Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School researchers have discovered a neuroimmune communication pathway that may drive endometriosis-associated pain and lesion growth.
Endometriosis is a debilitating inflammatory disease affecting up to 15% of women and is characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Treatments can currently only target symptoms, with over-the-counter pain medicines and hormonal birth control, or in some cases, surgery.
Endometriosis occurs when cell tissues normally found within the uterus lining take root in areas outside the uterus. This tissue is hormonally sensitive and can become inflamed, especially during menstrual cycles, and can cause severe cramping, pain, and other symptoms depending on the area affected.
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