By Eylül GÜNGastrointestinal symptoms in colorectal deep endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
The colon, particularly the recto-sigmoid is the most commonly involved area in deep endometriosis. These patients suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms almost as much as pelvic pain symptoms the most common being reported as frequent and painful defecation. Gastrointestinal symptoms may…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Selma OransayDiagnostic criteria for uterosacral ligament involvement in endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Transvaginal ultrasonography is often used to diagnose endometriosis in suspected women due to its high resolution, low cost, and relatively low discomfort. Histologic confirmation of laparoscopically removed specimens is still the gold standard for appropriate diagnosis. The team led by…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Nasuhi Engin AydinScientific unfolding will lead new drug targets
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Drs. Dolmans and Donnez from academic institutions located in Brussels, Belgium, have published their comprehensive review on the current pathophysiological concepts in endometriosis with possible drug treatment potentials in the recent issue of a scientific journal named “Biomolecules”. As a…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Özge ÖzkayaThe "Painful Periods Screening Tool" Could Speed Endometriosis Diagnosis
By Özge Özkaya
The Painful Periods Screening Tool (PPST) is a useful tool for women with endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. The study's authors said that the tool “ facilitated communication between patients and providers…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Hale Goksever CelikEndometriosis and the body perception
By Hale Goksever Celik
The most common endometriosis-associated symptoms are pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility. Women with endometriosis should be managed due to the significant impact of these symptoms on their quality of life. Body perceptions of these women are also affected depending…
Key Points Lay Summary
Adverse pregnancy outcomes and endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Inflammation plays a big role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis with the release of inflammatory cytokines, angiogenic imbalance, and oxidative stress. These pathways are also common features of severe maternal morbidity. Severe maternal morbidity is life-threatening, causing cardiac and renal…
Key Points Lay Summary
Creating a reliable indirect immunofluorescence protocol as a promising diagnostic tool for endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Owing to its inflammatory nature, endometriosis results in the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which disrupt the cellular functions and eventually lead the cell to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Senescence, the natural state of irreversible cell cycle arrest,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis may coexist yielding important clinical implications
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Drs. Uimari, Nazri, and Tapmeier from Finland, the UK, and Australia have published their comprehensive review on the comorbidity of endometriosis along with uterine leiomyomas in the medical journal “Frontiers in Reproductive Health”. The comorbidity of uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Rare but important entity: perineal endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Zhu and colleagues from Peking Union Medical College Hospital have published their retrospective research on "surgically treated perineal endometriosis cases" in a recent issue of BMC’s Women’s Health. Perineal endometriosis is a rare type of endometriosis accounting for at…
Key Points Lay Summary
Gestrinone May Be Safe and Effective in Treating Endometriosis Symptoms
By Özge Özkaya
Gestrinone seems to be safe for the treatment of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. It also may be more effective than danazol and other medical treatments. However, these findings…
Key Points Lay Summary
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrogenesis in endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis lesions are characterized by endometrium-like cell proliferation, invasion, and oxidative stress associated with inflammation and neoangiogenesis. Fibrosis, which occurs due to these events, causes chronic pelvic pain depending on the location and the severity of endometriosis. For the purpose…
Key Points Lay Summary
How accurate is ultrasonography in evaluating deep infiltrating endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) appears to be the most severe form of endometriosis comprising 15-30% of all endometriosis patients. The difference in the presentation of the lesions ranges from simple adhesions to infiltrative nodules. Even though there is no consensus…
Key Points Lay Summary
Do combination GnRH antagonists improve endometriosis-associated pain?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a broad spectrum of pain symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain. It has been understood in light of scientific evidence that endometriosis results in diminished quality of life in these…
Key Points Lay Summary
Which parameter is useful in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in perimenopausal endometriosis patients?
By Eylül GÜN
Cardiovascular disease is known to be the leading cause of death among women worldwide. Studies have shown that postmenopausal women are at a greater risk as well as women who undergo premature menopause proving the effect of hormonal imbalances on…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ovarian endometriomas, ovarian reserve, oocyte quality and IVF/ICSI outcomes
By Selma Oransay
Surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are the preferred treatments for endometrioma in infertile patients. When ART is considered, surgery may seem to have no advantages, as it may not improve pregnancy outcomes and may carry the risk of decreasing…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep Endometriosis Surgery and Women’s Quality of Life
By Özge Özkaya
The physical and social functions as well as the overall physical health is worse than normal among Spanish women who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis, reported a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The bodily pain, emotional…
Key Points Lay Summary
Uterine agenesis patients may have endometriosis too
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Steinmacher and colleagues at the Tuebingen University Hospital, Germany have published their unique study on a series of patients with congenital Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome in a recent issue of the “Journal of Clinical Medicine”. The absence uterus and upper…
Key Points Lay Summary
Minimally Invasive Surgery Improves the Quality of Life of Women With Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Minimally invasive surgery improves the quality of life of women with deep infiltrating endometriosis two years after the operation, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The results are similar between conservative and total surgery.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Breastfeeding Seems to Protect Both Mother and Baby From Endo
By Özge Özkaya
Breastfeeding seems to decrease the risk of endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Breastfeeding Medicine. Similarly, there seems to be a negative association between ingesting breast milk and the risk of developing endometriosis later in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Efficacy of Uterine Artery Blockage in Endometriosis Management
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Li Ma and associates from Liaoning, China have published their results of a computerized database search on the role of uterine artery embolization in endometriosis in a recent issue of the periodical “Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience”. Currently, the management…
Key Points Lay Summary
Opioid use following operation for endometriosis or pelvic pain
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis have pain in the form of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain, and they have a diminished quality of life depending on the severity of pelvic pain. Opioids have been preferred in many patients suffering from pain,…
Key Points Lay Summary
What causes pelvic pain? Androgens or estrogens?
