveria da Cunha Araujo et al, from Brazil, published a study titled as…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer
Endometriosis is a locally aggressive and chronic inflammatory disease and it is now known that with various genetic pathways it creates susceptibility to certain cancers, the most common being ovarian cancer. Pelvic inflammatory disease on the other hand creates a…
Key Points Lay SummaryPersistence of Chronic Pelvic Pain after Hysterectomy
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as the "pain in the pelvic area that lasts for 6 months or longer". There are several gynecological, urological, and gastrointestinal reasons for the development of chronic pelvic pain. Nociceptive pain or central sensitization is…
Key Points Lay SummaryAssisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Women with and without Endometriosis
Endometriosis causes infertility in one-third of patients, while in approximately 25-35% of infertile women, the cause is endometriosis. The primary interest and the question of Moss et al. from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia was "the differences in the…
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 SummaryHow to Reduce Pain After Laparoscopic Surgery
Using humidified warm gas with forced-air warming blanket during laparoscopic surgery resulted in significantly less pain in the recovery room, according to a new study published in the journal "Surgical Endoscopy". In patients with endometriosis, using humidified warm air even…
Key Points Lay SummaryRoutine preoperative ureteral stent and complications in Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
Deep infiltrative endometriosis is a devastating disease that includes both anterior and posterior compartments, and ureteral infiltration with endometriotic nodules affects 1 to 6% of all deep infiltrative endometriosis patients. In the study conducted by Giulia Borghese et al., the…
Key Points Lay SummaryLead and cadmium exposures of female workers should be reduced as much as possible
Min-Gi Kim and associates from Korea published their results on the possible effects of lead and cadmium exposure in endometriosis induction and severity in a recent issue of “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health”. Endometriosis is an illness…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of surgery before IVF in infertile women with endometrioma
Among the women with endometriosis, 30 to 50% are estimated to have infertility. On the contrary, among women who present with infertility, 25 to 50% are estimated to also have endometriosis. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association…
Key Points Lay SummarySmall chain fatty acids produced by gut microbiota: Could that be the missing milestone for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a worldwide problem but still, the underlying mechanism and optimal treatment options are controversial. In the study conducted by Sangappa B Chadchan et al., the researchers investigated the possible relationship between gut microbiota and endometriosis. A study published…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian cancer risk in endometriosis and adenomyosis
Through the historical development of the nomenclature for endometriotic tissue found inside and/or outside the uterus, many terminologies have been used. The accepted terminology is still the one introduced by Sampson: “Endometriosis”. “Adenomyosis” also known as “endometriosis interna” which is…
Key Points Lay SummaryUterine cancer risk in "endometriosis" and "adenomyosis"
Adenomyosis and endometriosis share similar characteristics, and endometriosis is reported to have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, the risk of uterine cancer is not clear yet. Hermens and colleagues from Catharina Hospital, from the Netherlands, designed a population-based…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndogenous cannabinoids are related to endometriosis pain
Pain, specifically dysmenorrhea is the most important symptom of endometriosis. Prostaglandins are the main director of the pain process in dysmenorrhea, therefore the mechanisms affecting the prostaglandin metabolism have been studied in order to find a treatment for pain, and found that…
Key Points Lay SummaryDienogest treatment increases the risk of Endometriosis reoperation rate
The common and accepted therapy of endometriosis is surgery, however medical treatment such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, oral contraceptives and oral progestins are used for either relieving pain or to prevent recurrences and reoperation. Due to bone loss and…
Key Points Lay SummaryBody Mass Index and indicators of metabolic syndrome in women with Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease of reproductive-aged women and has common pathophysiological mechanisms with other chronic health morbidities due to its estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory background. The changes in the inflammatory components of adipose tissue may have an impact on the quality of…
Key Points Lay SummaryPotential new Target to Reduce Endometriosis Pain
The inflammatory mediators, bradykinin, and bradykinin B1 receptor may play a role in the onset of endometriosis-associated pain according to a new study by Chinese researchers. They do so by inducing the prostaglandin signaling pathway. Therefore, targeting these biological pathways…
Key Points Lay SummaryBest practice: How to reduce intraoperative bleeding?
Although laparoscopic hysterectomy is a popular and common approach for removing benign uterine lesions, some technical steps especially concerning uterine artery closure depend on the surgeon's preference. Uterine artery ligation may be performed either at the uterus level, which is common…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new "survey-based" endometriosis diagnostic tool
Endometriosis is a disease that is diagnosed years after its appearance which causes life quality impairment to patients. It is crucial for the patient to find out the probability of the presence of endometriosis, for applying to healthcare providers before…
Key Points Lay SummaryAltered Decidualization and Pregnancy Complications
Dr. Carlo Ticconi and colleagues from Italy published their comprehensive review manuscript “Clinical consequences of defective decidualization” in the June 2021 issue of “Tissue and Cell”. Currently, there has been growing research interest in the study of decidualization, and knowledge of…
Key Points Lay SummaryCatching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners
It should be repetitively pronounced that "endometriosis is very common and it is very important to diagnose it as soon as possible before it causes lifelong damage to women’s lives". The sooner the better concerning the diagnosis, and this is…
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 SummaryNot all endometriotic lesions behave similar to the eutopic endometrium
The most widely accepted theory of endometriosis pathophysiology is Sampson’s theory of retrograde menstruation which suggests the ectopic lesions undergo the same hormonal and morphological changes as eutopic endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Recent studies have shown that only a…
Key Points Lay SummaryResearch Identifies New Genes That Could Be Targeted to Treat Endometriosis
Researchers identified three new genes that could help understand the invasiveness of endometriosis. They also identified one new gene that could be related to the recurrence of the disease. These genes may potentially be new therapeutic targets for endometriosis. In…
Key Points Lay SummaryAwareness is the first step toward endometriosis treatment
We want to reiterate the importance of endometriosis, by handling the paper entitled "Endometriosis awareness: screaming at the top of our voices" published on April 2021 in the journal “Women & Health”. The Endometriosis Awareness Month of 2021 was a little different,…
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 SummaryThe incidence of endometriosis may vary over time according to age, period and cohort
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease mostly encountered in reproductive-aged women. Early diagnosis has importance as endometriosis impairs the quality of life of patients and creates a serious social and economic burden. Fortunately, earlier diagnosis and management of endometriosis becomes…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new assessment tool for the multi-dimensional burden of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease that has multiple effects on patients’ lives in various ways. The quality of life, the status of the patient’s relationships, the continuity and productivity in the patient’s education and work environment, and psychological, emotional, and even…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian Cancer Survival in the presence of Endometriosis
Women with ovarian cancer and histologically proven endometriosis have longer overall survival compared to those with ovarian cancer but no endometriosis, found a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. “[…] Women diagnosed as having ovarian cancer…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe added value of transvaginal hydro-laparoscopy for infertile women
The added value of invasive diagnostic laparoscopy has been questioned, postponed by the increased usage of ultrasonography for the evaluation of infertile patients. Gordts et al. from Life Expert Center, Leuven, Belgium have been working on an alternative way called "transvaginal hydro-laparoscopy" to…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of physical examination and interview in Endometriosis Diagnosis
Today we know that the most accurate diagnosis of endometriosis necessitates surgery and histopathological examination of the excised lesions. However, many women are misdiagnosed due to various symptoms of endometriosis which mystify gastrointestinal, urinary, and musculoskeletal diseases. Nawrocka-Rutkowska and colleagues…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe incidence and prevalence of endometriosis in a United States population-based study .
To define the accurate incidence and prevalence estimates of endometriosis among nonselected cohorts in the USA, Christ et al. from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Washington, Seattle, planned a retrospective cohort study using the electronic KPWA…
Key Points Lay SummaryLong noncoding RNAs to predict the endometriosis recurrence
Despite extensive research, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism of endometriosis remains unclear; and the absence of non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose endometriosis is still a big problem both for clinicians and patients. The recurrence of endometriosis is another challenge that is difficult…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis & adolescents: Overcoming the diagnostic delay via education
Although the diagnosis of endometriosis is still not timely even in adults, due to its common under- or misdiagnosis in adolescents, the diagnostic delay may further cause the adolescent women to wait to seek medical treatment. A group of researchers…
Key Points Lay SummaryChemical Found in Self-Care Products May Be Linked to Endometriosis
There may be a link between exposure to phthalates and endometriosis according to a new study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Although more research is needed, these findings could be translated into clinical practice according to…
Key Points Lay SummaryTransvaginal Ultrasound Accuracy for Uterosacral Ligament, Torus Uterinus and Posterior Fornix Endometriosis
The accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of deep endometriosis depends on the location. The sensitivity is up to 80% when the lesion is in the rectosigmoid, but it decreases up to 66% for the detection of posterior vaginal…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe clues for pain and infertility in endometriosis/adenomyosis complex
Drs. Gruber and Mechsner from Charite University-Berlin, Germany published their comprehensive review on pathophysiological background of endometriosis and adenomyosis in the scientific periodical “Cells”. Chronic pain and fertility problems are the main clinical issue in endometriosis and adenomyosis patients. In order to…
Key Points Lay SummaryTechnical Facts for the Prevention of Complications After Deep Endometriosis Surgery
There are no differences in the risk of rectovaginal fistula in women with rectovaginal endometriosis who were managed by a liberal or restrictive policy of preventive stoma according to a study by French researchers published in the Journal of Minimally…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-pharmacological self-care: dietary modifications in women with endometriosis.
