Controlled 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 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 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 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 SummaryIs hemoglobin the immune trigger of endometriosis?
The role of inflammatory cells in endometriosis has been a popular subject. However, the effects of blood inside the endometriomas were not clarified yet. The study conducted by Kusunoki et al. and published in the "Medical Molecular Morphology" journal has…
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 SummaryThe recurrence risk of endometrioma in older age
Ovarian endometrioma is more common in reproductive ages and the recurrence rate is around 20 percent in the first 2 years after the initial surgery. The use of postoperative hormonal therapy is a mutual option to decrease recurrences. The rate…
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 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 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 SummaryHormone Therapy Before Endometriosis Surgery
Hormonal therapy can be effective for endometriosis, although laparoscopic surgery is required for the frequent drug-resistant symptoms. Laparoscopic surgery can markedly improve endometriosis-associated pain. The administration of GnRH agonist prior to endometriosis laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial to improve surgical…
Key Points Lay 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 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 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 SummaryWhite blood cell neutrophils link to immunosuppressive environment in ovarian endometrioma
Recently the contribution of neutrophils to the pathogenesis of endometriosis has been suggested. Several observations fuelled this suggestion, such as the accumulation of neutrophils in the peritoneal fluid of ovarian endometriosis; neutrophil extracellular traps were found in the peritoneal fluid of…
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 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 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 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 SummaryIL-33 Polarize Peritoneal Macrophages for Endometriosis Growth
M2 type macrophages are the most common type of macrophages found in endometriosis and they enhance the development of endometriosis lesions. The key factors that stimulate macrophages to polarize towards M2 and contribute to the increased endometriosis lesions remain to be…
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 SummaryEndometriosis and Women’s Tendency Towards Blood Clotting
Women with ovarian endometriomas have an abnormally increased tendency toward blood clotting, study shows. Researchers think that this is due to the inflammatory nature of endometriosis. So abnormal coagulation parameters could be used to diagnose endometriosis, however, more detailed studies…
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 SummaryM1 and M2 macrophages in ovarian endometriomas
Macrophages play an essential role in the immune response during inflammation and have been implicated in diseases such as inflammatory conditions and cancers. Broadly, macrophages are classified into M1 and M2. The M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory, and in contrast, the…
Key Points Lay SummaryA new technique for laparoscopic management of ovarian endometriosis.
To cause a minimal hazardous effect on ovarian reserve during laparoscopic surgery of endometriomas is always a great concern for clinicians. Shaltout et al. from Cairo University, Egypt, examined the effect of "Surgicel" on preventing the recurrence of endometriomas and…
Key Points Lay SummaryMelatonin receptors and their role in endometrial cell proliferation
Women with endometriosis demand therapy for the most common symptoms, which are pelvic pain and infertility. Despite extensive research, the exact pathophysiological mechanism and the optimal management of endometriosis still remains unclear. Management of endometriosis should aim to relieve pain,…
Key Points Lay SummaryImpact of hemostatic techniques used in endometrioma surgery on ovarian function
This publication reports on an ongoing clinical trial that aims to assess whether the hemostatic techniques (methods to stop bleeding) used in ovarian endometrioma surgery have damaging effects on ovarian function. The clinical trial stemmed from a multitude of inconclusive…
Key Points Lay SummaryUrocortin: A biomarker deserving investigation for endometriosis patients
Urocortin is a neuropeptide in the corticotropin-releasing hormone family and is expressed by eutopic and ectopic human endometria. Since it has paracrine and immunomodulatory effects, urocortin is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Its expression has been thoroughly…
Key Points Lay SummaryPlasma Energy for Ovarian Endometriomas
There are many different approaches used in the management of ovarian endometriomas such as stripping cystectomy, ablation, including electrical/thermal and CO2 laser ablation, fenestration/aspiration, and combined techniques. Plasma energy is a new promising treatment option for ovarian endometrioma and may be…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe coexistence deep infiltrating endometriosis and fibromyalgia
Endometriosis is defined as the localization of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. The main symptoms of endometriosis which are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain impair the quality of life of these women. This disease may…
