For the last thirty years I have been treating patients with endometriosis, a mysterious disease that affects one in ten women.
The purpose of this site is to provide reliable and up-to-date information, dispelling the myths and misinformation surrounding the disease.
There is a 7-12 year delay in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Informed patients can recognize the symptoms of the disease and seek the help of their gynecologist without losing valuable time.
Jacob Soussis MD, MSc, FRCOG
Consultant Obstet-Gynecologist
Fertility Specialist
Articles
How new endometriosis guidelines will improve diagnosis, treatment
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside the uterus. It affects around 190 million — or 10% — of women and girls of reproductive age worldwide. Although some people with endometriosis are asymptomatic, common symptoms include: painful cramping, similar to menstrual cramps long-term lower […]
Endometriosis and ovarian cancer genetically tied
University of Queensland researchers have demonstrated a genetic link between endometriosis and ovarian cancer subtypes enabling them to identify potential drug targets for therapy and increasing the understanding of both diseases. Previous studies have shown that endometriosis sufferers have a slightly increased risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer. Dr Sally Mortlock and Professor […]
Quality of life in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis and combined oral contraceptives
There are a number of effective treatments, but a recent study sought to investigate how well oral contraceptives in particular could help reduce symptoms—while preserving sexual quality of life—in women with particularly severe forms of endometriosis. Between 6% and 10% of women overall—and up to 50% of infertile women—experience some degree of endometriosis. […]
COVID-19 vaccine does not increase preterm delivery risk
A new study looking at more than 40,000 pregnant women adds new evidence supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 have an increased risk of disease severity and death. Despite this, only 31% of pregnant people in the United States had received vaccines as of September 2021. One barrier […]
Battle of the sexes begins in womb as father and mother’s genes tussle over nutrition
Cambridge scientists have identified a key signal that the fetus uses to control its supply of nutrients from the placenta, revealing a tug-of-war between genes inherited from the father and from the mother. The study, carried out in mice, could help explain why some babies grow poorly in the womb. As the fetus grows, […]
Endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome
A systemic review and meta-analysis in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics has found epidemiological evidence that endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are connected. Women with endometriosis are roughly twice as likely to develop IBS than women without endometriosis, according to the review. The literature search was performed using the electronic databases MEDLINE and […]
Women with endometriosis have greater psychological and sexual distress, study finds
A study has found that women with a diagnosis of endometriosis have significantly greater depressive symptomatology, sexual distress, and catastrophizing than age-paired healthy women. The study in the journal Health Care for Women International, which assessed psychological and cognitive factors implicated in pain experience in women with endometriosis, also concluded that these women have […]
Undiagnosed endometriosis compromises fertility treatment
Women with undiagnosed endometriosis will have difficulty falling pregnant without IVF, according to a University of Queensland study. UQ School of Public Health researcher, Dr Katrina Moss, said women whose endometriosis went undiagnosed until after they began fertility treatment ended up doing more cycles, used treatments that aren’t recommended, and were less likely to have […]
Diagnosing and treating vulvo perineal endometriosis
Due to the rarity of the disease and its variability in clinical presentation, the condition is hardly recognized by some health care professionals, leading to a delayed diagnosis. In cases of perineal cyclical pain, with or without previous perineal damage, clinicians should consider perineal endometriosis, according to findings from a systematic review of diagnosing […]
Dietary interventions for treating endometriosis
A systematic review of the effectiveness of dietary interventions to treat endometriosis in the journal Reproductive Sciences has found a potential benefit of the Mediterranean diet and antioxidant supplementation on endometriosis-associated pain. The review also concluded that certain patients with endometriosis suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms might benefit from diets that exclude or reduce specific […]