By Selma Oransay
A comparison between women and men reveals that women suffer more pelvic pain. This reality raises the possibility of the pain-relieving effect of testosterone or androgens. It would be a wise solution to investigate how androgens affect pain at different…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Hospitalization Trends in Spain
By Eylül GÜN
According to the general assumption, one in every ten women is believed to have endometriosis. However, recent literature shows a big difference in the prevalence rates ranging from 1 to 5%, likely because most cases remain undiagnosed. The need for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Anhedonia and its relation to endometriosis as a sole symptom
By Eylül GÜN
"Anhedonia may be defined as a broad category of hedonic function deficiencies, including diminished motivation or enjoyment capacity. It has been an area of interest for a long time in psychiatric disorders and has been crucial in some diagnoses such…
Key Points Lay Summary
Obstetric Outcomes of Pre-pregnancy Endometriosis Surgery
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including placenta praevia, preterm birth, premature prelabour rupture of membranes, obstetric hemorrhage, gestational hypertensive disorders, fetal growth restriction, and perinatal death. Some authors have attempted to demonstrate a causal relationship between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Bahar YukselForeseeing what will be seen on laparoscopy
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis diagnosis still relies on preoperative prediction and its confirmation by taking biopsies. Thus, a prediction model for forecasting what would be waiting for the surgeon and the patient will be promising to get prepared. In the study conducted…
Key Points Lay Summary
Scientists Try to Understand Consequences of Genetic Changes in Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
The protocol of the "Endometriosis Research Queensland Study" has been published in the scientific journal BMJ Open. The aim of the study is to collect endometrial tissue associated with the disease and chart its genetic architecture. This way, the researchers aim to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Antimicrobial agent ornidazole yields promising effects in an animal model of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Xiaoduo Qin and collaborators from Chinese medical centers, have published their results on the role of ornidazole using an experimental rat model in a recent issue of the periodical “Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation”. Progression of endometriotic foci depends on the presence…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Delay in Endometriosis Diagnosis Is Huge
By Özge Özkaya
Eleven years pass on average in Italy for a woman to get diagnosed with endometriosis from when she starts having symptoms. This delay can even be even longer (4 more years) if the symptoms appear before a woman is age 20.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Non-hormonal medication for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain
By Selma Oransay
The thought of benefiting from non-hormonal therapy in endometriosis pain is based on the pathophysiological findings that include angiogenesis, fibrosis, the presence of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells, apoptosis, and stem cell theory. But the effect of this treatment in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Epigenetic changes in endometriosis: A new target area for therapy
By Eylül GÜN
Epigenetics is the heritable genetic modifications and changes in chromosomes without alterations in the DNA sequence. Numerous mechanisms, like DNA methylation and RNA editing to mention a couple, have been discovered as epigenetic alterations that are triggered by environmental factors.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Embryo implantation and endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Infertility is one of the main symptoms of endometriosis. And unfortunately, monthly fecundity rates decrease from 15% to 2-10% for women with endometriosis. The reason for these decreases is controversial and still not known whether it is because of impaired…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does endometrioma size have an effect on IVF/ICSI outcomes?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Assisted reproductive technologies including IVF/ICSI can be suggested as the therapeutic option in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. In literature, there is a controversy regarding the influence of endometrioma size on IVF/ICSI outcomes. The group led by Drs Chapron and Santoulli…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Care Is More Patient-Centered for age older than 35
By Özge Özkaya
Women younger than age 35 receive endometriosis care in a less patient-centered manner compared to older women, found a new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This finding underscores the importance of improving endometriosis care, especially for…
Key Points Lay Summary
Deep lateral parametrial endometriosis nerve-sparing surgery
By Selma Oransay
Dr. Kanno et al. from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Kurashiki medical center, Okayama, Japan recently published a deep lateral parametrial endometriosis case report in the journal named Fertility and Sterility. The aim is to demonstrate the technical and…
Key Points Lay Summary
TSH receptor antibodies show promising results in the diagnostic workup of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Svensson with collaborators from the Swedish Lund University has published their results on the possible role of TSH receptor antibodies as biomarkers in endometriosis diagnosis in a recent issue of “European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology”.…
Key Points Lay Summary
How beneficial is colorectal surgery for patients with deep endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
In cases of deep endometriosis, which causes more severe pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, the patient's quality of life and fertility outcomes are negatively affected. Surgical intervention is thought to be the optimal treatment method in colorectal deep endometriosis cases, however,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative serum markers to predict serum AMH recovery following endometriosis surgery
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis seek treatment including ovarian cystectomy, because of symptoms that reduce their quality of life. Ovarian cystectomy using laparoscopic or robotic devices is the preferred therapy. However, it has been shown in the literature that ovarian reserve is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Web-based resource to improve menstrual health awareness
By Selma Oransay
Many women consider "menstrual pain" a normal part of being female, and do not seek medical help but rather use self-management methods such as heat, rest, and analgesics. They are often unsure which self-management strategies are effective or what the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Exposure to toxic metals and the risk of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Mercury, lead, and cadmium are the best-studied heavy metals for several adverse effects on the human reproductive system. Mercury can induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and lead exposure is associated with menstrual disorders, preterm birth, and miscarriage.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Time to change out taboos about the radiologic evaluation of scar endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Scar endometriosis is one of the rare forms of endometriosis. According to traditional belief, it has always been evaluated radiologically on menstruation days. In the study conducted by Balaban et al, the authors compared the differences in lesions according to…
Key Points Lay Summary
The management of diaphragmatic endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Thoracic endometriosis is a rare disease, and it is likely to have been underdiagnosed and underreported. Optimal diagnostic testing and management options are yet to be determined. Imaging for thoracic endometriosis is still in its infancy, and MRI only helps to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Understanding what we see: endometriosis laparoscopic appearance and microscopic verification
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Chia-Sui Weng and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic, USA have published their results on laparoscopic appearances and microscopy of endometriotic lesions in “The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology”. Even though the diagnosis of endometriosis has evolved greatly with advanced imaging…
Key Points Lay Summary
Rhein usage in endometriosis: A potential new therapeutic agent
By Eylül GÜN
The invasive nature of endometriosis has prompted scientists to find preventative and curative methods. The progression and proliferation of endometriotic lesions are being studied extensively. As one of the agents used in Chinese herbal medicine for inflammatory disorders, rhein is…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and the possible mechanisms of pain.
By Selma Oransay
The most common clinical symptoms of endometriosis are chronic pelvic pain and infertility. It is often not enough to treat pain symptoms with hormonal therapy or a surgical approach. Moreover, the stage of endometriosis has weakly associated with the amount,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Organizing structural protein Ezrin and its active form in endometriosis biopsies
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Alessandra Peloggia and colleagues from Brazil have published their results on immunostaining of Ezrin protein and its phosphorylated active form in endometrial tissues in a recent issue of “Clinics” Possible factors on endometrial cell implantation and proliferation in the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and the cumulative live birth rate in IVF cycles.
By Hale Goksever Celik
Infertility is one of the symptoms encountered in up to 40-50% of women with endometriosis. There are several pathophysiological theories suggesting the development of endometriosis-associated infertility. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) has been…
Key Points Lay Summary
Taller Girls More Likely to Have Recurring Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Adolescents who are taller and have three or more lesions are at a higher risk of endometriosis recurrence following surgery, according to a new study by Chinese researchers published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They should, therefore, be…
Key Points Lay Summary
The dilemma of autophagy and its role in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Autophagy is a mechanism for cell survival under metabolic stress that involves the degradation and recycling of intracellular components. Multiple genes actively control this process. Among these, the initiation stage of autophagosome formation is regulated by the gene Beclin-1 and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and Body Image
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis has a negative effect on health-related quality of life and body familiarity according to a new study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Based on this finding, the authors of the study recommend that body familiarity should be…
Key Points Lay Summary
A prediction model to identify endometriosis during routine ultrasound .