Key Points Lay SummaryAntimullerian Hormone, endometrioma and ovarian reserve
Younis et al. from Baruch-Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel, designed a review study on ovarian reserve alterations before and after endometrioma surgery that recently documented in "Human Reproduction Update". The authors examined the electronic databases of articles published between January…
Key Points Lay SummaryA highly sensitive Immunohistochemical Marker for Stromal Cells in endometriosis
Endometriosis is diagnosed histopathologically by the presence of endometrium-like tissues outside the uterus. Positive CD10 immunohistochemistry, highlighting stromal cells of the endometrium, is a useful adjunct for pathologists in the tissue diagnosis. However, CD10 expression is not specific to endometrial stromal…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe appearance of postoperative endometriosis by imaging methods
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease mostly encountered in reproductive-aged women. Endometriosis can occur in three different entities: peritoneal, ovarian and deep endometriosis. Golden standard diagnosis is made by histopathological examination of surgical material after laparoscopic surgery in women with…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe miscarriage rate in women with endometriosis undergoing IVF fresh cycles
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent disease diagnosed in 25-40% of women with infertility. There are several mechanisms explaining the negative impacts of endometriosis on fertility through the entire reproductive process such as sperm-oocyte interaction, ovarian reserve, and implantation. Endometriosis is…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrioma, Fertility, and Assisted Reproduction
Endometriosis can negatively impact a woman’s health and quality of life. Surgery has been considered the primary treatment to overcome infertility in cases of ovarian endometrioma. Patients struggling with endometriosis often pursue assisted reproductive technologies (ART) due to fertility issues.…
Key Points Lay SummaryFurther Results From the FEELING Study Published
Some women are more likely to develop deep infiltrating endometriosis according to the further analysis of the results of the FEELING study. These are women who: are married, are older, have siblings, have had a prior pregnancy, or for whom…
Key Points Lay SummaryDoes ovarian endometrioma damage the ovarian reserve?
Ovarian endometriomas are commonly present in 17% to 44% of women with endometriosis and are often associated with infertility and pelvic pain. There are several treatment options including surgical treatment. Cyst excision is associated with better results in terms of…
Key Points Lay SummaryThe diagnosis and management of endometriosis in Korea
The Korean Society of Endometriosis has scrutinized the present published literature of endometriosis in the domestic and international platform to provide new guidelines and the clinical management of the disease. The study was recently published in the journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology…
Key Points Lay SummaryHow Ovarian Endometriomas and DIE affect ART outcomes
Previous studies have evaluated the impact of an ovarian endometrioma on ovarian reserve and its impact on the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes have controversial results. ART is a method by which a woman’s own hormones are used…
Key Points Lay SummaryEndometrioma and endometriosis
Exacoustos C. et al. published an article titled “The isolated ovarian endometrioma: a history between myth and reality” in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology in 2018. They aimed to examine the association between ovarian endometriomas detectable at the transvaginal ultrasound…
Key Points Lay SummaryPersonalised Medicine for Endometriosis?
The lining of the uterus of women with endometriosis is different from that of women without the disease even if they have chronic pelvic pain found a study published in the scientific journal Biology of Reproduction. The difference is found…
Key Points Lay SummaryIs there a definitive guideline for the surgical management of endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Unfortunately, endometriosis continues to be a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age. This article titled,…
Key Points Lay SummaryNo Link Found Between Vitamin D and Endometriosis
Buggio et al., a group of scientists from the Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Universita` degli Studi in Milan, recently published a paper in the Reproductive Sciences titled “25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serum Levels and Endometriosis: Results of a Case-Control Study.” The publication sought…
Key Points Lay SummaryAn Unusual Case "Free Floating Omental Endometrioma"
Capaccione et al. published an article in Radiology Case Reports titled “Massive endometrioma presenting with dyspnea and abdominal symptoms.” This publication is centered around a particularly unique case report of a woman who was ultimately diagnosed with endometriosis. The patient…
Key Points Lay SummaryA How-To Guide for Endometriosis Surgery
The European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE), ESHRE, and the World Endometriosis Society (WES) recently published a document titled “Recommendations for the surgical treatment of endometriosis—part 1: ovarian endometriomas.” This publication provides surgeons with recommendations for the technical aspects of…
Key Points Lay SummaryWhich Endometriosis Treatment is Better: NETA or Extended-cycle OC (Seasonique®)?
