Beyond Pain: The Neuroendocrine–Immune Axis in Endometriosis

Beyond Pain: The Neuroendocrine–Immune Axis in Endometriosis By Ayse Ayhan

Endometriosis is often considered a hormonal and inflammatory disease—but this may be only part of the story. A recent review published in Biomolecules by Chang et al. from Fudan University, Shanghai, highlights that endometriosis is better understood as a condition…

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Pelvic nerve endometriosis: Diagnostic and treatment insights.

Pelvic nerve endometriosis: Diagnostic and treatment insights. By Selma Oransay

The exact mechanisms behind pelvic pain in endometriosis remain complex. Current understanding suggests that endometriotic lesions interact with sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nerve fibers, driving inflammation, angiogenesis, and even direct invasion of peripheral nerves. This explains why deep infiltrating endometriosis…

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Laparoscopic Pudendal Neurolysis: A Solution for Entrapment-Related Pelvic Pain

Laparoscopic Pudendal Neurolysis: A Solution for Entrapment-Related Pelvic Pain By Selma Oransay

Pudendal neuralgia is a debilitating condition marked by chronic neuropathic pain in areas innervated by the pudendal nerve, often worsening with sitting and accompanied by urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunctions. Central sensitization—a heightened nervous system reactivity—affects nearly half of these…

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Impact of Nerve Preservation During Parametrectomy on Urinary Retention in Deep Endometriosis Surgery

 Impact of Nerve Preservation During Parametrectomy on Urinary Retention in Deep Endometriosis Surgery By Selma Oransay

Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is the most advanced form of the disease, characterized by lesions penetrating deeper than 5 mm. Surgical treatment requires a meticulous approach to minimize functional complications. Deep lesions involving the parametrium, uterosacral ligaments, and anterior rectal…

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Nerve-Sparing Surgery Safe in DIE

Nerve-Sparing Surgery Safe in DIE By Özge Özkaya

Robot-assisted nerve-sparing modified radical hysterectomy is associated with longer operative times and lower estimated blood loss compared to the conventional laparoscopic approach to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), according to a new study published in the scientific journal Archives of…

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Why we should prefer nerve-sparing surgery in deep endometriosis?

Why we should prefer nerve-sparing surgery in deep endometriosis? By Selma Oransay

Despite its benign nature, deep endometriosis can mimic malignant processes and infiltrate multiple organs, blood vessels, ligaments, and nerves within the pelvis. When conservative medical management fails, the need for surgical excision of endometriotic lesions arises. The surgeons aim to…

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The depth of the iceberg: Parametrial involvement in deep endometriosis

The depth of the iceberg: Parametrial involvement in deep endometriosis By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Academicians led by members of the International School of Surgical Anatomy from Italy have published their paper on parametrial involvement of deep endometriosis in the medical periodical named “Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology”.  Deep endometriosis is troublesome when…

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Uterine innervation and its impact on endometriosis related pelvic pain.

 Uterine innervation and its impact on endometriosis related pelvic pain. By Selma Oransay

Advancements in immunochemistry, fluorochromes, computer-associated anatomical dissection, and 3D reconstruction of uterine micro-innervation brought substantial progress in pelvic neuroanatomy. The complex uterine innervation and its interactions with uterine parts and layers are yet fully revealed. Austruc et al.,  from the…

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Quantification of nerve bundle density as a biomarker for endometriosis utilizing PGP9.5 immunostaining

Quantification of nerve bundle density as a biomarker for endometriosis utilizing PGP9.5 immunostaining By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Scientists from Netherlands and Canada have published their authentic study on immunohistochemically assessed nerve fiber bundles of endometriotic tissues in a recent issue of  Frontiers in Reproductive Health. Endometriotic tissues have nerve fibers which are stimulated in inflammatory processes leading…

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Neurotrophins proposed as possible biomarkers for endometriosis

Neurotrophins proposed as possible biomarkers for endometriosis By Eylül GÜN

As the search for a good-quality biomarker in endometriosis continues, certain growth factors have been investigated for their roles in the pathophysiology of the disease. Neurotrophins, as regulators of neuronal development and survival, are also known to take part in…

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Comparison of two different surgical approach to deep colorectal endometriosis in terms of postoperative outcomes.

Comparison of two different surgical approach to deep colorectal endometriosis in terms of postoperative outcomes. By Selma Oransay

Deep colorectal endometriosis affects one-fifth of women with endometriosis, which is commonly associated with more pelvic pain and severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Three surgical approaches for deep colorectal endometriosis are segmental colorectal resection, full-thickness discoid resection, and shaving operation. Choosing the…

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Postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection for bowel endometriosis.

Postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection for bowel endometriosis. By Selma Oransay

Rectosigmoid endometriosis comprises 80-85% of all bowel endometriosis cases and can be localized in the rectovaginal septum, uterosacral ligaments, retro-cervical region, and parametrium. Symptoms of rectosigmoid endometriosis include abdominal bloating, constipation-diarrhea, lower-back pain, dyschezia, and sometimes cyclic rectal bleeding. Minimally…

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Deep lateral parametrial endometriosis nerve-sparing surgery 

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…

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Nerve-sparing technique for deep infiltrating endometriosis and its impacts on pelvic organ and sexual functions.

 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…

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A rare but important disease: "isolated" endometriosis of the sciatic nerve

A rare but important disease: By Nasuhi Engin Aydin

Professor Marc Possover from Zurich, Switzerland has published his 16-year experience of surgical laparoscopic interventions on isolated endometriosis of the sciatic nerve in a recent issue of the official publication of the European Society for Gynecological Endoscopy; Facts, Views &…

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Is the presence of nerve fibers in the endometrium associated with endometriosis?

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…

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A gentle touch on nerves affects dyspareunia

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…

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Exploring Pelvic Pain: Deep to Ischial Spine Including Pre-Sacral Roots - A. Taner Usta, MD

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…

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Why Persistent or Recurrent Endometriosis Happens? - Dan Martin, MD

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…

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Endometriosis involving the Sacral Plexus and Sciatic Nerve

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…

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New Signaling Pathway Could Be Crucial in the Development of Endometriosis

New Signaling Pathway Could Be Crucial in the Development of Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

RAMP1 signaling is crucial for growth and blood and lymphatic vessel formation in endometrial tissue, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. This suggests that blocking RAMP1 could be a new way to…

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Benefits of Nerve-Sparing Hysterectomy

Benefits of Nerve-Sparing Hysterectomy By Selma Oransay

The retroperitoneal spread of endometriosis or cancer may involve pelvic autonomic nerves situated on the lateral aspects of uterosacral ligaments, vesicouterine ligaments, and medial aspects of parametria. During the conventional open hysterectomy operations, nerve-sparing excision is very difficult, simply because pelvic autonomic nerves…

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A New Treatment Approach for Endometriosis?

A New Treatment Approach for Endometriosis? By Özge Özkaya

A new approach may be effective at relieving pain associated with endometriosis according to a study published in the PM&R Journal. The new technique may also improve “overall pelvic function, particularly in relation to intercourse, working, and sleeping,” according to the…

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Study Sheds Light on Physiological Processes Associated with Endometriosis

Study Sheds Light on Physiological Processes Associated with Endometriosis By Özge Özkaya

Sensory nerves play an important role in the development of endometriosis as well as fibrosis, confirms a study by Chinese researchers.  A better understanding of physiological processes associated with the development of endometriosis can help researchers devise new ways to…

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Fusion US/MR imaging in the evaluation of deep infiltrating endometriosis

Fusion US/MR imaging in the evaluation of deep infiltrating endometriosis By Timur Seckin

Scioscia M. et al., from Italy presented a case of a large deep infiltrating nodule of the uterosacral ligament and discussed the importance of a relatively new technique, fusion US/MR imaging in their article. The article containing a video of…

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Endometriosis that involves the nerves: how Radiologists can help

Endometriosis that involves the nerves: how Radiologists can help By Murat Osman

Endometriosis is a disease with variable clinical symptoms. While rare, nerve involvement by endometriosis may cause neurologic symptoms such as pelvic pain, muscle weakness, bowel and bladder incontinence, and paraplegia depending on the specific nerve involved. Thus, abdominal radiologists should…

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Fibrogenesis in endometriosis: The role of neuropeptides

Fibrogenesis in endometriosis: The role of neuropeptides By Dr. Youngran Park

Endometriosis is a debilitating gynaecologic disease affecting 6–10% of women of reproductive age. Endometriotic lesions are known to be hyperinnervated due to neurogenesis resulting from neutrophins secreted by endometriotic lesions and possibly platelets. These neutrophins seem to preferentially favor the…

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A novel neurotransmitter, Ninj1, has been found to be expressed in endometriosis

A novel neurotransmitter, Ninj1, has been found to be expressed in endometriosis By Irem Onur

Chronic inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and adenomyosis, and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1b are highly expressed in them. Inflammation and subsequent hyperinnervation are involved in the pathophysiology of pain generation. High levels of expression of various…

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Reduced pain and increased fertiliy rates after surgery for colorectal endometriosis

Reduced pain and increased fertiliy rates after surgery for colorectal endometriosis By Selma Oransay

This prospective cohort study which recently published in AOGS by Hudelist et al. from Oslo University, Norway is about their one hundred thirty-four laparoscopic operations of DIE cases performed between 2011 and  2016, in a tertiary center in Oslo. The…

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Stress affects endometriosis negatively

Stress affects endometriosis negatively By Demet Candaş Green

Stress contributes to many chronic health problems – endometriosis is one of them. Given that women with endometriosis are under more stress and pain, often with the added stress of infertility, it is important to understand the relationship between stress…

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