By Selma Oransay
. Ureterolysis is an advanced surgical technique that involves dissection of the ureter from pelvic brim to the ureteric tunnel to avoid injury or freeing the ureter from endometriotic lesions. This manipulation usually requieres advanced surgical training and skill. In…
Key Points Lay Summary
T-cell-targeted immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Monika Abraimuk and colleagues from Poland published their review on "the importance of immunity in endometriosis" in a recent issue of the medical journal “Cellular Signaling”. A great challenge in contemporary medical issues is endometriosis which still lacks a…
Key Points Lay Summary
How do the couples feel when dealing with endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
The effects of endometriosis on the patients' psychosocial well-being are well known. However, not many studies have investigated how it impacts the well-being of partners and couples. A few studies focused on the male perspective of the disease, whereas some…
Key Points Lay Summary
Parametrial endometriosis and postoperative voiding dysfunction.
By Selma Oransay
Parametrium constitutes a complex connective tissue containing blood vessels, the ureter, and the inferior hypogastric plexus, that extends from the lateral surface of the cervix and vagina to the lateral pelvic wall. Parametrial endometriosis may involve the vessels, nerves, and…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between severe endometriosis and venous thromboembolism
By Hale Goksever Celik
For clarifying the issue of whether endometriosis patients are at risk for venous thromboembolism due to both their local immune and inflammatory responses and hormonal treatments, Wiegers et al, from the Netherlands, published an explorative cohort study entitled “Risk of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Researchers Develop New Mouse Model of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers from China developed a new mouse model to study endometriosis that could help researchers better understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of endometriosis and develop potential new treatments for the disease. Even though many animal models…
Key Points Lay Summary
Do endometriosis patients have increased risk of stroke?
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Leslie V. Farland and colleagues from the University of Arizona, published their prospective research on the risk of stroke in women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis in a recent issue of a scientific journal named “Stroke”. Endometriosis is a chronic…
Key Points Lay Summary
Pelvic pain characteristics in young girls with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
The occurrence of severe and frequent pelvic pain in young women is a piece of evidence that endometriosis begins and develops at an early age. Two-thirds of women with endometriosis who were diagnosed in their adulthood reported the onset of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis Prediction by "Machine Learning"
By Selma Oransay
To develop a predictive model for endometriosis and to re-assess the contribution of known risk factors, Blass et al. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel used the data of the UK biobank by machine learning-based models. They compared and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Placenta Previa More Common Among Pregnant Women With Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis is associated with a higher risk of placenta previa, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Reproductive Sciences. This is the case whether the women became pregnant following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Moreover, for women with endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
Vitamin C as a possible therapeutic agent in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
A rather toxic environment is generated with the production of reactive oxygen species by the immune cells in endometriosis. The anti-oxidant metabolism is also altered which results in a state of oxidative stress. As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin C has…
Key Points Lay Summary
A call for mast cells from endometriotic lesions
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis is a well-known hormonal-dependent inflammatory disease. But what type of inflammatory cells is responsible, and when does estrogen take part, are questions that have not been answered yet. In the study conducted by Alison McCallion et al, the role…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fibrosis is not only a histological finding in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis remains to be an active subject of research with its complex pathophysiology and the indistinct mechanisms that cause the proliferation and progression of the lesions. Besides the already known characteristics of the disease, there is strong evidence to support…
Key Points Lay Summary
Study Identifies Factors Associated With Risk of UrinaryTract Endometriosis Recurrence
By Özge Özkaya
Being younger than age 25 and having an autoimmune disease are significant predictors of the recurrence of urinary tract endometriosis after surgery according to a new study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Adjuvant hormonal therapy, on the…
Key Points Lay Summary
To Remove the Ovary(ies) or Not During Hysterectomy for Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Some surgeons prefer empiric bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy during the hysterectomy of women with endometriosis based on the knowledge that endometriosis is stimulated by endogenous estrogens, as leaving the ovaries in situ may increase the possibility of endometriosis recurrence and pelvic pain.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Coexistence of endometriosis and cardiovascular diseases
By Hale Goksever Celik
The most common presenting complaints are mainly pelvic pain and infertility, most of which relate to the menstrual period. Affected women demand therapy for these symptoms of endometriosis, notably pelvic pain. Several theories have been proposed to explain the development…
Key Points Lay Summary
An important matter to revise: Immune system changes in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with unclear and obscure pathogenetic mechanisms. In their review, Chopyak et al. revised the immunopathogenic pathways that are proven and/or thought to be responsible for disease development and progression. The article was published in the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriotic cyst fluid and the postoperative recurrence of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Xinxin Xu and colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China, published their research on the viability of endometrial cells in ovarian cyst fluids in a recent issue of “Journal of Ovarian Research”.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Transvaginal Ultrasound Could Be Sufficient to Properly Diagnose Deep Endometriosis and Ovarians Endometriomas
By Özge Özkaya
Following the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis consensus can improve the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound to diagnose ovarian endometriomas and deep infiltrating endometriosis, according to a new study published in the scientific journalUltrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. “ (…) at this…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis and environmental factors
By Selma Oransay
The estrogen-dependent nature of endometriosis has generally led to search endocrine-based causes. Especially, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and Dietilstilbesterol are the most studied chemicals in the literature. Interesting data that needs confirmation in the future also suggest a link with night…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fallopian tube occlusion in infertile women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis suffer from fertility problems with an incidence of 40-50%. Among the pathophysiologic mechanisms resulting in impaired fertility in women with endometriosis, distorted pelvic anatomy due to adhesions, impaired follicular quality-quantity, dysfunction of tubal peristalsis, and implantation problems…
Key Points Lay Summary
The Oocyte Quality in Ovarian Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Endometrioma is the ovarian involvement of endometriosis affecting up to 44% of women diagnosed with the disease. Owing to the anatomical locus, ovarian endometriosis may impair folliculogenesis and oocyte competence, differing from other forms of endometriosis. When investigating the relationship between…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effects of resveratrol on endometriotic cells
By Eylül GÜN
The current treatment methods for endometriosis still carry recurrence risks and side effects from medications. Herbal medicine has been investigated and used as an additional alternative method. Derived from several plants and found in some dietary sources, resveratrol is a…
Key Points Lay Summary
The best method for the diagnosis of endometriosis: SEE and BELIEVE
By Eylül GÜN
Deciding on the best diagnostic procedure for endometriosis patients has been a recent subject of debate. While some clinicians believe non-invasive methods such as imaging and symptom-based treatment should be the choice in the diagnosis, some believe the best method…
Key Points Lay Summary
Validity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Deep Pelvic Endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Video laparoscopy has become a valuable tool for diagnosing and managing endometriosis in recent years. In cases associated with deep infiltrating endometriosis, the need for a non-invasive diagnostic method before laparoscopic evaluation paves the way for using MRI. The use…
Key Points Lay Summary
Gluten Intake May Not Have an Effect on Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Carbohydrate quality and certain types of fiber such as total vegetable and cruciferous vegetable fiber seem to be associated with endometriosis in women before menopause, found a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition. According to the study, it…
Key Points Lay Summary
Start exercising for pain relief
By Bahar Yuksel
Physical exercises have always been suggested for chronic pain-related diseases as well as endometriosis. However, the effect of exercise and the frequency that is effective on pain relief is unknown. In the study conducted by Ipek Ensari et al, a…
Key Points Lay Summary
Combined "Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and CA125" may be promising predictor for adhesions
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Drs. Guo & Zhang from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China published their manuscript on the importance of combined "platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and CA125 level" as a biomarker of endometriosis in a recent…
Key Points Lay Summary
Sex Education For The Sexual Quality Of Life
By Hale Goksever Celik
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Decreased quality of life due to pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression can lead to sexual dysfunction in women with endometriosis.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Estradiol metabolism, endometriosis and migraine
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis and migraine are the leading pain diseases of women of reproductive ages. As both are known to be induced by hormonal changes, in the review conducted by Joy-Fleur van der Vaart et al, the authors aimed to find out the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Time has come to learn more about endometriosis and take action!