The academic interest on the role of diet in endometriosis has grown due to its possible relation with inflammation, estrogenic activity, and menstrual cycles. Multiple dietary strategies and prescriptions are being used to deal with the pelvic pain and gastrointestinal…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to measure the length of recto-sigmoid deep endometriosis reliably?
An in-depth assessment is needed when rectosigmoid deep endometriosis is decided to be treated surgically. Surgery carries a lot of risks and it is not always easy to decide which procedure the patient would benefit the most from. Patient-oriented surgical…
Key Points Lay SummaryA scoping review proposal for the diagnostic and treatment delay of endometriosis
Women with endometriosis suffer from pain for a prolonged time due to diagnostic and treatment delay which is the most challenging aspect of endometriosis. Cromeens et al, from the USA, published a review entitled “Timing, delays, and pathways to the…
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 SummaryNot just the pain stops but also the bowel function improves after DIE surgery
Bowel endometriosis and the techniques to operate it have always been a challenge. The study conducted by Beraldo et al., from Brazil, highlighted the results of an effective nerve-sparing bowel surgery on endometriosis lesions and its long-term effects on patients. The…
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 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 SummaryIt is not that simple: endometriomas are almost never alone
Endometriomas are the widely and easily diagnosed type of endometriosis. They are usually treated by gynecologic surgeons and are thought to be alone most of the time. The study conducted by Piriyev et al highlighted the coexistence of extraovarian endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs the presence of nerve fibers in the endometrium associated with endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common disease in reproductive women and diagnostic imaging have a limited role in its diagnosis. The gold standard diagnostic method remains to be the histopathological examination of the tissue obtained via laparoscopy. One of its most common…
Key Points Lay SummaryResveratrol, isoflavones and puerarin have favorable in vivo results in endometriosis studies
Xia Cai and associates from research units located in China published their review article on the relationship between phytoestrogens and endometriosis in the scientific periodical named “Pharmacology”. The great variation in the prevalence of endometriosis raises questions in regard to…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Could There Be a Link?
Patients with endometriosis have a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis according to a study published in the journal Rheumatology. This finding suggests that rheumatologists should be especially mindful of the possibility of underlying endometriosis when treating women with rheumatoid arthritis.…
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 SummaryUreteral endometriosis and its management
Urinary tract endometriosis prevalence is hard to determine since almost half of the women with this condition appear asymptomatic. The most common form is bladder endometriosis followed by ureteral endometriosis which is seen more rarely. Ureteral endometriosis is usually located…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes hyaluronic acid have a role in endometriosis?
Pei-Hsiu Yu and associates from Tainan, Taiwan, published their results of original research on the role of hyaluronic acid in endometriosis formation in a recent issue of "Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology". Hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan protein in the…
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 SummaryAnalyses of the main classification systems of endometriosis in terms of utrasound, MRI and surgery
Several classifications made by gynecologists, image readers, and radiologists lead to confusion while describing the situation and estimating the progress of endometriosis. Daniela Fischerova team from the Charles University of Prague, Czech Republic, analyzed the main classifications of endometriosis in three…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes exercise have an effect on pain perception in women with endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease causing pain symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and also infertility. Several medical and surgical treatment options have been developed to improve quality of life of these women. Despite extensive research, the optimal…
Key Points Lay SummaryMicroRNAs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and infertility
The gold standard in the diagnosis of endometriosis is laparoscopy and histopathological diagnosis, however search for a non-invasive method has been ongoing. Some biomarkers such as Cancer Antigen 125 have been thought to be useful, but because of their low…
Key Points Lay SummaryA hot research topic: macrophage reprogramming for endometriosis treatment
Daria Artemova and colleagues from several research institutes of the Russian Federation have published their review on the cellular aspects of endometriosis related to macrophages, particularly emphasizing promising therapeutic options for the future in "International Journal of Molecular Sciences". Macrophages have…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Severity of Pain Does not Predict Endometriosis or its Stage, Study Confirms
The intensity of pain a woman experiences could predict whether or not she would undergo laparoscopic surgery. However, it could not predict whether she has endometriosis or in case she did, the severity of her disease. This is according to…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe relationship between microbiota and endometriosis
Endometriosis is a multifactorial and complex disease that results in an inflammatory state. This persistent inflammatory state is known to cause immune dysregulation. In the immunopathogenesis of endometriosis, activated macrophages, increased neutrophils, impaired natural killer cells, altered T-cell differentiation, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryPredictors for achieving pregnancy in patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis
Adenomyosis and endometriosis are benign conditions, however, both situations are associated with deterioration of life quality, a requirement of hospital administrations, and infertility. Laparoscopic surgery is the main treatment option especially for women who desire pregnancy. Shi and colleagues aimed…
Key Points Lay SummaryA pictorial overview of abdominal wall endometriosis
Abdominal wall endometriosis is the most frequent location of extrapelvic endometriosis, and defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue between the peritoneum and the skin through the abdominal wall. Although obstetric or gynecologic surgical history is indispensable for the…
Key Points Lay SummaryNew molecular insights in endometriosis pathogenesis
Dr. Rosalba Siracusa and associates from Messina University, Italy, have published their research on cellular pathogenesis of experimental endometriotic lesions in the recent issue of the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences". Endometriosis is a debilitating chronic estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition and…
Key Points Lay SummaryOutcomes of chronic pelvic pain of endometriosis after laparoscopic surgery
The prevalence of endometriosis is up to 35-50% among patients with pelvic pain. Among several medical and surgical options to relieve chronic pelvic pain, surgical options are the preferred method but this depends on patients' age, fertility desire, and disease…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Does Endometriosis Affect Patients Quality of Life?
Health-related quality of life is significantly lower in patients with endometriomas or deep infiltrating endometriosis compared to women without the disease. This is according to the results of a recent study in adult Spanish women that was published in the "International…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative ovulation induction in infertile women with minimal to mild endometriosis
Infertility is an important problem that is encountered in 30-50% of women with endometriosis. Several etiopathogenetic mechanisms for the development of reproductive problems in women with endometriosis have been proposed including abnormal peritoneal microenvironment, ovarian dysfunction and/or decreased oocyte quality,…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombined contraceptive pills and immune system cells in the endometriotic cyst wall
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs the information on Facebook groups about endometriosis accurate?
The use of social media platforms has been increasing day by day. The coronavirus pandemic has attributed to this immensely. Facebook pages and groups are among the most commonly used platforms to share knowledge, seek emotional support, and learn. While…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdhesion Barrier Helps After Endometriosis Surgery
An adhesion barrier, named "4DryField® PH" significantly reduced the formation of adhesions following endometriosis surgery, according to a new study by German scientists. The formation of adhesions following endometriosis surgery is a severe problem that affects 90% of patients. The…
Key Points Lay SummaryWomen reject using hormonal drugs for endometriosis, an accelerating need for nonhormonal medications
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryManaging Persistent Pelvic Pain in a distinct "pain" clinic
Persistent pelvic pain is an important problem producing physiological stress and productivity loss during the reproductive period of women. A specific pelvic pain clinic named "Mater Health Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic" was established in 2017 in a part of the emergency…
Key Points Lay SummaryRetinol-binding protein in endometriosis pathogenesis
Dr. Jae Chul Lee and associates from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, have published the recent results of their research on endometriosis regarding the role of retinol-binding protein4…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat causes distress in women with endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disease that affects a woman’s life from many different aspects; emotionally, sexually, and physiologically. With the burden of the distress caused by the disease, most women suffer from anxiety and depression. This results in lower self-esteem and…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Surgical Management of Endometriosis of the Ureter and Bladder
Laparoscopic surgery is feasible and safe to manage endometriosis of the ureter and bladder, according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. According to the authors of the study, ureteral resection is more strongly associated…
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 SummaryThe higher the cyst fluid iron concentration, the more severe the pain symptom for endometrioma
Endometriosis usually is encountered in three different forms: superficial peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian cysts (endometrioma) and deep infiltrating endometriosis. Endometrioma can be identified as cystic lesions consisting of dark brown endometrial fluid and are sometimes referred to as "chocolate cysts." The presence…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatient- centeredness in endometriosis
Endometriosis is common in fertile age, and women with endometriosis are suffering from serious symptoms including pelvic discomfort, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Due to resemblances of endometriosis symptoms with other diseases, most endometriosis patients are faced with delays in diagnosis. To…
Key Points Lay SummaryMigraine, endometriosis and plasma "Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide"
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neurotransmitter that takes part in migraine and is now thought to have a role in endometriosis. The role of CGRP is well known in migraine, it is released from neurons during acute attacks and…
Key Points Lay SummaryVulvo- Perineal Endometriosis: From diagnosis to treatment
Vulvo- Perineal endometriosis is a very rare condition that should be kept in mind to be diagnosed and treated. Due to its very rare occurrence, most of the information in the literature on vulvo-perineal endometriosis is based on case reports…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe need for the standardization of diagnostic protocols for "adenomyosis"
Dr. Squillace and associates from Brasilian Academic and Health Centers published their paper titled “Adenomyosis and in vitro fertilization impacts- a literature review” in a recent issue of "JBRA Assisted Reproduction". As common gynecological ailment adenomyosis frequently coexists with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effect of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with endometriosis
COVID-19 pandemic and related conditions, including transport restrictions, social isolation, and difficulties accessing the professional health system, affected many women’s healthcare and daily routine. Evans and colleagues investigated the impact of COVID-19 and COVID-19 related parameters on endometriosis patients’ health…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe genomic linkage between ovarian cancer and endometriosis
Endometriosis has been proven to be the precursor of ovarian clear cell and endometrioid carcinomas, however, it is not well understood why and how endometriosis goes into malignant transformation. To address this issue, in their review article, Dr. Yachida and…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to predict the complications after laparoscopic bowel resection in women with endometriosis
The endometriotic lesions infiltrating the bowel wall more than 5 mm. are called "deep infiltrating endometriosis". The patients having bowel involvement may have constipation, diarrhea, tenesmus, or rectal bleeding. Surgical management is the main treatment modality to provide benefits on pain, infertility,…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis from the "EVOLUTIONARY" point of view
Natalie Dinsdale and associates from the Canadian Simon Fraser University Department of Biological Sciences published a critical review titled “ The evolutionary biology of endometriosis” in a recent issue of the journal “Evolution, medicine and public health”. This review focuses…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Communication Gap Between Specialists for Endometriosis Diagnosis and Management
An approach to help the different specialties which work as a team but lack sufficient communication in endometriosis management build better communication was proposed by Leonardi et al. from Australia and Canada in their opinion article which was published in…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis alters women’s self-behavior
Endometriosis diagnosis is given to almost 15% of women of reproductive age. Although endometriosis could be asymptomatic, many women with endometriosis are faced with several symptoms including chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria, and infertility. The wide variability of…
Key Points Lay SummaryEvaluation of preoperative risk factors of ureteral endometriosis
Endometriosis affects the urinary tract in 1% to 5.5% of the patients, and among them, bladder involvement is 70-85%, while ureteral involvement alone is 9% to 23%. Ureteral endometriosis is most commonly unilateral, especially on the left side, usually affecting…
Key Points Lay SummaryPromising potential research topic: diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis
Dr. Toczek and collegues from the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Oncological Gynecology of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, have published a review paper on possible diagnostic aid of cytokines in endometriosis. This review appears in May issue…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Surgery Improves Sex Life
Women who underwent laparoscopic resection surgery to treat their deep infiltrating endometriosis had improved sexual quality of life and health-related quality of life according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. These findings are important…
Key Points Lay SummaryMyeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis
Dr. Wertel and associates from Polish academic centers published their sentimental review paper on the role of "Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells" in human diseases, in a recent issue of Cells. Endometriosis, the most common gynecological disease affecting about 10% of women globally,…
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 SummaryCould There Be a Relationship Between Endometriosis and the "Restless Leg Syndrome"?
