Key people: Prof Peter Rogers, Prof Martin Healey, Dr Jane Girling, Dr Sarah Holdsworth-Carson, Dr Premila Paiva
Overview
Endometriosis is a common, estrogen-dependent condition associated with menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The disorder is thought to affect seven to 10 per cent of women of reproductive age in Australia, increasing to 35-50 per cent of women with chronic pelvic pain and fertility problems. Medical treatment options have limited effectiveness, and surgical intervention may not prevent later recurrence. The personal and healthcare costs associated with endometriosis are high. In an Australian report published in 2011, direct medical and surgical costs for endometriosis were estimated at $6 billion per annum for adult women (based on one in 10 adult women having endometriosis, $10,000 per woman). For adolescent girls, direct costs were estimated at $600 million.
Endometriosis research
Endometriosis is a complex disease influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors, however, the causes of the condition are largely unknown. The disorder has a heritable component and is common among female relatives. Large-scale genetic studies have been performed in Australia and Japan, and there is now information identifying variations at several genetic regions in the human genome that increase a woman’s risk of developing endometriosis.
Using uterine tissues collected at the Women’s, we are in the process of intensively investigating these genetic regions to confirm a link with endometriosis. This collaborative project brings together world-class research capabilities in genetics, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomics, endometrial biology, and clinical treatment of endometriosis.
We hope that our research will lead to improved understanding of endometriosis and pelvic pain, and that with the identification of novel targets we may be able to improve diagnosis and treatment and lead to precision medicine options (individualised treatment) for women with endometriosis and pelvic pain.
Patient participation - I have endometriosis, how can I be involved in the research?
If you are a patient attending one of the Women’s gynaecology clinics for a laparoscopy you may be asked by one of our research nurses to participate in our Endometriosis Study. Participation in this research is voluntary. Alternatively, you may contact one of our research nurses by email to find out if you are eligible to participate in the Endometriosis Study.
If you choose to participate in the Endometriosis Study, we will collect some information about you based on your medical records, as well as a series of questions that will be asked by a doctor or research nurse or in the form of a questionnaire. We will ask you to complete a second questionnaire approximately 12 months after your laparoscopy. At the time of your laparoscopy we will also collect a sample of blood and a sample of endometrium (the lining of your uterus) for laboratory-based studies.