By Eylül GÜN
It has been a long time since endometriosis was defined. Extensive population studies have shown that around 10% of women suffer from this condition. Depending on its severity, it alters the various functions of the body and causes the patients…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does the timing of endometriosis diagnosis affect optimal infertility treatment?
By Selma Oransay
Based on a retrospective population-linked data study in "Human Reproduction", the ESHRE journal club featured a detailed discussion with 50 participants, patients’ representatives, and experts (Paola Vigano´, Mathew Leonardi, Thomas D’Hooghe, Louise Hull), together with the authors of the original article, mainly…
Key Points Lay Summary
New Endometriosis Self-Assessment Tool Could Help Women Seek Timely Medical Attention
By Özge Özkaya
Researchers from Korea developed a self-assessment tool that may allow women to determine their risk of endometriosis. They described the tool in an article they published in the scientific journal Obstetrics & Gynecology Science. “The devised tool appears valid and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Genomic evidence: The recognition of endometriosis as an inflammatory systemic disease
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Bao and associates from Shangai-China published a new article on the genomic features of endometriosis that could yield information on its inflammatory basis and possible therapeutic potential in a recent issue of “Frontiers ın Immunology”. Endometriosis is a systemic process…
Key Points Lay Summary
Evaluation of retrocervical and parametrial deep endometriosis by detailed ultrasonography
By Selma Oransay
The accuracy of ultrasonographic diagnosis of deep endometriosis in the retrocervical and parametrial areas may be poor due to the variable morphology of endometriotic lesions, the complex structure of the posterior parametrial compartment, and the difference in examiners' experience level.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Research Identifies Blood Proteins Associated With Endometriosis in Adolescents
By Özge Özkaya
Proteins related to angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels and cellular migration are enriched and more active in the blood of adolescents with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. These are the findings of a new study published in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Chasing gold to find endometriosis.
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis is a disease that doesn’t have a proper preoperative diagnostic test. Thus, animal models to study endometriosis are vital to show the effects of drugs and the effects of the disease on the body. In the study conducted by…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis-associated infertility: How to manage?
By Hale Goksever Celik
Although the underlying reason for endometriosis has not been fully established, there is an association between endometriosis and infertility. Endometriosis is thought to be involved in 40-50 percent of infertility cases. However, natural conception can still occur even in women…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is it possible to reduce pain by diet in endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis-related pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis that significantly affects the patient's quality of life. The peripheral and central sensitization, caused by chronic inflammation activation, may result in referred pain. The pain perception was shown to…
Key Points Lay Summary
Would it be possible to diagnose endometriosis from a vaginal swab?
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Ectopic endometrial tissues with new vessel formations in an inflammatory background have a component of mast cell-derived exosomal tRF-Leu-AAG-001 promoting inflammation and angiogenesis. This information is according to the paper published in a recent issue of the journal “BMC Women’s Health”,…
Key Points Lay Summary
A new potential therapeutic target in endometriosis: Galectin-3
By Eylül GÜN
The endometrial cells migrate and attach to the peritoneal surface according to the most widely accepted retrograde menstruation theory in endometriosis development. Given that only 10% of women have endometriosis, it is thought that some additional factors contribute to the…
Key Points Lay Summary
The role of oxidative stress on endometriosis symptomatology
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis is not only a hormonal disease, but it is also an inflammatory illness provoked by hormones. In the review conducted by Hossein Ansariniya et al., from Iran, the relation between oxidative stress, free radicals, free iron, and the development of…
Key Points Lay Summary
How do regional differences affect the incidence rates of endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
Despite all the ongoing work for endometriosis awareness, it continues to be an underdiagnosed disease. Several different factors are responsible for this. The variations of its symptomatology play a big part as well as the lack of understanding of the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Fertility assessment and surgical approach in endometriotic patients.
By Selma Oransay
The prevalence of endometriosis is around 50-70% in women with pelvic pain, and it has been reported as 50% in patients with infertility. Severe adhesive disease associated with advanced endometriosis is a cause of fertility impairment. The relationship between endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
The effect of chronic endometritis on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women having minimal/mild endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is frequently diagnosed in reproductive-aged women. Infertility can be associated with endometriosis in these women depending on several pathophysiologic mechanisms such as anatomic distortion, and implantation failure. Thus pregnancy rate is so important, especially…
Key Points Lay Summary
Understanding the expression of endometriosis-related pain: A barrier to overcome
By Eylül GÜN
It is difficult to describe the feeling of pain, one of the most important symptoms of endometriosis because it is subjective. Endometriosis-related pain is proven to be underestimated by some clinicians resulting in the patient getting a late diagnosis. It…
Key Points Lay Summary
Postoperative outcomes of deep intestinal endometriosis surgery.
By Selma Oransay
Invasion of endometriotic lesions to the bowels' mucosal and/or muscular levels is called intestinal deep endometriosis. These lesions are most frequently found in the rectosigmoid colon, followed by the rectum, ileum, appendix, and caecum. The optimal surgical approach to intestinal deep…
Key Points Lay Summary
Soluble CD90 : a potential serum biomarker in endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Bochev and colleagues from several medical centers in Bulgaria published their research on the role of a possible serum biomarker in diagnosing endometriosis in a recent issue of the journal named “Disease Markers”. The definitive diagnosis of endometriosis, an…
Key Points Lay Summary
Immune cells in peritoneal endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Burcu Ersoy and associates from The University of Sydney, Australia, published their interesting study on surgically removed peritoneal endometriosis tissues in the journal named "F&S Science". It is still a dilemma how ectopic endometrial tissues attach to the peritoneum, persist…
Key Points Lay Summary
Ankylosing Spondylitis and Endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
There are several theories contributing the development of endometriosis: one of the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms is the abnormality in immune and inflammatory system. Several immunologic diseases coexist with endometriosis depending on the common immunologic characteristics such as Tumor necrosis Factor…
Key Points Lay Summary
The accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging for deep urinary tract endometrisis.
