Endometriosis
- Students vs. Pandemics
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
By Jessica Lopez
Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus. There are many painful symptoms of endometriosis such as pelvic pain, severe menstrual cramps, pain associated with sex, pain associated with bowel movements and urination, digestive issues, fatigue, and bleeding in between periods.
There is no known cause of endometriosis, however, genetics is known to play a contributing factor. Certain factors can increase the risk of developing endometriosis. For instance, hormonal variations such as short menstrual length and dietary factors such as lower intake of fruits and vegetables.
Currently, laparoscopy is the only surgery that can definitively diagnose endometriosis. Laparoscopic surgery is when a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera and light) is inserted through an incision near your belly button. Yet, endometriosis is linked to genetics so with a medical history in the family and symptoms, you can have a pelvic exam and possibly imaging tests.
There is no cure for endometriosis; however, there are treatments that can help with pain management and delay disease progression. Hormonal treatments such as treatments with progestins can help alleviate symptoms as well as prevent endometriosis from advancing. Birth control, the patch, and the ring are estrogen and progestin treatments. There is surgical intervention which can include removing the deeply growing lesions through excision and destroying visible endometrial tissue with heat. Medications such as Aspirin have been used to reduce pain. There are also lifestyle treatments such as healthy diets with plenty of exercise. Interestingly, there has been research showing citrus fruits decrease the risk of developing endometriosis.
Much of the current research is focused on identifying biomarkers, which are quantitative substances in the body that indicate a disease or other condition. This would be a non-invasive method to quickly and accurately diagnose endometriosis. Immunomodulator biomarkers- Interferon alpha 2 (IFN-α2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been tested in animals. Additionally, visceral sensitivity has been observed to be higher in endometriosis patients than in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients. These biomarkers could be used as a target for a non-invasive method of diagnosis as well as for therapeutic interventions.
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This post is not a substitute for professional advice. If you believe that you may be experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your primary care physician, or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Results from ongoing research is constantly evolving. This post contains information that was last updated on May 16, 2025.