I’ve wrote a post about endometriosis a few years back and how it’s affecting black women in particular. But now I want to talk about the condition from a different angle concerning the recent research being developed on behalf of it. In this post, I’ll examine the new endometriosis research studies that impact you and your loved ones, new medical breakthroughs of the condition, and the recent biomarkers that have been studied.
Is There Any Research Being Done on Endometriosis?
Despite the fact it affects around 190 million women worldwide, endometriosis is still underdiagnosed to this day. This prompts many health experts and researchers to increase awareness, research, and treatment options for the condition. There have been various research studies to improve treatment options and diagnosis cases.
The largest genetic study of endometriosis was published in a March 2023 article in Nature Genetics. Oxford University scientists collaborated with 24 international research teams to carry out a genome-wide association study of over 60,000 people diagnosed with endometriosis and more than 700,000 control subjects. The study revealed 42 genetic regions associated with the disease, many related to pain perception. The researchers who were a part of the study also found several genetic correlations between endometriosis and other pain conditions. Their findings offer promising future developments in targeted treatments, potentially pain-based therapies, for the endometriosis condition. So researchers are looking for various ways to detect endometriosis more effectively.
What is the New Breakthrough of Endometriosis?
Along with plenty of research being done on the condition, some new breakthroughs have come its way. Some of these have included new forms of treatment including drugs and imaging agents that can detect the earliest signs of endometriosis. This one medication, in particular, could be the first non-hormonal, non-surgical treatment for the condition. It is called Dichloroacetate (DCA). This drug has been found to reduce lactate levels and control the spread of abnormal cells.
In 2021, a study was developed to show that another form of therapy could reduce pain levels. Pelvic floor therapy was practiced by 17 female participants who had deeply infiltrative endometriosis in this study. This therapy helps them manage chronic pelvic pain. This study has shown that incorporating pelvic floor therapy could be effective in relieving sharp stabbing pain associated with endometriosis.
What is the Recent Biomarker for Endometriosis?
There have been several potential biomarkers that have been studied. One in particular is a blood test that measures levels of a protein called CA-125. Another is ANXA5, which can diagnose endometriosis with 73% sensitivity and 100% specificity when combined with CA-125. However, as of this year, there isn’t a single one that can accurately diagnose endometriosis. One of the most recent ones that has grown to be a prominent biomarker has been BCL-6 protein. This has been the case because its overexpression correlates very well with endometriosis. BCL-6 also has a partner protein called SIRT1 that could further strengthen its diagnostic accuracy.
What Does This Mean for You?
With all this recent interesting news about endometriosis, you may wonder exactly how this impacts you. This impacts you greatly if you’re a woman diagnosed with this illness. Remember endometriosis is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions today. Researchers and scientists have been conducting various studies to increase awareness and develop more research and treatment options for the condition. This could be promising news for many women living with endometriosis. Whether this recent information may lead to a potential cure or not, these recent developments in endometriosis research studies could be a positive step toward patients better managing their condition.
Are you dealing with endometriosis or know someone who’s coping with this illness? Feel free to share your thoughts on the new research or about anything else related to the condition in the comments below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next strong woman you know.