By Selma Oransay
The prevalence of urinary tract endometriosis is 19-53% in patients within deep infiltrating endometriosis cases. The bladder and ureteral are the most common sites of the involvement. While preparing a radical surgery for a patient with deep endometriosis, the diagnosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
A search for a marker to show the malignancy risk of endometriomas
By Bahar Yuksel
The premalignant features and precursors that show the malignant potential in endometriomas are not well-known. In the systematic review conducted by Ludovica Bartiromo et al, the markers for malignant transformation have been analyzed and recently published in a recent issue of…
Key Points Lay Summary
Endometriosis in transmasculine people
By Eylül GÜN
“Transmasculine” refers to people who were assigned female at birth but later identify themselves with masculinity. If they choose to transition to the male gender, they are then prescribed long-term testosterone and some may want to undergo a hysterectomy as…
Key Points Lay Summary
Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
Patients may have an average of 7 clinical visits before being diagnosed with endometriosis. Understanding chronic pain conditions including endometriosis-associated pain, and developing chronic pelvic pain benefits the management of the patients. The role of central sensitization, comorbid conditions, and…
Key Points Lay Summary
Who Is Diagnosing my Endo?
By Özge Özkaya
It is possible to acquire the skills necessary to diagnose endometriosis lesions as well as adenomyosis using three-dimensional rectosonography after a short learning period in an expert radiology center. This is according to a new study by French researchers published…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is it possible to predict recurrence after ovarian endometriosis surgery?
By Eylül GÜN
The current treatment methods for endometriosis both have their flaws: the medical treatment is sometimes ineffective and the surgical treatment comes with a high rate of recurrence. Even though new surgical modalities have been developed, laparoscopic cyst removal continues to…
Key Points Lay Summary
The association between inflammatory cytokines and fertility in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
Women with endometriosis suffer not only from a broad spectrum of symptoms including pain including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain but also fertility problems. Endometriosis-associated infertility develops depending on a combination of several mechanisms such as distorted pelvic anatomy,…
Key Points Lay Summary
The clearance system is defective for women who develop endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
Endometriosis is both a hormonal and an immune disease thus overcoming the immune response by improving the underlying mechanism would help fight the disease. In the study conducted by Dr.Guidice group at the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,…
Key Points Lay Summary
Surgery Improves the Sex Life and Sleep of Women With Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Endometriosis surgery improves patients’ quality of life, sexual function, and sleep confirms a new study by Turkish researchers published in the scientific journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. According to the first author Dr. Belfin Nur Arici Halici of the…
Key Points Lay Summary
Does inhibiting the formation of the new blood vessels aid in endometriosis treatment?
By Eylül GÜN
Current treatment modalities for endometriosis include a hormonal alteration which has many side effects and surgical removal which has a high postoperative recurrence rate. Alternative non-hormonal treatment methods have been investigated and anti-angiogenic therapy is one of them. Dr.s Chung…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is there a component of "microflora imbalance" in endometriosis?
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Oishi and colleagues from Ryukyus and Mie Universities, Japan, published a prospective cohort study on the microbiota of the female genital tract in the journal "Reproductive Medicine and Biology". Recent studies have found a small number of bacteria in…
Key Points Lay Summary
Early menarche increases the risk of endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
Early menarche is the first menstrual bleeding occurring before 12 years of age. The timing of normal puberty in girls varies between nations due to genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Notably, the age of menarche decreased significantly in teenagers born…
Key Points Lay Summary
How does endometriosis affect the life course of the patients?
By Eylül GÜN
Endometriosis, as a chronic disease has impairing effects on women’s lives. Patients carry psychological, social, and work-related burdens along with debilitating physical symptoms. Studies have been performed on these issues at a particular time in patients’ lives, however, only a…
Key Points Lay Summary
The relation between body mass index and endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
The studies have emphasized a link between low BMI values and endometriosis, however, this conclusion may be questionable when the estrogen dependence of the disease is concerned. Excess adipose tissue may produce higher circulating estrogen that may result in an…
Key Points Lay Summary
Adenomyosis Increases Risk of Surgical Complications
By Özge Özkaya
Adenomyosis increases the risk of deep endometriosis surgery complications, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Patients with deep endometriosis and adenomyosis should therefore be informed about this risk before undergoing surgery. Adenomyosis occurs together with…
Key Points Lay Summary
The consequence of COVID-19 pandemic on endometriosis patients
By Selma Oransay
The relevant policies and restrictions concerning Covid-19 have prevented patients from accessing medical care. Similarly, standard care for endometriosis patients has also been negatively impacted by postponed or canceled appointments and suspended surgeries across the countries. Women trying to cope…
Key Points Lay Summary
Preferential expression of some membrane type matrix metalloproteinase proteins
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Maoga and associates from academic institutions located in Germany and Kenya have published their findings on the immunohistochemical expression of MT-MMP proteins, namely MT2-MMP (MMP15) and MT3-MMP (MMP16) in the eutopic endometrium of healthy and endometriotic patients; and also…
Key Points Lay Summary
The evaluation of sexual dysfunction in infertile women
By Eylül GÜN
Infertility constitutes a serious health problem in women and men worldwide. The most common causes of women’s infertility are reported to be endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The prevalence of infertility in women with endometriosis is as high as 50%.…
Key Points Lay Summary
Comparison of imaging techniques for estimating the depth of bowel wall infiltration by endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
The surgical removal of deep endometriosis is the cornerstone of the management. However, the decision for the varying surgical approach types ranging from conservative management (shaving) to segmental or discoid resection depends on the depth of infiltration within the bowel wall, which…
Key Points Lay Summary
Self-Management Strategies for Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
Many self-management strategies for endometriosis are not more effective at reducing the symptoms of the disease compared to placebo or hormonal therapies, according to a new study published in the journal Reproductive Sciences. The authors, therefore concluded that “no recommendations…
Key Points Lay Summary
Social media and endometriosis management
By Selma Oransay
Endometriosis has a negative impact on social life, work, daily activities, personal relationship, and overall quality of life. A study from Australia recently published in the Australian New Zeland Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reports that social media helps these…
Key Points Lay Summary
Atherosclerosis is augmented in laboratory mice by experimental endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Taylor group from Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA has published their experimental study in the "American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology" on atherosclerosis following endometriosis induction in laboratory mice. The basic inflammation process in endometriosis patients…
Key Points Lay Summary
No way to sleep when you suffer from pain
By Bahar Yuksel
Having chronic disease might alter the sleep quality and disturb sleeping periods. Besides insomnia, endometriosis itself changes the pain sensitivity and increases the body’s reaction to inflammatory and painful inputs. Thus, as a chronic and painful long-term situation, the relation…
Key Points Lay Summary
Geography May Influence Risk of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
The risk of developing endometriosis seems to be geographically heterogeneous across France, according to results from a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study identified 20 high-risk hotspots around the country. These showed similar results for non-adenomyosis endometriosis…
Key Points Lay Summary
How possible is it to diagnose endometriosis from a urine sample?