Women with endometriosis have a significantly higher prevalence of restless leg syndrome according to a study published in the scientific journal "Frontiers in Endocrinology". This is the first study highlighting such an association between the two conditions. These findings are important…
Key Points Lay SummaryProgestin suppression for endometriosis before IVF
“Dienogest is a suitable and safe substitute for GnRHa pretreatment in endometriosis patients”, according to the Khalifa et al., from Egypt. Endometriosis is one of the leading reasons for infertility due to decreased oocyte/embryo quality, fertilizability, tubal function, and aberrant endometrial…
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 SummaryWhat Happens to Endometriosis Patients After Endometriosis Surgery?
Although few patients with endometriosis who undergo a hysterectomy need repeat surgery, up to 25% of them need minor surgery. Around 20% of patients who undergo conservative surgery with ovarian preservation require additional endometriosis surgery. Up to one in three…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis in intestine! Segmental resection or linear nodulectomy?
Intestinal involvement of endometriosis is common, and the incidence was defined between 45-56%. Previous studies investigating the role of surgery in the management of intestinal endometriosis reported improvement of life quality in up to 95% of cases following surgery. However,…
Key Points Lay SummaryOptimal management of infertility in endometriosis patients
Pelvic pain and infertility are the main symptoms of endometriosis patients. Although the pathophysiological mechanism for infertility is not clearly understood, there are several theories explaining decreased fertility potential in women with endometriosis. Ata and Telek, from Koc and Istanbul Universities…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe association of chronic endometritis, endometriosis and tubal infertility
Holzer et al. from the Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine of Medical University of Vienna, Austria, set up apilot prospective cohort study to evaluate the relationship between chronic endometritis, infertility and endometriosis. The results of the study were recently…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and susceptibility to COVID-19
Dr. Moazzami and associates from Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Tehran, Iran have published their results on COVID-19 in endometriosis patients in the medical journal named "BMC’s Women’s Health". COVID-19 is still an emerging critical global health problem…
Key Points Lay SummaryA gentle touch on nerves affects dyspareunia
Endometriosis is a common disorder among women. Previous studies reported endometriosis-related deterioration of the quality of life. Deep dyspareunia is a common symptom of endometriosis and young patients face dyspareunia twice as much. Surgical treatments are alternative to medical therapies in cases…
Key Points Lay SummaryImprovement of the quality of life after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis is the most severe form among the endometriosis types. The required laparoscopic approach is the appropriate excision of endometriotic foci from pelvis, by consideration of failure and side effects of the medical treatments. The specialist endometriosis centers…
Key Points Lay SummaryProblems in the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis
The Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) is very aggressive in nature with infiltrating the whole pelvic, colon, rectum, bladder, ureter, and pelvic wall. D’Alterio and colleagues analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of both medical and surgical therapies for DIE. The authors…
Key Points Lay SummaryPostoperative long-term estro-progestin therapy for endometrioma
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryAutophagy, Endometrium and Endometriosis
Autophagy, or autophagocytosis, is a self-digestion process by which cells recycle non-functional proteins to repurpose them. Unwanted cellular parts in cytosolic material are first isolated within double-membrane vesicles called the autophagosome, which subsequently fuses with the acidic lysosome. Autophagy is a survival…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune-mediated conditions and endometriosis in adolescents and adults
The most common presenting complaints of endometriosis are mainly pelvic pain and infertility, commonly in relation to the menstrual period. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms. Immunologic diseases such as autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases, allergies, asthma, previous mononucleosis infection,…
Key Points Lay SummaryTestosterone levels effect embryo implantation rates in patients with endometriosis
Endometriosis is associated with infertility either causing poor oocyte and embryo qualities or poor endometrial receptivity. The effect of androgen levels on IVF outcomes has been described earlier, but the present study conducted by Ling Huang et assocates is the…
Key Points Lay SummaryFertilization rate and pregnancy outcome in IVF cycles of endometriosis.
Endometriosis affects the pelvic cavity, uterus, ovaries and causes impaired fertility as a result. The chronic inflammatory nature of this disease negatively impacts the oocyte quality, maturation, and fertilization. Obviously, fewer oocytes can be harvested in the IVF cycles of…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdenomyosis: accuracy of the diagnostic methods and the synchronism with deep infiltrating endometriosis
Dr. Alborzi and associates from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, have published their comprehensive retrospective research conducted on 3725 patients with clinical symptoms of endometriosis over a period of 3 years, in "Reproductive Sciences" medical journal. A relationship between…
Key Points Lay SummaryCan we measure the severity of endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an enigmatic disease associated with serious morbidity and change in the quality of life. Unfortunately, there is no specific test for the diagnosis of endometriosis. While many markers were evaluated in many research studies for the noninvasive diagnosis…
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 SummaryEndometriosis, ART, fertility preservation
This review entitled "The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques: role of fertility preservation" was written by Necula et al. from Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, Biel, Switzerland, and recently published in the journal "Hormone, Molecular Biology and Clinical…
Key Points Lay SummaryTubo-ovarian abscess and endometriosis
A tubo-ovarian abscess is the result of pelvic inflammatory disease in women and the previous reports demonstrated that almost one of the third women with a pelvic inflammatory disease had a tubo-ovarian abscess. The main treatment modalities for tubo-ovarian abscess…
Key Points Lay SummaryPain Sensitization and What Should Be Done About it?
Pain sensitization and lumbopelvic impairments are common among women with endometriosis, especially if they have advanced stage disease. This is according to a study by researchers in Spain that was published in the scientific journal "Pain Medicine". The finding underscores the…
Key Points Lay SummaryErastin, Ferroptosis and Endometriosis
Iron overload has been linked to endometriosis. There are abundant free iron and high oxidation in ectopic lesions, probably due to retrograde menstruation. Interestingly, iron overload in endometriosis activates NF-kB signaling and results in proinflammatory communication. More clear pieces of…
Key Points Lay SummaryCancer, is that a real risk?
Endometriosis is non-malignant but shares some similar features with cancer, such as the occurrence of local and distant foci, the ability to resist cell death, and the ability to invade other tissues, causing damage to the organs. Endometriosis also generates…
Key Points Lay SummaryControlled use of bipolar cauterization as an alternative to endometrioma cystectomy
The main symptoms of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Ablation or coagulation of the cyst wall following laparoscopic drainage of endometrioma may be an alternative treatment for patients with pregnancy intention. Carbon dioxide, laser, and plasma energy…
Key Points Lay SummaryPerineal Endometriosis, How Soon Does it Return After Surgery?