Scala et al. recently shared the findings of their patient preference prospective study in a journal article titled “Norethindrone acetate versus extended-cycle oral contraceptive (Seasonique®) in the treatment of endometriosis symptoms: A prospective open-label comparative study,” which was published in the…
Key Points Lay SummaryLong-term Use of Dienogest can Prevent Recurrence of Endometriomas
Chandra et al. recently published a paper titled “Clinical experience of the long-term use of dienogest after surgery for ovarian endometriomas” in Obstetrics and Gynecology Science. The publication explored the benefits and repercussions associated with long-term use of dienogest, a…
Key Points Lay SummaryCan Ovarian Stimulation Increase Endometrioma Volume?
Seyhan et al. recently published a paper titled “Do endometriomas grow during ovarian stimulation for assisted reproduction? A three-dimensional volume analysis before and after ovarian stimulation” in Reproductive BioMedicine Online. The authors initially believe that ovarian stimulation, often used in…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian Reserve Depletion is not Time Sensitive
The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology recently published a paper titled “Is endometrioma-associated damage to ovarian reserve progressive? Insights from IVF cycles.” This publication by Benaglia et al. examines the controversial relationship between endometriosis and ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryUpdates in the Field of Endometriosis: Imaging
Hoyos, Johnson, and Puscheck wrote a chapter titled “Endometriosis and Imaging” that discusses the imagining technologies that can be used to diagnosis and examine individuals with the disease. This chapter evaluates three types of imagining, namely Ultrasound (US), Magnetic Resonance…
Key Points Lay SummaryUpdates in the Field of Endometriosis: Fertility Preservation
“Endometriosis and Fertility” is a chapter dedicated to examining the role of endometriosis and endometriomas in decreasing fertility. In other words, the authors of this chapter discuss the relationship between endometriomas, surgeries, and infertility. Barnett, Banks and Decherney also deliberate…
Key Points Lay SummaryOvarian Endometriomas vs Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
Ovarian endometrioma (OMA) and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) have been described as two disease entities, although they are both characterized by endometrial tissue located outside the uterus. As OMA and DIE look different histologically, it is puzzling what cause their…
Key Points Lay SummaryReduced vascularization in ovarian endometriomas associated with less pain
Angiogenesis, i.e., the development of new blood vessels is believed to play an important role in endometriosis pathogenesis and symptoms. Endometriosis is associated and requires neovascularization to proliferate, invade surrounding normal structure in order to establish an endometriotic lesion. Ovarian…
Key Points Lay SummaryHormonal Contraceptives and Endometriomas
Hormonal contraceptive has recently become a popular choice of birth control for many women. The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology recently published an article entitled “Incidence of ovarian endometrioma among women with peritoneal endometriosis with and…
Key Points Lay SummaryICSI Outcomes for Laparoscopic Intervention of Endometriosis
Women with endometriosis can have trouble conceiving and often turn to fertility treatments for help. Guler et al. recently published a paper in Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine titled “The Impact of laparoscopic surgery of peritoneal endometriosis and endometrioma on…
Key Points Lay SummaryCharacteristics of Ovarian Endometriotic Cysts Could Help Determine Whether Endometrioma Will Reoccur
The features of ovarian endometriotic cysts could help predict whether endometrioma will re-occur in individual patients, according to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Predicting the risk of recurrence is important because it can help…
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