By Eylül GÜN
The development of non-invasive diagnostic methods in endometriosis is essential for successful surveillance. Various biomarkers have been used for this purpose, including biomarkers from serum, peritoneal irrigation fluid, endometrial tissue biopsy, and urine. Dr. Chen et al. from Taiwan conducted…
Key Points Lay Summary
Abdominal wall endometriosis is not a rare disease as supposed
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The incidence of ovarian cancer after histologically diagnosed endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
How reliable are the patient questionnaires in predicting endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Distribution of tubal endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A novel contribution to patient management in endometriosis by immunohistochemistry
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Which of the suggested environmental risk factors are indeed related to endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Listening to patients’ complaints is the first step on the way to a diagnosis of endometriosis.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Are the studies based on the nationwide databases more accurate?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometriosis diagnosis and management based on the best available evidence from published literature
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Medicinal Cannabis Use for Endometriosis in Australia and New Zeland
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometriosis information coming from the social media
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
What are the most common symptoms of endometriosis and how are they related to age?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A revolutionary view on endometriosis related pain
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Prevalence of endometriosis and adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Mindfullness Can Hep Reduce Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Planning surgery for recto-sigmoid endometriosis with 3D virtual models.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Non-invasive diagnostic tools for endometriosis revisited
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The underlying reason of implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Cannabis use in the management of endometriosis-related pain during the COVID19 pandemic
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Prolactin receptor antibodies: A novel treatment proposal for endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A French National Study Concerning The "Recovery Protocol" After Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Surgery.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
International Working Group's review on endometriosis classification systems
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Imaging Techniques Able to Predict Depth of Endometriosis Before Surgery
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
A novel scoring tool to standardize surgical complexity for gynecologists.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
An important enigmatic promoter of endometriosis: immune dendritic cells
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
A quick insight into the latest research on endometriosis diagnosis and management
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Immunotherapy in endometriosis: a challenging research topic
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Algorithm for pain management in endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A New Non-Invasive Marker for Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Is "non-hormonal therapy" effective in women with endometriosis-associated pain?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Risk of cardiovascular disease in endometriosis patients
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
The consequences of endometriosis on the quality of life
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Surgery for the Treatment of Endometriosis of the Diaphragm and Thorax
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Diaphragmatic defects, liver herniations and catamenial pneumothorax
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis of the Diaphragm, What do the Doctors Know About it?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
The largest series of diaphragmatic endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Diaphragmatic endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Thoracic endometriosis: the most frequent endometriosis involvement outside abdominopelvic cavity
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Urinary Tract Endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Which surgical technique is best for rectal endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Nerve-sparing technique for deep infiltrating endometriosis and its impacts on pelvic organ and sexual functions.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Effects of Bowel Endometriosis Surgery on Mode of Delivery
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
A comparison of endometriosis Classifications: rASRM, EFI or Enzian?
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Egg or chicken, which is causing bladder symptoms, DIE or surgery for DIE?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Surgery before in-vitro fertilization – Is it beneficial in patients with deep endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Quality of life assessment in women with endometrioma
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Evaluation of daily diary for endometriosis-related pain.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis: Beyond the naked eye visibility
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Full understanding the role of nervous system in endometriosis could yield new gateways to novel therapeutic approaches
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis Seems to Affect The Development of the Embryo
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Is intrauterine insemination effective in women having endometriosis-associated infertility?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The necessity of laparoscopy for unexplained infertility.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The Role of Endometrial Cytokines on the Infertility in Endometriosis Patients
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Association of psoriasis and endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
How likely is it to get pregnant and have a baby after undergoing surgery for high stage endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Physical activity and exercise in reducing endometriosis symptoms
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Is it iron that calls vessels to form endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Pain alone is not a specific predictor for endometriosis diagnosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The quality of life and mental health in endometriosis patients
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
How Likely Am I to Conceive After Endometriosis Surgery?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
From Spain: execution for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain unresponsive to conventional therapies
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The relevance of mitosis in endometriotic tissue biopsies
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The higher the Endometriosis Fertility Index, the higher the chance of getting pregnant
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Importance of Language in Communicating Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
What do endometriosis and ovarian cancer have in common?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
A novel target proposal in endometriosis: Phoenixin
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A study design to improve the patient-centeredness in endometriosis care.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Emotions on the 'Surgery Requirement' in patients with bowel endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
An Overview on Treatment of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
There are different guidelines by different gynecological societies for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, which is an extremely complex illness. Kalaitzopoulos and Samartzis et al. from Switzerland worked on and compared six national and two international widely used guidelines to…
Key Points Lay Summary
A trial of exogenous melatonin on dysmenorrhea in women "without endometriosis"
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
New Endometriosis Clinical Trial Now Recruiting Participants
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Which one is more effective for the preservartion of postoperative ovarian reserve?
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Placenta praevia and cesarean section more common in patients with ART for Endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Matrix metalloproteinases and their role in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
The extracellular matrix harbors important macromolecules such as collagen and glycoproteins which are required for tissue remodeling, differentiation, and homeostasis. The main group of enzymes responsible for these properties is called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It has been proven that MMPs…
Key Points Lay Summary
Indocyanin Green dye for recognition of occult endometriotic lesions
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Evaluation of patient self-reported outcome measures for endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Efficacy of cannabis on endometriosis symptoms
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometriosis and women’s social lives, work and education.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Herbicide Alters Immune System on the Route to Endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Intravascular adenomyomatosis: an important entity to be alert
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
A novel in-vitro endometriosis model with KRAS and PIK3CA mutations
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Is breastfeeding beneficial to endometriosis pain?
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
International definition and standardization for endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for prediction of postoperative pregnancy
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Relationship Goals and Sexual Satisfaction for Couples Coping with Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
"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 Summary
Cross-cultural translation and adaptation of an endometriosis survey
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A plea from pathologists: standardized protocols for adenomyosis and endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The effect of hormone therapy after surgical menopause on endometriosis recurrence
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Does Surgery Improve the Digestive Symptoms of Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Pharmacological Therapy for Endometriosis Pain
By Eylül GÜN
The negative effects of endometriosis on women’s quality of life are indisputable. Women who suffer from endometriosis might have to deal with problems in many aspects such as psychological, sexual, social, and economic. Pain which is one of the most…
Key Points Lay Summary
Environmental factors play a role in the development of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The new Endometriosis Surgical Complexity Classification: AAGL 2021
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Dietary adjustments do not increase the quality of life of women with endometriosis.