The higher the body mass index (BMI) of a woman during delivery and within one month after delivery, the quicker the symptoms of perineal endometriosis return. This is according to a recent study that appeared in the World Journal of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe influence of endometrioma and surgery on ovarian reserve
Women with endometriosis and endometrioma, often have subfertility. These patients present considerable problems for the evaluation of ovarian reserve. One of the well-known ovarian reserve biomarkers is anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. So far, it was known that the reduction of…
Key Points Lay SummarySelected Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers May Help Identify Endometriosis
Levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the blood differ between women with endometriosis and those without the disease. Levels of some biomarkers also differ according to the stage of endometriosis. This is according to a new study by Polish scientists published…
Key Points Lay Summary“Advanced gynecological ultrasound” for women with suspected endometriosis
Different clinical forms of endometriosis such as superficial endometriosis, endometrioma, and deep infiltrating endometriosis are present. Although no specific diagnostic tool is available for endometriosis, clinical findings, physical examination and imaging including transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are helpful to determine…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and possible cardiovascular outcomes
A retrospective population-based cohort study from the Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, the UK, investigated the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of women with endometriosis. The study included 279,759 women in total, 20,1% (>56.000) were patients with surgically…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effects of endometriosis on life satisfaction.
Endometriosis is well-known for its debilitating effects on women suffering from it. In the review conducted by Masoumeh Namazi et al, the authors have collected studies searching for the wellbeing of women with endometriosis. They have analyzed 46 studies that…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial receptivity after the removal of ovarian endometriotic cysts
Mikhaleva and associates from the "Russian Research Institute of Human Morphology" published their results in “Reproductive Sciences” yielding their novel morphological findings of eutopic endometria in patients following surgical excision of endometriotic ovarian cysts. Current therapeutic measures are targeting to…
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 SummaryEnvironmental to occupational exposure, and possible risk factors for endometriosis.
Many objects in daily use are made of plasticizing agents. Studies suggest that chronic exposure to these agents are toxic to reproductive organs and cause metabolic disorders. For example, diethyl phthalate is still in use in cosmetic products. Caporossi et…
Key Points Lay SummaryDNA damage response in eutopic endometria of endometriosis patients
The DNA damage response (DDR) is a network of cellular pathways that sense, signal, and repair the lesions occurring in DNA. Surveillance proteins that monitor DNA integrity activate the DNA repair pathways in response to DNA damage and try to prevent the generation of potentially deleterious mutations. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpaired fertility potential in endometriosis patients
Infertility is frequently encountered in endometriosis patients because of anatomic distortion, alterations in endometrial receptivity, diminished tubal peristalsis and sperm movements. Garcia-Fernandez and García-Velasco, from Edinburgh, UK and Madrid, Spain, published a mini-review titled “Endometriosis and Reproduction: What We Have…
Key Points Lay SummaryOxygen deprivation (hypoxia) has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis
Dr. Wan-Ning Li and associates from academic institutions from Taiwan have published their review paper on the role of hypoxia and possible therapeutic outcomes in the medical journal named "Reproduction" recently. Endometriosis is an important ailment with huge medical and social…
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 SummaryThe incidence of endometriosis and pelvic pain in transgender man
Transgender operations are quite common all around the world and hysterectomies are performed almost 1 in 5 of this population. The studies conducted until now mostly evaluated operative and postoperative outcomes, but the present research also questioned the preoperative symptoms and…
Key Points Lay SummaryNanomedicines for Endometriosis
Scientific research on nanoparticles is intense as they have many potential applications in medicine. Nanomaterials have been widely explored for imaging and treatment of various diseases, especially cancer, over the recent twenty years. The absence of non-invasive diagnostic tests and…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe improvement of fertility rate and symptoms of superficial endometriosis following laparoscopic peritoneal stripping
Pain, in the form of diverse entities, including dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, is the main symptom of endometriosis patients. The severity of pain is independent of the extent and the location of the disease, and generally causes a negative impact on…
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 SummaryCancer risk Evaluation in Korean Endometriosis Cohort
The relationship between endometriosis and cancer has always been challenging. The previous studies revealed an increased risk in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers regarding the alterations in cancerogenic genes or by the effect of iron and hem coming with retrograde menstruation and…
Key Points Lay SummaryA comparison of symptomatology and histopathologic features in surgically resected colorectal endometriosis
Dr. Tschan and associates from Feldrich Academic Teaching Hospital, Austria published their retrospective research on patients requiring colorectal surgical resection for endometriosis in European Journal of Medical Research. Bowel endometriosis requiring colorectal surgical resection causes important morbidity. The rectum and…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntioxidant therapy for the endometriosis pain
Ts the protective defense mechanism of cells, hence the destruction of balance between oxidants and antioxidants in our body is called "redox imbalance". The major oxidants are reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are involved in multiple cellular processes by physiologically…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian, breast and endometrial cancer coexisting with endometriosis.
The invasive nature of endometriosis results in calling the disease " benign cancer". The transformation of endometriosis to malignancy is rare, but when compared to the general population, the relative risk of developing ovarian cancer is 4.2 times greater especially…
Key Points Lay SummarySelf-management and the quality of life in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common presenting complaints are mainly pelvic pain and infertility. There is no doubt that the physical and mental quality of life of these women is adversely affected. There are several studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of hormonal treatment after endometriosis surgery
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,…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe association between body size and endometriosis
Until today there have been few studies investigating body size in childhood and adolescence in women with endometriosis. A new study published recently in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica provides further evidence of the associations between endometriosis, body…
Key Points Lay Summary"Speckle sign": a novel transvaginal ultrasound finding for posterior compartment endometriosis
Dr. Balcacer and associates from three medical institutions located in the USA report the results of their retrospective study on deep infiltrating endometriosis utilizing transvaginal ultrasound examination and the proposed “speckle sign” in the "Journal of Ultrasound Medicine". Pelvic ultrasound…
Key Points Lay SummaryOxidative stress, reactive products, detoxification, endometriosis and pain
Oxidative stress is one factor known to be involved in the pathogenesis, progression, and establishment of endometriosis in women. During oxidative stress, excess reactive oxygen species as a secondary by-product of lipid peroxidation and reactive aldehyde including 4- hydroxynonenal…
Key Points Lay SummaryLive Birth Rate in Women Who Underwent Fresh Embryo Transfer Using Freshly Retrieved Donor Oocytes
One of the important clinical findings in women with endometriosis is reproductive problems. Infertility can be encountered in up to 50% of women with endometriosis and up to 50% of women with infertility can be diagnosed with endometriosis. Several pathophysiologic…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhat is the cause of Dienogest-resistance in patients with endometrioma?
Endometriosis may cause infertility in women, leading to adhesions in the pelvis, besides affecting the ovaries. Clinicians concern about the child-bearing desire of their patients when treating them surgically or with hormonal therapy. Dienogest (DNG) is a kind of progestin,…
Key Points Lay SummaryTime for noninvasive serum markers for endometriosis diagnosis
Dr. Onur Guralp and associates from Germany and Turkey published their results on serum markers predicting endometriosis in the "Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology". Still, in 21st-century medicine, doctors can not diagnose endometriosis using biochemical serum markers. Proposed serum markers…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnalysis of women with endometriosis-related pain before the multidisciplinary endometriosis care management
Endometriosis patients are generally treated by a single provider and they frequently report dissatisfaction with care. To decrease diagnostic delays, improve pain management, and promote patient satisfaction, multidisciplinary endometriosis centers emerged. But, baseline data assessing the efficacy of the multidisciplinary…
Key Points Lay SummaryHigh-dose progestin intake and sexual functions in endometriosis patients
Dr. Oppenheimer et al. from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Preservation of Antoine Beclere University Hospital, Clamart, France, recently published this bi-center observational prospective study in "Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica". The study was designed to put forth…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis, Fatigue and Productivity
Fatigue is one of the prominent and distressing symptoms of endometriosis-associated with insomnia, depression, pain, occupational stress, and reduced health-related quality of life. Endometriosis-related fatigue causes significant impairments in workplace productivity and daily activities of women with endometriosis. Loss of…
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 SummaryKEYNOTE: Excision Without Mutilation: It’s Possible! - Arnaud Wattiez, MD
In his keynote lecture, Dr. Wattiez talks about the pros and cons of endometriosis surgery and the importance of tailoring endometriosis surgery to individual patients. “Endometriosis is a disease that degrades patient’s wellbeing," Dr. Wattiez says and gives some examples…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring the Role of Neuropathy in Re-Operative Endometriosis - Marc Possover, MD, PhD
Prof. Possover starts his presentation by summarizing the possible cause of pelvic neuropathy following endometriosis surgery. Pelvic neuropathy is the damage or dysfunction of the pelvic nerve. Prof. Possover explained that this could either be due to incomplete surgery, disease…
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 SummarySeparation of epithelia and stroma components in endometriosis lesions yields remarkable molecular points - Ie-Ming Shih, MD, Ph.D.
