Revision as of 20:23, 18 October 2016

Background

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is generally characterized as the growth of tissue very similar to that of the inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium, growing elsewhere in the body. While it is similar in appearance, having the same glands as the correctly placed (eutopic) endometrium, the tissue behaves differently in response to hormones, as it cannot be shed at the end of the menstrual cycle. These poorly placed growths, called lesions, cause extreme pain, especially during an affected woman's period. The experience even has a name: "killer cramps." The pain may be related to the heightened inflammation around the lesions, as well as the scar tissue that the body creates to cover them. This scar tissue can have a devastating effect on the body, as it causes adhesions between abdominal organs, distorting their shape and affecting their function.
Symptoms of endometriosis include killer cramps, long periods (7+ days), heavy periods, gastrointestinal disorders, pain during sexual activities, and infertility.

In summary, endometriosis is an incredibly painful, chronic disease that too often goes untreated. For a more detailed look at endometriosis, below is a video from the Endometriosis Foundation of America

Who gets endometriosis?

Something something 1 in 10, usually right around puberty, competing theories of where it comes from, reference to Asgi Fazleabas about retrograde menstruation (link to IHP)

How is endometriosis diagnosed and treated?

Something something generally not;;;; which is to say 7 years avg (AF), generally go down many paths before considering endo, need surgery to diagnose, and then more surgery to treat. bad all around

How can we help with synthetic biology?

Heyo what about molecular markers?
Link to those things experiments