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Inflammatory and genetical background of endometriosis may yield new therapeutic approaches
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Elisa Giacomini and colleagues from medical centers in Milan, Italy have published their review manuscript on the inflammatory and genetical pathogenetic background of endometriosis in a recent issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”, suggesting also new therapeutic approaches. The inflammatory…
Key Points Lay Summary
It is "pain" that causes sleep disturbances and fatigue in endometriosis patients
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
How does adenomyosis affect IVF outcomes?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Green tea as a therapeutic agent in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Molecular alterations in endometriosis pathogenesis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Phytoestrogens could have promising effects in endometriosis management
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Complex Relation Between Body mass index and endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Urinary Function Alterations after Surgery for Deep Endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Resveratrol for endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The comparison of the effect of hemostatic techniques on ovarian reserve during endometrioma cystectomy
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Persistence of Chronic Pelvic Pain after Hysterectomy
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Women with and without Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Etiopathogenesis of Endometriosis and Links with Endometrial Cancer
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
How to Reduce Pain After Laparoscopic Surgery
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Routine preoperative ureteral stent and complications in Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Lead and cadmium exposures of female workers should be reduced as much as possible
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Impact of surgery before IVF in infertile women with endometrioma
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Small chain fatty acids produced by gut microbiota: Could that be the missing milestone for endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Ovarian cancer risk in endometriosis and adenomyosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Uterine cancer risk in "endometriosis" and "adenomyosis"
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endogenous cannabinoids are related to endometriosis pain
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Dienogest treatment increases the risk of Endometriosis reoperation rate
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Body Mass Index and indicators of metabolic syndrome in women with Endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Potential new Target to Reduce Endometriosis Pain
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Best practice: How to reduce intraoperative bleeding?
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A new "survey-based" endometriosis diagnostic tool
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Altered Decidualization and Pregnancy Complications
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Catching endometriosis from the front line: educating general practitioners
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
A rare complication of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Not all endometriotic lesions behave similar to the eutopic endometrium
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Research Identifies New Genes That Could Be Targeted to Treat Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
By Dr. Youngran ParkAwareness is the first step toward endometriosis treatment
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
A new "nonhormonal" treatment target in endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
The incidence of endometriosis may vary over time according to age, period and cohort
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
A new assessment tool for the multi-dimensional burden of endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Ovarian Cancer Survival in the presence of Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
The added value of transvaginal hydro-laparoscopy for infertile women
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The role of physical examination and interview in Endometriosis Diagnosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The incidence and prevalence of endometriosis in a United States population-based study .
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Long noncoding RNAs to predict the endometriosis recurrence
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis & adolescents: Overcoming the diagnostic delay via education
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Chemical Found in Self-Care Products May Be Linked to Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Transvaginal Ultrasound Accuracy for Uterosacral Ligament, Torus Uterinus and Posterior Fornix Endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The clues for pain and infertility in endometriosis/adenomyosis complex
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Technical Facts for the Prevention of Complications After Deep Endometriosis Surgery
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Non-pharmacological self-care: dietary modifications in women with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
How to measure the length of recto-sigmoid deep endometriosis reliably?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A scoping review proposal for the diagnostic and treatment delay of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Strong Geographical Gradient in Endometriosis Incidence Identified
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Not just the pain stops but also the bowel function improves after DIE surgery
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Exploring a bonafide biomarker to predict endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Promising therapeutic results in experimental endometriosis model
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
It is not that simple: endometriomas are almost never alone
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Is the presence of nerve fibers in the endometrium associated with endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Resveratrol, isoflavones and puerarin have favorable in vivo results in endometriosis studies
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Could There Be a Link?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Postoperative Opioid use after Robotic operations for endometriosis, compared to non-endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Ureteral endometriosis and its management
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Does hyaluronic acid have a role in endometriosis?
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Medical Examination Reduces Anxiety in Women With Suspected Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Analyses of the main classification systems of endometriosis in terms of utrasound, MRI and surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Does exercise have an effect on pain perception in women with endometriosis?
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
MicroRNAs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and infertility
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
A hot research topic: macrophage reprogramming for endometriosis treatment
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The Severity of Pain Does not Predict Endometriosis or its Stage, Study Confirms
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
The relationship between microbiota and endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Predictors for achieving pregnancy in patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
A pictorial overview of abdominal wall endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
New molecular insights in endometriosis pathogenesis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Outcomes of chronic pelvic pain of endometriosis after laparoscopic surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
How Does Endometriosis Affect Patients Quality of Life?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Postoperative ovulation induction in infertile women with minimal to mild endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Combined contraceptive pills and immune system cells in the endometriotic cyst wall
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
Dr. Wanwisa Waiyaput and associates from Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, have published their results on the immune regulatory cells of the surgically resected endometriotic cyst walls in the “Journal of Ovarian Research”. The defective immune response is believed to have…
Key Points Lay Summary
Is the information on Facebook groups about endometriosis accurate?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Adhesion Barrier Helps After Endometriosis Surgery
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Women reject using hormonal drugs for endometriosis, an accelerating need for nonhormonal medications
By Bahar Yuksel
Although the pathophysiology of endometriosis is poorly understood, endocrine drugs are widely used for reducing inflammation and patients’ symptoms. Burla and colleagues aimed to evaluate the patients’ thoughts and expectations about the endocrine drugs which are used in the treatment…
Key Points Lay Summary
Managing Persistent Pelvic Pain in a distinct "pain" clinic
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Retinol-binding protein in endometriosis pathogenesis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
What causes distress in women with endometriosis?
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
The Surgical Management of Endometriosis of the Ureter and Bladder
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Factors affecting complications and the recurrence of operated deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The higher the cyst fluid iron concentration, the more severe the pain symptom for endometrioma
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Patient- centeredness in endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Migraine, endometriosis and plasma "Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide"
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Vulvo- Perineal Endometriosis: From diagnosis to treatment
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The need for the standardization of diagnostic protocols for "adenomyosis"
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
The genomic linkage between ovarian cancer and endometriosis
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
How to predict the complications after laparoscopic bowel resection in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis from the "EVOLUTIONARY" point of view
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
The Communication Gap Between Specialists for Endometriosis Diagnosis and Management
By Eylül GÜN
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 Summary
Endometriosis alters women’s self-behavior
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Evaluation of preoperative risk factors of ureteral endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Promising potential research topic: diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis Surgery Improves Sex Life
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells are gaining importance in endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Postoperative infertility management using Endometriosis Fertility Index in endometriotic women
By Selma Oransay
"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 Summary
Could There Be a Relationship Between Endometriosis and the "Restless Leg Syndrome"?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Progestin suppression for endometriosis before IVF
By Hale Goksever Celik
“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 Summary
The endless burden: sexual dysfunction and endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
What Happens to Endometriosis Patients After Endometriosis Surgery?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometriosis in intestine! Segmental resection or linear nodulectomy?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Optimal management of infertility in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The association of chronic endometritis, endometriosis and tubal infertility
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis and susceptibility to COVID-19
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
A gentle touch on nerves affects dyspareunia
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Improvement of the quality of life after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Problems in the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Postoperative long-term estro-progestin therapy for endometrioma
By Selma Oransay
After the removal of ovarian endometriomas, the major concern is the high recurrence rate of symptoms and endometriotic cysts. The estimated recurrence rate of endometriomas is up to 50% at 5 years after surgery. To prevent the recurrence, postoperatively long-term…
Key Points Lay Summary
Autophagy, Endometrium and Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Immune-mediated conditions and endometriosis in adolescents and adults
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Testosterone levels effect embryo implantation rates in patients with endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Fertilization rate and pregnancy outcome in IVF cycles of endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Adenomyosis: accuracy of the diagnostic methods and the synchronism with deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Can we measure the severity of endometriosis?