The pathologies of adenomyosis and endometriosis are unique among non-malignant gynecological diseases and provide fertile research topics. Ectopic endometrial tissues may have distinct molecular changes distinct from eutopic endometria despite having similar morphology. In this regard, there are intriguing suggestions as…
Key Points Lay SummaryExploring Pelvic Pain: Deep to Ischial Spine Including Pre-Sacral Roots - A. Taner Usta, MD
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pain in the pelvic area that lasts for 6 months or longer and results in functional or psychological disability or requires intervention and treatment by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. There are…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhy Persistent or Recurrent Endometriosis Happens? - Dan Martin, MD
The objectives of Dr. Martin in this presentation are to understand the difficulties in recognition of deep and hidden endometriosis, difficulties in recognition of small lesions of micron size, and differentiate the look-alike lesions of endometriosis. He addressed overcoming these…
Key Points Lay SummaryRole of Prophylactic Oophorectomy in Endometriosis Patients with Ovarian Cancer History in the family - Farr Nezhat, MD
Dr. Nezhat starts his presentation by outlining his objectives, which are to review the basics of cancer genetics, give an overview about endometriosis and ovarian cancer, discuss the pathogenesis of malignant transformation of endometriosis, and talk about the clinical implications…
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 SummaryInsoluble Dilemma of Adenomyosis: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment - Errico Zupi, MD
The prevalence of adenomyosis has been reported to range from 1% to 70% in different studies. This large range can be explained by the lack of standard diagnostic criteria by imaging modalities or pathological analyses. Sixty-five% of the women with adenomyosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryIt is time for redefining endometriosis with our contemporary scientific knowledge - Philippe Koninckx, MD, Ph.D.
Endometriosis defined as endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus has a poorly understood natural history. It is a heterogeneous disease having genetic-epigenetic features with many biochemical changes in the lesions. The Sampson hypothesis of implanted endometrial cells following retrograde menstruation is not…
Key Points Lay SummaryUrological Challenges in Endometriosis Surgery - Guenter Noe, MD
In this presentation, Dr. Guenter Noé, Head of Department of Rheilandklinikum Dormagen in Germany talks about endometriosis affecting the urinary tract. Dr. Noé starts by describing the different parts of the urinary tract that can be affected by endometriosis including…
Key Points Lay SummaryImplantation failure in endometriosis patients - Jovana Lekovich, MD., PhD.
Endometriosis is one of the leading reasons for infertility due to decreased oocyte/embryo quality, fertilization ability, tubal function, and aberrant endometrial receptivity. Whether this failure is caused by oocyte/embryo or eutopic endometrium is one of the investigated topics in endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryFixing holes: prevention and treatment of complications - Jon Einarsson, MD, MPH
Dr. Einarsson shared his operating room video screens during his speech for discussing four major complications (ureter, bladder, bowel, and vascular) of endometriosis surgery and the ways to repair them. Fixing the ureter damage: Endometriotic nodules may settle on the tract…
Key Points Lay SummaryLimits of endometrioma surgery in infertility patients - Liselotte Mettler, MD, PhD
The removal of endometrioma may affect ovarian reserve because healthy follicles near endometrioma could also be excised during this procedure. Another concern about the ovarian reserve is that it may be already low before the surgery. Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH)…
Key Points Lay SummaryIn vitro fertilization protocols in endometriosis patients - Pinar Kodaman, MD., PhD.
Infertility is frequently encountered in endometriosis patients because of anatomic distortion, alterations in endometrial receptivity, diminished tubal peristalsis, and sperm movements. Even though the disease stage and presence of endometrioma is negatively correlated with infertility, it is unpredictable which women…
Key Points Lay SummaryCould Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Increase the Risk of Endometriosis?
The use of cosmetics and personal care products may be increasing the risk of endometriosis according to a study by Spanish researchers that was published in the journal "Environmental Research". This finding suggests that restricting the use of these products may…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and the sexual relations of the couples
From the viewpoint of endometriotic women, the pain during the penetration is not the only complaint. They also have growing depression and anxiety leading to difficulties with their social and sexual relationship, work, and study. The emotional impact of sub-infertility,…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Possible genetic target for endometriosis treatment
Mutations in the chromosome remodeling complex SWI/SNF subunit ARID1A were first identified in ovarian clear-cell carcinoma and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, two endometriosis-associated epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes. ARID1A gene mutations are also observed in deep ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriosis, atypical endometrial…
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 SummaryEndometrioma size and anti-Müllerian hormone levels
Endometriotic lesions are encountered in different locations in the pelvic cavity, including but not limited to the ovaries, the pouch of Douglas, the ureters, the bladder, and the bowel. Cystic endometriosis lesions located in the ovary are called "endometrioma". Endometriomas have…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes hysterectomy bring a total relief in patients with endometriosis?
There is a common belief that hysterectomy is the last option to relieve the pain in patients with endometriosis by stopping the production of menstrual material. The study entitled "Impact of hysterectomy on analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drug use in…
Key Points Lay SummaryPelvic MRI, Endometriosis and Radiologist
Endometriosis is a condition whereby ectopic endometrial cells implant themselves onto other structures within the body. Depending on where these lesions are, their size, and if they cause symptoms, surgical intervention may be warranted. Although the gold standard for diagnosing…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow to unveil the discrepancy regarding the effect of chemicals on the etiology of endometriosis
Kristen Upson from Michigan State University published a review article evaluating research papers on environmental factors effective in endometriosis from an epidemiological perspective in "Current Epidemiology Reports". Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with anatomical, hormonal, immunological, estrogenic, genetic, epigenetic, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and chronic opioid use
The members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have declared that gynecologists prescribe opioids after laparoscopic hysterectomy, or for relieving endometriosis pain, although guidelines are not available for when or how to use opioids for the treatment of endometriosis-associated…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdolescent endometriosis: Diagnostic clues?
The rates of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents showing endometriosis signs on ultrasound are significantly higher compared to those without. This is according to a retrospective observational study recently published in the journal "Fertility and Sterility". The…
Key Points Lay SummaryReduced risk of "small for gestational age baby" following frozen embryo transfer in endometriosis patients
Infertility is encountered frequently in patients with endometriosis. These women could be managed using assisted reproductive technology (ART) including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve pregnancy. However, some adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes are experienced more…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial fluid analysis as a new diagnostic test for endometriosis diagnosis
There is still a huge demand for finding a minimally invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis and yet none has been defined properly. The present study which was conducted in Cleveland Clinic by Natalia C. Llarena et al between March 2017…
Key Points Lay SummaryComparison of diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities for the deep infiltrating endometriosis
The treatment of deeply infiltrated endometriosis (DIE) is usually personalized and the potential success for the available therapeutical options is dependent on early and accurate diagnosis. Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DIE. Other non-invasive diagnostic methods…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and adenomyosis could be the “sides of the same coin”.
The two common gynecological disorders, namely adenomyosis, and endometriosis are not settled yet, whether they are representing two different entities or different phenotypes of the same ailment. Dr. Maruyama and colleagues from Nara, Japan searched PubMed and Google Scholar electronic…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Natural Killer Cell Immunity
It is known that approximately 25 to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30% to 50% of the women with endometriosis have infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Previous studies have shown that women suffering endometriosis have abnormal NK cell…
Key Points Lay SummaryMagnetic resonance imaging classification for the management of deep pelvic endometriosis
A new study published in the journal "Human Reproduction" reported that operating time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications in patients who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis can be predicted by the MRI. This result may be useful for clinicians to…
Key Points Lay SummaryCombination of noninvasive biomarkers in the identification of endometriosis
The combined measurement of urine enolase, serum CA125, and CA19-9 may be an accurate test for the prediction and detection of endometriosis. This is according to a study published in the journal BioMedical Research International. The gold standard for the…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatients' opinion about surgical treatment of endometriosis
Delayed diagnosis and management of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain is a major problem in gynecologic practice. Alternatively, providers may feel reluctant to perform surgery although they are aware of treatment options and surgical timing. One possible reason for this…
Key Points Lay SummarySegmental bowel resection could be predicted using MRI in patients with rectal endometriosis
The rectum and recto-sigmoid junction are the preferential localisations of bowel endometriosis. The three main surgical approaches are shaving, disc excision, and segmental resection. It is very important to decide the most appropriate surgical method preoperatively and to plan accordingly. …
Key Points Lay SummaryCan a grape ingredient, resveratrol, be the promised warrior to defeat endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disorder and has a known relationship with angiogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Resveratrol is a part of a "polyphenol" compound which are thought to act like antioxidants, protects the body against damage. This compound is normally…
Key Points Lay SummaryDyspareunia and Endometriosis
Women experience severe pain during intercourse related to endometriosis and this has a significant negative impact on the lives of women. This is according to an American study published in the "Journal of Pain Research". The study included 638 endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryBad bad lipid go away!
