New Test for Endometriosis

The results of a new test to detect endometriosis were recently published in the journal Human Reproduction. Endrometriosis is a painful condition that affects up to 10% of women. This medical condition is characterized by endometrial like cells which flourish outside the uterine cavity and are influenced by hormonal changes. The main symptom is pelvic pain and it can be associated with infertility. Doctors traditionally rely on an invasive laproscopic procedure to diagnose the condition, requiring anesthesia. The new test can be done in a doctors office with a simple swab being taken and sent out for analysis. The swab is taken from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and is performed vaginally. The swabs are analyzed for presence of nerve fibers, which has a high correlation with having endometriosis. Although the sample size for this study was small, it does represent the possibility of a much better technique for diagnosing a condition that affects millions of women each year.