Priorities for Endometriosis Research

Women with endometriosis have a substantial increase in risk of deep dyspareunia with respect to the general female population of corresponding age. This symptom has personal and intimate implications, including unfavorable emotional impact in partners. Deep dyspareunia caused by endometriosis can be viewed as an originally visceral type of pain secondary to chronic inflammation (nociception) but with several superimposed components, including hyperalgesia, abnormal cortical perception, and psychological factors. Therefore, a simplistic biometric approach does not allow a comprehensive and elaborated assessment of the global impact of the symptom on women’s sexual function, psychological well-being, body-image, self-esteem, and relational adjustment. We suggest 10 specific issues to be addressed in future research on a clinically as well as scientifically neglected aspect of female health. Time has come to address this physically and psychologically distressing affliction without embarrassment and with a decidedly multidisciplinary perspective.

[1]  G. Camerini,et al.  Letrozole combined with norethisterone acetate compared with norethisterone acetate alone in the treatment of pain symptoms caused by endometriosis. , 2009, Human reproduction.

[2]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Medical treatment for rectovaginal endometriosis: what is the evidence? , 2009, Human reproduction.

[3]  F. Howard.  Endometriosis and mechanisms of pelvic pain. , 2009, Journal of minimally invasive gynecology.

[4]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Treatment of endometriosis-related pain: options and outcomes. , 2009, Frontiers in bioscience.

[5]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Surgery for Deep Endometriosis: A Pathogenesis-Oriented Approach , 2009, Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation.

[6]  L. Giudice,et al.  Priorities for Endometriosis Research , 2009, Reproductive Sciences.

[7]  P. Vercellini,et al.  The effect of surgery for symptomatic endometriosis: the other side of the story. , 2009, Human reproduction update.

[8]  A. Lykins,et al.  Negative Affect and Somatically Focused Anxiety in Young Women Reporting Pain With Intercourse , 2009, Journal of sex research.

[9]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Chronic pelvic pain in women: etiology, pathogenesis and diagnostic approach , 2009, Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology.

[10]  H. Seaman,et al.  Can symptomatology help in the diagnosis of endometriosis? Findings from a national case–control study—Part 1 , 2008, BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology.

[11]  N. Ragni,et al.  Deep dyspareunia: causes, treatments, and results , 2008, Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology.

[12]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Endometriosis: current and future medical therapies. , 2008, Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology.

[13]  N. Ragni,et al.  Letrozole and norethisterone acetate in rectovaginal endometriosis. , 2007, Fertility and sterility.

[14]  S. Simoens,et al.  Endometriosis: cost estimates and methodological perspective. , 2007, Human reproduction update.

[15]  N. Ragni,et al.  Deep dyspareunia and sex life after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. , 2007, Human reproduction.

[16]  M. Meana,et al.  Remembering the pain: Accuracy of pain recall in endometriosis , 2007, Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology.

[17]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Reproductive performance in infertile women with rectovaginal endometriosis: is surgery worthwhile? , 2006, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[18]  C. Chapron,et al.  Pain, mast cells, and nerves in peritoneal, ovarian, and deep infiltrating endometriosis. , 2006, Fertility and sterility.

[19]  L. Hummelshoj,et al.  Multi-disciplinary centres/networks of excellence for endometriosis management and research: a proposal. , 2006, Human reproduction.

[20]  S. Dziurawiec,et al.  Living with endometriosis: the perspective of male partners. , 2006, Journal of psychosomatic research.

[21]  C. Pashos,et al.  Comparative Trial of Continuous-Use and 21-Day Cyclic Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Oral Contraceptive , 2006 .

[22]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Treatment of symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis with an estrogen-progestogen combination versus low-dose norethindrone acetate. , 2005, Fertility and sterility.

[23]  Francesca Esposito,et al.  Quality of sex life in women with endometriosis and deep dyspareunia. , 2005, Fertility and sterility.

[24]  R. Rosen,et al.  The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Cross-Validation and Development of Clinical Cutoff Scores , 2005, Journal of sex & marital therapy.

[25]  M. Meana,et al.  Chronic Pain: The Extra Burden on Canadian Women , 2004, BMC women's health.

[26]  E. Denny.  Women's experience of endometriosis. , 2004, Journal of advanced nursing.

[27]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Deep endometriosis: definition, pathogenesis, and clinical management. , 2004, The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

[28]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Endometriosis is associated with central sensitization: a psychophysical controlled study. , 2003, The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society.

[29]  C. Meston,et al.  Validation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in Women with Female Orgasmic Disorder and in Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder , 2003, Journal of sex & marital therapy.

[30]  B. Dousset,et al.  Relation between pain symptoms and the anatomic location of deep infiltrating endometriosis. , 2002, Fertility and sterility.

[31]  I. Nakadi,et al.  Hyperalgesia, nerve infiltration and nerve growth factor expression in deep adenomyotic nodules, peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis. , 2002, Human reproduction.

[32]  M. Giamberardino,et al.  Modulation of pain and hyperalgesia from the urinary tract by algogenic conditions of the reproductive organs in women , 2001, Neuroscience Letters.

[33]  I. Nakadi,et al.  Impact of surgical resection of rectovaginal pouch of douglas endometriotic nodules on pelvic pain and some elements of patients' sex life. , 2001, The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

[34]  I. Nakadi,et al.  Relationship between endometriotic foci and nerves in rectovaginal endometriotic nodules. , 2000, Human reproduction.

[35]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Endometriosis and pelvic pain: relation to disease stage and localization , 1996 .

[36]  P. Vercellini,et al.  A gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus a low-dose oral contraceptive for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. , 1993, Fertility and sterility.

[37]  W. Weijts,et al.  Talking delicacy: speaking about sexuality during gynaecological consultations , 1993 .

[38]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Pelvic denervation for chronic pain associated with endometriosis: fact or fancy? , 1991, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[39]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Peritoneal endometriosis. Morphologic appearance in women with chronic pelvic pain. , 1991, The Journal of reproductive medicine.

[40]  K. Biberoğlu,et al.  Dosage aspects of danazol therapy in endometriosis: short-term and long-term effectiveness. , 1981, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[41]  M. Meana,et al.  Dyspareunia: Causes and treatments , 2011 .

[42]  G. Camerini,et al.  Norethisterone acetate in the treatment of colorectal endometriosis: a pilot study. , 2010, Human reproduction.

[43]  L. Hummelshoj.  Endometriosis—How Big is the Problem? , 2010 .

[44]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Endometriosis: current therapies and new pharmacological developments. , 2009, Drugs.

[45]  C. Chapron,et al.  Endometriosis and pelvic pain: epidemiological evidence of the relationship and implications. , 2005, Human reproduction update.

[46]  P. Vercellini,et al.  Association between endometriosis stage, lesion type, patient characteristics and severity of pelvic pain symptoms: a multivariate analysis of over 1000 patients. , 2007, Human reproduction.

[47]  Candace S. Brown,et al.  The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. , 2000, Journal of sex & marital therapy.

[48]  P. Vercellini.  Endometriosis: What a Pain It Is , 1997, Seminars in reproductive endocrinology.