Much like the progression of endometriosis, accumulating evidence suggests that systemic chronic inflammation and oxidative stress can contribute to atherosclerosis. The excess low-density lipoprotein increases inflammatory processes in the arteries, which may result in atherosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that…
Key Points Lay SummaryIndocyanine green in endometriosis surgery
Recently, indocyanine green is well studied and used safely in real-time perfusion to organs or tissues, after taking into consideration its binding capacity to the plasma proteins. The usefulness and the effectiveness of near-infrared camera guided indocyanine green is proved with…
Key Points Lay SummaryOsteopontin and Endometriosis
Although characterized as a benign disease, some properties of endometriosis mimic malignant tissues such as proliferation, cell invasion, and metastasis. Osteopontin, also called secreted phosphoprotein 1, is one of the important molecular targets in cancer progression and metastasis. Osteopontin has been…
Key Points Lay SummaryIt is time for non-invasive tests for peritoneal endometriosis diagnosis
Maria Szubert with colleagues from Lodz Medical University, Poland, investigated the possibility of potential diagnostic biomarkers in the eutopic endometrial tissue from peritoneal endometriosis patients and published their results in the "Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction". Currently, diagnostic…
Key Points Lay SummaryPsychometric properties of Endometriosis Health survey-Swedish version
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disease resulting in a broad spectrum of symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Additionally, gastrointestinal and urinary systems may be affected by this disease. All of these clinical findings impair…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian tube endometriosis
Endometriosis affects various tissues including pelvic and extra-pelvic organs. Fallopian tube endometriosis is not a widely studied topic in endometriosis, hence the real incidence is unknown as not all studies evaluate microscopically diagnosed Fallopian tube endometriosis. In the retrospective database…
Key Points Lay SummaryNon-coding RNAs and Endometriosis
Non-coding RNAs may have a fundamental role in the development of endometriosis. Non-coding transcripts have regulatory roles in the expression of protein-coding genes, thus regulate several signaling pathways. Based on their length, these non-coding RNAs are classified into two main classes:…
Key Points Lay SummaryBody mass index, the incidence of endometriosis and the severity of dysmenorrhoea
According to a case-control study conducted by researchers from China, there is no association between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of endometriosis. This finding contrasts with the conventional knowledge that low BMI is a risk factor for endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn animal model of endometriosis reveals stress related disturbed vitamin D - vitamin D receptor axis
Lopez and colleagues from academic institutions of Puerto Rico published their experimental endometriosis findings on female rats regarding the effect of stress on vitamin D-vitamin D receptor systems and recently published their findings in "Reproductive Sciences". The group previously showed…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe peculiarity of adolescent endometriosis
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe intensity of pelvic pain is higher in endometriosis patients
Silva J.B. et al., researchers from Brazil, conducted a case-control study to determine the intensity of clinical pain, the average body composition, and the anthropometric markers including the body mass index, the perimeters (waist, abdomen, hip), and the percentage of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe more than expected prevalence of endometriosis in patients with Mullerian abnormalities
Congenital müllerian anomalies resulting in a spectrum of uterine abnormalities are caused by the abnormal embryologic fusion of the müllerian ducts to form a normal uterine cavity. They are often unrecognized because they are usually asymptomatic. The presence of a uterine…
Key Points Lay SummaryDepression and anxiety levels in "in vitro fertilization" patients with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a reproductive-aged and estrogen-dependent disease. The most common symptoms of this disease are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility affecting the quality of life in several aspects mainly the psychological domain. In the literature, there are many studies…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis-related obstetrical complications and their outcome
Borisova et al. from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Peoples' Friendship University, Moskow, Russia, and her colleagues from the Center of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine of University Perugia, Italy, recently published a review of the literature data about…
Key Points Lay SummaryTime for reassessment : Laparoscopic surgery and bowel endometriosis
Ferrero and associates from medical centers of Verona and Genoa, Italy, made a comprehensive review covering all aspects of the surgical approach to bowel endometriosis, published their results in "Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology". Bowel endometriosis is the…
Key Points Lay SummaryCellular communications: Exosomes in Endometriosis
Exosomes have been reported as cell-to-cell communicators, transfer many molecules such as miRNAs, RNAs, and proteins, and their alteration may cause many disease processes, including endometriosis. Considering the role of exosomes and their cargos in a cell to cell communication as important…
Key Points Lay SummaryPredictors of voiding dysfunction after surgery for deep endometriosis
While surgery for deep endometriosis provides relief and improves the quality of life in symptomatic patients for whom medical therapy has limited effect, it may also create postoperative lower urinary tract dysfunction. Moreover, postoperative voiding dysfunction could affect the quality…
Key Points Lay SummarySleep Quality, Lifestyle Factors and Endometriosis
Endometriosis does not only affect the patients by dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. An important issue in these patients, like other chronic diseases, is sleep quality. Youseflu et al., from Iran, published a study entitled “Effects of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryColorectal Deep Endometriosis Resection and Potential Complications
A severe clinical form of endometriosis, deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is characterized by more aggressive endometriotic lesions commonly involving deeper pelvic or gastrointestinal organs. It causes significant quality of life impairment and morbidity and is increasingly associated with infertility. When…
Key Points Lay SummaryFactors affecting the quality of life of women with endometriosis
Results from a new study suggest that the quality of life of women with endometriosis is significantly affected by their confidence to manage pain and their belief in the evolution of their condition. In this study, led by Rees M. et…
Key Points Lay SummaryDeep Endometriosis or Recto-uterine Obliteration Without Endometrioma
The diagnostic help of ultrasound is increasing by its ability to diagnose deep infiltrating and rectouterine pouch obliteration in patients who are suffering from chronic pelvic pain. Clinicians are used to evaluating the rectal and parametrial areas of the endometriotic…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntioxidant Enzymes in Endometriosis
Recent attention has been focused on the effect of oxidative stress in the development of endometriosis. Especially, there are several studies regarding glutathione peroxidase (GPX), a major enzyme in removing various reactive oxygen species. In the field of infertility, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe advantages of combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach on voiding dysfunction for rectovaginal endometriosis
The patients with rectovaginal endometriotic nodules with extensive vaginal infiltration who are managed combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach have a lower risk of postoperative bladder dysfunction when compared to surgery via laparoscopy alone. This is according to a manuscript published in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryInhibiting killer on the move
The three main forms of endometriosis are superficial, ovarian, and deep endometriosis. The latter is defined by the presence of endometriotic nodules that are deeper than 5 mm. Deep endometriosis is considered the most aggressive and is associated with severe…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrial polyps of patients with and without endometriosis
Endometrial polyps are benign local overgrowths comprising both glands and the stroma, and are quite common in gynecological practice. Endometriosis patients also commonly have polyps, which have yielded different features than those from patients without endometriosis. Dr. Jiangand and associates…
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 SummaryA Call for Pan-Canadian Collaboration for the Care and Quality of Life of Endometriosis Patients
Wahl KJ et al., from Canada, drew attention to the lack of health care for endometriosis patients who are estimated to be 1 million in number in Canada in their recent brief communication report. The delay in the diagnosis, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryBowel surgery for endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. The disease harbors various complications. Deep endometriosis involving the bowel is only one aspect of the condition that has variable phenotypic presentations and pathologic subtypes. Knowledge of the short- and long-term risks of the surgical…
Key Points Lay SummaryBenefits of Nerve-Sparing Hysterectomy
The retroperitoneal spread of endometriosis or cancer may involve pelvic autonomic nerves situated on the lateral aspects of uterosacral ligaments, vesicouterine ligaments, and medial aspects of parametria. During the conventional open hysterectomy operations, nerve-sparing excision is very difficult, simply because pelvic autonomic nerves…
Key Points Lay SummaryMental stress promotes mice endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease for which pathogenesis and progression are not fully understood. Inflammation is one of the key candidates that might be related to the creation or progression of endometriosis. In the study conducted by Kawakita et al from…
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 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 SummaryIs there a commonality between endometriosis and systemic lupus?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect many organs including the skin, joints, the central nervous system, and the kidneys. Women of childbearing age and certain racial groups are at increased risk to develop the condition.…
Key Points Lay SummaryPatient-centered care in patients with endometriosis
The women with endometriosis suffer from several symptoms and signs including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility which have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. Endometriosis is diagnosed with 7-10 years of delay due to the absence…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune cells and endometriosis pain
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder in women. This disease leads to dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and infertility. The immune reaction is one of the most widely accepted pathologies of endometriosis. Estrogen dysfunction stimulates immune cells in the peritoneal cavity affecting…
Key Points Lay SummaryVoiding Dysfunction after Colorectal Surgery for Endometriosis
Postoperative voiding dysfunction is a less frequent complication of rectal shaving than that of discoid excision or segmental resection in patients undergoing colorectal surgery for endometriosis, regardless of its definition. This is according to a meta-analysis conducted by researchers from…
Key Points Lay SummaryPrevalence, Risk factors and Management of Bowel Fistula after Rectosigmoid Surgery for Deep Endometriosis
Bowel fistula is a severe complication after the colorectal endometriosis surgery, but little is known about its prevalence, and reports on large series are lacking. To discuss specific management on colorectal deep endometriosis, Roman et al. conducted a retrospective study…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis prevalence among adolescents with pelvic pain
An updated review conducted by the investigators at EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, United Kingdom, in collaboration with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Foundation Trust of the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research at the University of Birmingham…
Key Points Lay SummaryReproductive capacity and recurrence rate after surgery for Stage III/IV endometriosis
If gaining fertility back is the main goal, the surgical removal of endometriosis lesions is globally recognized as first-line therapy. Even though, pre- and postoperative hormone therapy leads to a significant decrease in the spread of the disease measured with the…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe effects of nutrients on endometriosis-related symptoms
A recent literature review from the Netherlands by researchers Emma Huijs and Annamiek Nap, published in "Reproductive Biomedicine Online" puts light on the effects of some nutrients for endometriosis-related symptomatology. Endometriosis has heterogeneous pathogenesis involving genetic, immunological, environmental, and hormonal…
Key Points Lay SummaryEarly maternal separation and endometriosis progression in adult mice
The quality of life in the women affected by endometriosis depends on the symptoms and signs of endometriosis such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Although several studies have been performed to investigate the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism, it…
Key Points Lay SummaryIncreased expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and its possible role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in endometriosis.