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Postoperative treatment and pregnancy points to decreased recurrence risk for ovarian endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis, ART, fertility preservation
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Tubo-ovarian abscess and endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Pain Sensitization and What Should Be Done About it?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Erastin, Ferroptosis and Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
By Yu YuCancer, is that a real risk?
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
Controlled use of bipolar cauterization as an alternative to endometrioma cystectomy
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Perineal Endometriosis, How Soon Does it Return After Surgery?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
The influence of endometrioma and surgery on ovarian reserve
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Selected Blood Inflammatory Biomarkers May Help Identify Endometriosis
By Özge Özkaya
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
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometriosis and possible cardiovascular outcomes
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The effects of endometriosis on life satisfaction.
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Endometrial receptivity after the removal of ovarian endometriotic cysts
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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
Managing the physical and emotional effects of endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Environmental to occupational exposure, and possible risk factors for endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
DNA damage response in eutopic endometria of endometriosis patients
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Impaired fertility potential in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis and the risk of Systemic lupus Erythematosus: A report from Taiwan
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
The incidence of endometriosis and pelvic pain in transgender man
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Nanomedicines for Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
The improvement of fertility rate and symptoms of superficial endometriosis following laparoscopic peritoneal stripping
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Vitamin D supplementation, endometriosis symptoms and metabolic profiles
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Cancer risk Evaluation in Korean Endometriosis Cohort
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
A comparison of symptomatology and histopathologic features in surgically resected colorectal endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Antioxidant therapy for the endometriosis pain
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Ovarian, breast and endometrial cancer coexisting with endometriosis.
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Self-management and the quality of life in women with endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
The role of hormonal treatment after endometriosis surgery
By Bahar Yuksel
Postoperative hormonal suppression after endometriosis surgery still does not have a uniform approach. The meta-analysis study conducted by Zakhari et al. aimed to find a significant answer regarding this burden. They analyzed the database systems including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL,…
Key Points Lay Summary
By Irem OnurThe association between body size and endometriosis
By Irem Onur
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
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
By Ellen TumimbangOxidative stress, reactive products, detoxification, endometriosis and pain
By Ellen Tumimbang
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 Summary
Live Birth Rate in Women Who Underwent Fresh Embryo Transfer Using Freshly Retrieved Donor Oocytes
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
What is the cause of Dienogest-resistance in patients with endometrioma?
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Time for noninvasive serum markers for endometriosis diagnosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Analysis of women with endometriosis-related pain before the multidisciplinary endometriosis care management
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
High-dose progestin intake and sexual functions in endometriosis patients
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis, Fatigue and Productivity
By Ellen Tumimbang
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 Summary
Postoperative pregnancy rate in infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Deep endometriosis treatment options based on the patient's decision
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
KEYNOTE: Excision Without Mutilation: It’s Possible! - Arnaud Wattiez, MD
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Exploring the Role of Neuropathy in Re-Operative Endometriosis - Marc Possover, MD, PhD
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Operative techniques for Deep Endometriosis Surgery - Shaheen Khazali, MD
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Laparoscopic Approach to Rectus Muscle Endometriosis and Inguinal Endometriosis - Ted Lee, MD
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Separation of epithelia and stroma components in endometriosis lesions yields remarkable molecular points - Ie-Ming Shih, MD, Ph.D.
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Exploring Pelvic Pain: Deep to Ischial Spine Including Pre-Sacral Roots - A. Taner Usta, MD
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Why Persistent or Recurrent Endometriosis Happens? - Dan Martin, MD
By Ellen Tumimbang
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 Summary
Role of Prophylactic Oophorectomy in Endometriosis Patients with Ovarian Cancer History in the family - Farr Nezhat, MD
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Further Evidence that endometriosis is related to tubal or ovarian cancer - Togas Tulandi, MD
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Insoluble Dilemma of Adenomyosis: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment - Errico Zupi, MD
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
It is time for redefining endometriosis with our contemporary scientific knowledge - Philippe Koninckx, MD, Ph.D.
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Urological Challenges in Endometriosis Surgery - Guenter Noe, MD
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Implantation failure in endometriosis patients - Jovana Lekovich, MD., PhD.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Fixing holes: prevention and treatment of complications - Jon Einarsson, MD, MPH
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Limits of endometrioma surgery in infertility patients - Liselotte Mettler, MD, PhD
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
In vitro fertilization protocols in endometriosis patients - Pinar Kodaman, MD., PhD.
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Could Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Increase the Risk of Endometriosis?
By Özge Özkaya
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 Summary
Endometriosis and the sexual relations of the couples
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
A Possible genetic target for endometriosis treatment
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Endometriosis involving the Sacral Plexus and Sciatic Nerve
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Endometrioma size and anti-Müllerian hormone levels
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Does hysterectomy bring a total relief in patients with endometriosis?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
By Murat OsmanPelvic MRI, Endometriosis and Radiologist
By Murat Osman
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 Summary
How to unveil the discrepancy regarding the effect of chemicals on the etiology of endometriosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis and chronic opioid use
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Adolescent endometriosis: Diagnostic clues?
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Reduced risk of "small for gestational age baby" following frozen embryo transfer in endometriosis patients
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Endometrial fluid analysis as a new diagnostic test for endometriosis diagnosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities for the deep infiltrating endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Endometriosis and adenomyosis could be the “sides of the same coin”.
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Endometriosis and Natural Killer Cell Immunity
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
Magnetic resonance imaging classification for the management of deep pelvic endometriosis
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
By Timur SeckinCombination of noninvasive biomarkers in the identification of endometriosis
By Timur Seckin
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 Summary
Patients' opinion about surgical treatment of endometriosis
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Segmental bowel resection could be predicted using MRI in patients with rectal endometriosis
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Can a grape ingredient, resveratrol, be the promised warrior to defeat endometriosis?
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Dyspareunia and Endometriosis
By Irem Onur
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 Summary
Bad bad lipid go away!
By Yu Yu
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 Summary
Indocyanine green in endometriosis surgery
By Selma Oransay
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 Summary
Osteopontin and Endometriosis
By Dr. Youngran Park
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 Summary
It is time for non-invasive tests for peritoneal endometriosis diagnosis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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 Summary
Psychometric properties of Endometriosis Health survey-Swedish version
By Hale Goksever Celik
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 Summary
Fallopian tube endometriosis
By Bahar Yuksel
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 Summary
Non-coding RNAs and Endometriosis
By Ellen Tumimbang
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 Summary
Body mass index, the incidence of endometriosis and the severity of dysmenorrhoea
By Timur Seckin
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 Summary
An animal model of endometriosis reveals stress related disturbed vitamin D - vitamin D receptor axis
By Nasuhi Engin Aydin
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