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that functional endometrial tissue exists outside both the uterine cavity and myometrium. The pathogenesis of endometriosis remains unclear and controversial. According to the implantation theory, which is the most well-known, migration and invasion are two…
Key Points Lay SummaryFallopian tubes and endometriosis
There are multiple theories to explain the pathogenesis of endometriosis, among which the most popular one is Sampson's retrograde menstruation theory. The role of endometrial stem cells/progenitors are widely studied to support the origin of ectopic lesions in recent decades.…
Key Points Lay SummaryHormone Control Related Genes in Women With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease. The development of endometriosis is stimulated by the specific ability to receive the estrogen that is needed for growth and differentiation of endometrial cells and has numerous biological functions in eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Estrogen…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Impacts Transgender Adolescents
Shim J.Y. et al, from Boston, Massachusetts retrospectively searched the electronic medical records of transmasculine patients younger than 26 years old who were diagnosed with dysmenorrhea and treated at Boston Children’s Hospital, between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2020.…
Key Points Lay 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 SummaryThe impact of obesity on safety and feasibility of laparoscopic endometriosis surgery
The quality of life in the women affected by endometriosis depends on the symptoms and signs of endometriosis such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. The most common locations of endometriosis are ovary, ovarian fossa, uterosacral ligament, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdolescent endometriosis
A recent article, led by experts from Peking Medical Union College, describes the clinical characteristics and postoperative symptoms of adolescent endometriosis. The authors inform that their report, which is published in the "Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology", can provide…
Key Points Lay SummarySuggested remedies for endometriosis patients during coronavirus pandemic
The pandemic of COVID-19 continues to have important effects on endometriosis patients worldwide. Many health care facilities stopped providing surgical management and outpatient appointments are canceled or postponed. Dr. Leonardi from Australia and associates from several countries published their proposals…
Key Points Lay SummaryHysterectomy as a choise of chronic pelvic pain relief in endometriotic women.
Sandstrom et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Umea University, Sweden, found a significant and long-lasting reduction in pain symptoms after hysterectomy among women with confirmed endometriosis and recently published their results in "BJOG". The authors performed…
Key Points Lay SummaryOccult microscopic endometriosis in clinically negative peritoneum
Occult microscopic endometriosis may be present in approximately 39% of patients with clinically negative appearing peritoneum undergoing laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain. This finding is presented in a study published online this month in the International Journal of Gynecology &…
Key Points Lay SummaryAdolescent dysmenorrhea diagnosis and management
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. However, recent literature proved that clinical symptoms of endometriosis are also seen the adolescent girls and young women. Dysmenorrhea, the most common gynecologic complaint among this age group, can develop due to endometriosis.…
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 SummaryLocal inflammation and follicle development in women with ovarian endometriosis
Endometriosis, a cause of subfertility, is found in almost 50% of infertile women. The elevated levels of cytokines in the follicular fluid of patients with endometriosis might account for the ovulatory dysfunction. Granulosa cells (GCs) play important roles in follicular…
Key Points Lay SummaryAnogenital distance and endometriosis
Endometriosis may be associated with exposure of the embryo to chemicals called ‘endocrine disruptors’. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can be estimated by measuring the anogenital distance (i.e. the distance between the clitoris and the anus), using a centimeter ruler with…
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 SummaryThe effect of endometriosis on the quality of life
Endometriosis, the disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity, can be diagnosed in the reproductive-aged women with an incidence of 7-15%. However, endometriosis is observed in women with chronic pelvic pain syndrome…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Diagnosis in White, Black, and Asian Women
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiagnosing Deep Endometriosis Using Transvaginal Elastosonography
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is an advanced form of endometriosis that causes significant morbidity to a large number of women. Early detection of endometriosis is imperative for early treatment and improved outcomes for these patients. Currently, transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and magnetic…
Key Points Lay SummaryMenstrual Blood Proteins for Endometriosis Diagnosis
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…
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 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 SummaryDiagnosis and treatment algorithm for endometriosis
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis by Race
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryHealth inequalities in USA
Dr. E. Albert Reece, the vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, specialized in maternal and fetal medicine, wrote on health disparities in the American nation, in Obstetrics and Gynecology News, on the website www.mdedge.com, in June…
Key Points Lay SummaryDiscrepancies between racial/ethnic groups and choice of hysterectomy procedures
Dr. Pollack and associates from Washington University, St.Louis, made multistate research regarding the patient profile in hysterectomies and published their results in the 2019 December issue of "The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology". The most frequently performed nonobstetric surgery in…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs oocyte cryopreservation useful for fertility preservation in ovarian endometriosis?
Women with endometriosis tend to have lower fecundity compared to normal couples. Furthermore, endometrioma itself may reduce the ovarian reserve by altering ovarian physiology in the surrounding healthy ovarian tissue. The treatment for endometrioma is surgical removal in most cases, however,…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Can Racial and Ethnic Disparities Be Reduced Among Women’s Health and Healthcare?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a set of recommendations to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health and healthcare and encourage obstetricians, gynecologists, and other health care practitioners to engage in activities to help achieve…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis surgery and future pregnancy complications
Endometriosis is one of the known diseases for infertility in the reproductive period of women. Several studies revealed that endometriosis itself maybe the reason for some unfavorable obstetric outcomes. Localization, the type of endometriotic lesions, and the stage of endometriosis…
Key Points Lay SummaryCase-control study to develop a questionnaire for early diagnosis of endometriosis
Endometriosis, which affects 5–10% of women of reproductive age, is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus, associated with several discomforts such as pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, and infertility. Ultrasound evaluation…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe predictors for sexual dysfunction in infertile women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal tissue outside the uterine cavity. Its incidence ranges up to 10% of reproductive-aged women. The most common symptoms in these women are chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryImmune System, Cytokines and Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic disease. Diagnosing endometriosis is difficult because the signs and symptoms vary considerably. Therefore, the discovery of a reliable non-invasive diagnostic biomarker would represent a major advance for the clinical diagnosis of endometriosis. It has been…
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 SummaryRisk Factors Associated with Ureteral Endometriosis
Patients with severe endometriosis, uterosacral ligament deep involvement with endometriosis lesions of 3 cm in diameter or more, and the presence of previous endometriosis surgery have a significantly higher risk of having ureteral endometriosis. This is according to a study…
Key Points Lay SummaryResveratrol for infertility: A frenemy?
Ovarian aging is defined by an age-specific decline of the functional ovarian reserve. Female ovarian reserve declines progressively with increasing chronological age. Chronic damage by reactive oxygen species results in deterioration and aging through mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening, cohesion dysfunction,…
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 SummaryNAT2 as potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis affects 5–10% of women of reproductive age causing several discomforts, pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, ectopic bleeding, infertility, and sometimes even malignant transformation but its etiology remains unclear. Accumulating evidence point a key role for genetic factors and there is…
Key Points Lay SummarymiR-92a and progesterone resistance in endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. This incidence of this disease is 35% to 50% among those who suffer from chronic pelvic pain and infertility, which has a negative effect on the quality of life and on health. Recent genome-wide associations…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis and Insomnia
There should be more awareness among clinicians for the relationship between insomnia and endometriosis, the study suggests. There needs to be a suspect of endometriosis whenever the clinician faces women of reproductive age with sleep or insomnia-related symptoms. This symptom is…
Key Points Lay SummaryProgressive nature of ovarian endometrioma
The effective management of endometriosis requires a proper understanding of how the condition progress as women age, especially for those women with early onset of endometriosis. Several studies have tried to characterize the evolution of endometriosis. Some of the key…
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 SummaryDefective “ferroptosis”: a new pathogenetic explanation of endometriosis
Dr. Ng and associates from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA made a comprehensive review of the role of the iron element in the development of endometriotic lesions. Though iron element is essential for cell survival, and its deficiency is important…
Key Points Lay SummaryAre endometriosis patients at higher risk of bipolar disorder?
Endometriosis patients are prone to develop certain psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as bipolar disorder, according to a nationwide population-based cohort study from Taiwan. Bipolar disorder formerly called manic-depression is a chronic mental disorder characterized by unusual changes…
Key Points Lay SummaryMaternal body mass index and neonatal outcomes in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Its prevalence is 10-15% in the general population of this age. However, endometriosis is diagnosed more frequently in infertile women with a prevalence of…
Key Points Lay SummaryInterleukin-37b inhibits the growth of murine endometriosis-like lesions
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that causes chronic pain and infertility in women. Despite continuous efforts and numerous research, there is, ultimately, still much to understand about the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Inflammatory factors including several interleukins have already been…
Key Points Lay SummaryHysterolaparoscopy Plus Assisted Reproduction Improves Fertility in Women with Endometriosis
Hysteroscopy and laparoscopic surgery is an effective and reliable therapeutic procedure, confirmed a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Medicine". The approach is even more effective when combined with assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination and in vitro…
Key Points Lay SummarySteroid hormone receptors in endometriosis
Therapeutics that target the steroid hormones are the standard treatment for women with endometriosis because steroid hormones play an important role in endometrial physiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis. Examples of these therapeutics include anti-estrogens, estrogen receptor (ER) modulators, progestins, and…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow should MRI images be obtained for optimal endometriosis detection?
It is well known that the diagnosis of endometriosis for some patients with the chronic pelvic disease is delayed, often for years, due to the disease, patient, and physician-led factors. An area of active study is how ordering physicians can…
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 SummarytRNA-derived fragments in ovarian endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent mysterious disorder characterized by the presence of endometrium outside the normal location of the uterus cavity. This disease affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women and becomes a major reason for infertility in reproductive-aged women and dysmenorrhea…
Key Points Lay SummaryRecurrence following surgery for subtypes of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease identified by the location of endometrial stromal and glandular cells outside the uterine cavity. It is considered as a gynecological disease of reproductive-aged women. Three subtypes of endometriosis are peritoneal endometriosis which defines the endometriotic lesions…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe efficacy of combined hormonal contraception on pelvic pain in endometriosis patients
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…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntioxidants inhibit autophagy in ectopic endometrial cells
Factors involved in the development of ectopic endometrium are not well-known, but several reports demonstrate a potential role for the pathophysiological processes including autophagy. Studies show that autophagy plays a significant role in endometriosis but the key mechanisms underlying the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA Routine Pelvic Ultrasound Examination Should Include an Evaluation for Endometriosis
Routine pelvic ultrasound examination should be extended beyond the uterus and ovaries into the posterior and anterior pelvic compartments, according to Australian doctors. With such examinations, deep infiltrating endometriosis nodules can be searched, say the authors, allowing women to be…
Key Points Lay SummaryFertility conservation in women with endometriosis
Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women in their reproductive period and almost half of them may need Assisted Reproductive techniques to conceive. Moreover, increased malignancy risk is threatening the women with severe endometriosis in addition to their decreased ovarian reserve. Due…
Key Points Lay SummaryImaging of gastrointestinal endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the ectopic implantation of endometrial tissue to surrounding pelvic and extra-pelvic structures. One frequent site of involvement is the gastrointestinal(GI) tract, which occurs especially among women with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Most cases of GI-involving…
Key Points Lay SummaryFertility preservation protocols in women with endometriosis
Infertility is one of the major symptoms in women with endometriosis. Childbearing at a delayed age is preferred by the majority of women recently who consult for the demand for fertility preservation procedures. There are several techniques for fertility preservation…
Key Points Lay SummaryUrgent Need For Building Resilience
According to Naeem et al.’s article, “Coping with Covid”, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the ideal intervention tool to increase resilience. Their study has recently been published in "Kyber Medical University Journal". The authors investigate the psychological impact of the Covid-19…
Key Points Lay SummaryEarly Life Factors for Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women. Despite the significant impact, the etiology of endometriosis is still unclear. A recent systematic review of 15 studies of adolescents found that overall 65% of girls undergoing laparoscopic investigation were diagnosed with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay SummaryLong-term Pregnancy Results after Surgical Removal of Endometrioma
Sun et al., from China, investigated the pregnancy outcomes and the related factors in patients with endometrioma and stage III-IV endometriosis along with a long-term follow-up postoperatively. Their study has recently been published in the journal named "Advances in Therapy".…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe Relationship Between Dyspareunia and Infertility in Endometriosis
Wahl et al. from the Center of Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada studied with endometriotic patients suffering from dyspareunia who were referred to their center and built a cross-sectional study to investigate the relations between…
Key Points Lay SummaryAll aspects of endometriosis reviewed with focus on modern management
Dr. Chapron and associates from academic centers in France published in Nature Review Endocrinology, a comprehensive review on endometriosis. The article is inclusive of all aspects of endometriosis but especially focuses on the management of the disease with its contemporary status. Having a…
Key Points Lay SummaryAbdominal wall endometriosis: Who is at risk and what causes it?
Endometriosis is a condition that can cause anatomic, hormonal, and inflammatory disturbances that may ultimately result in decreased fertility or infertility. It is a disease process that is defined as ectopic endometrial-like tissue implanting itself to various pelvic and extra…
Key Points Lay SummaryPolymorphisms and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analyses.
The symptoms of endometriosis are varied among women and include chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and fatigue. There are no reliable blood tests and medical imaging techniques such as MRI and ultrasound are not always satisfactory. The lack of endometriosis-specific symptoms…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes Getting Pregnant Really Help When You Have Endometriosis?
Pregnancy has a favorable impact on the volume of deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions according to a study published in the scientific journal "PLoS One". This is the first study that demonstrates such a favorable impact of pregnancy on endometriosis lesion…
Key Points Lay SummaryKisspeptin and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis
It is known that matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. For example, the upregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may enhance the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, facilitating cell migration and invasion. Kisspeptin (KISS1, also…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe predictive factors for early spontaneous miscarriage in IVF/ICSI cycles
The most common presenting complaints of endometriosis are mainly dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably fertility problems. The clinical pregnancy rate has increased up to 60% in assisted reproductive…
Key Points Lay SummaryRegulation of Inflammation in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent and multifaceted gynecological condition. Unfortunately, this disease frequently causes chronic and cyclic pelvic pain. Though there are several treatments are available, there is not an actual cure for this disease. Therefore, the development of new therapy…
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 SummaryCycle-related gastrointestinal complaints in reproductive age young women
An analysis of 1-year data on 266 patients who presented to the Clinic and Polyclinic for Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Jena University Hospital to undergo surgery for endometriosis and its symptoms was performed by Nicolaous K. et al., a…
Key Points Lay SummaryClinical Evaluation of Endometriosis-Associated Pain
Endometriosis has a noteworthy impact on the quality of life of the patients diagnosed with it since it is associated with unpleasant conditions such as endometriosis-associated pain. The diagnosis of endometriosis is not always straightforward because of the varying symptoms…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe relationship of serum concentrations of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and endometriosis
Although many serum biomarkers or biomarker panels for endometriosis are evaluated, none of them is exact enough to be used in daily laboratory practice. In a recent study, which has been published in Scandinavian Journal Of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Barberic…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe genetic mutations in uterine adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is defined as the localization of endometrial stromal and glandular cells in the myometrium. This disease is a reproductive-aged women disease, like endometriosis. Additionally, adenomyosis is frequently observed together with endometriosis and leiomyomas due to common histological features and…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow well do providers understand endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a challenging disease no matter what side of the equation you are in, a patient or a provider who cares for patients with the disease. It impacts millions of women worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent…
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 SummaryAdiposity, endometriosis type and severity
Dr. Jiyoung from the division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine of the University of Utah, planned a prospective cross-sectional study to assess whether there is an inverse relationship between the adiposity and endometriosis. The results of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe role of microbiota in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is commonly diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. Although many advanced types of research about the etiology, differential diagnosis and treatment have been performed, it still remains an enigmatic disease. Dr. Bedaiwy, a scientist and physician…
Key Points Lay SummaryIntegrated bioinformatic analysis for endometriosis diagnosis
Endometriosis is considered as a non-malignant disease, but it is associated with several unfavorable conditions including non‑menstrual pelvic pain and infertility. Surgical resection and hormone suppression are common means of treatments; however, several side-effects and the recurrence are not preventable.…
Key Points Lay SummaryPreoperative serum CA 125 levels predict the severity of adhesions in endometriosis
Lee Y. et al., a group of researchers from Korea evaluated the correlation between preoperative serum markers and pelvic adhesions in endometriosis patients and explored the markers’ clinical value for outcome prediction. They have recently published their study in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich treatment option improves fertility the most?
Endometriosis is a condition that causes anatomic, hormonal, and inflammatory disturbances that may ultimately result in decreased fertility or infertility. It is estimated that 30-50% of women with endometriosis suffer from infertility. Thus, the role of surgical, medical, or expectant…
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 SummaryThe role of acidic ribosomal protein P1 in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. The disease develops and composed of the ectopic endometrial-like tissue which establishes primarily in the pelvic cavity. Previous findings clearly show that estrogen-related factors are critical for endometriosis development and progression. However, we do have…
Key Points Lay SummaryWoman at reproductive age suffering from migraines should consider getting evaluated for endometriosis.
What do migraine and endometriosis have in common? One can easily answer “pain”. Turns out there are other shared aspects when it comes to these two conditions: both have a high prevalence in women of childbearing age, both suffer from…
Key Points Lay SummaryRare lesions in the pathologic examinations of endometriosis.
Dr. Glenn McCluggage from the Department of Pathology, Belfast Health, and Social Care Trust, penned a review about selected uncommon variants of endometriosis or benign alterations that may cause difficulties of pathologic diagnosis and provided all related histopathological illustrations in…
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 SummaryRole of miR-141 in endometriosis
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (18–24 nucleotides) endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate a broad range of signaling pathways. They bind to specific sequences resulting in mRNA degradation and protein inhibition. Deregulation of miRNAs is associated with the development of many disease…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of Genetic Variations in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder. This disease affects approximately 7% to 10% of reproductive-aged women and causes negative impacts on society. The underlying causes are unclear; therefore, the understanding of this disease remains a major clinical challenge. Endometriosis has a…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe prevalence and severity of endometriosis today
Ghiasi M. et al., a group of researchers from the USA, presented a comprehensive review of the prevalence, incidence, and stage of endometriosis worldwide as reported over the past 30 years. Researchers performed a search in four databases, including PubMed,…
Key Points Lay SummaryWorrying signs of Endometriosis on Hysterosalpingography
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an imaging modality that utilizes fluoroscopy in order to evaluate the uterine cavity, fallopian tubes, and adjacent peritoneal cavity by injecting contrast media through the cervical canal. It is an important tool in the work-up of patients who…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometriosis Severity and Complication Risks Following Laparoscopic Surgery
In a research article published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts suggested that the severity of endometriosis could not be a predictor of the risk of post-operative complications. In…
Key Points Lay Summary