Pain in Endometriosis

Overview

Journal Front Cell Neurosci

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2020 Nov 2

PMID 33132854

Citations 71

Authors

Jessica Maddern

Luke Grundy

Joel Castro

Stuart M Brierley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition affecting ∼10% of women. Endometriosis is characterized by infertility and chronic pelvic pain, yet treatment options remain limited. In many respects this is related to an underlying lack of knowledge of the etiology and mechanisms contributing to endometriosis-induced pain. Whilst many studies focus on retrograde menstruation, and the formation and development of lesions in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, the mechanisms underlying the associated pain remain poorly described. Here we review the recent clinical and experimental evidence of the mechanisms contributing to chronic pain in endometriosis. This includes the roles of inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, neuroangiogenesis, peripheral sensitization and central sensitization. As endometriosis patients are also known to have co-morbidities such as irritable bowel syndrome and overactive bladder syndrome, we highlight how common nerve pathways innervating the colon, bladder and female reproductive tract can contribute to co-morbidity via cross-organ sensitization.

Citing Articles

Shared diagnostic biomarkers and underlying mechanisms between endometriosis and recurrent implantation failure.

Li H, Zhu C, Gu Y, Wei X, Wang X, Yang X Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025; 16:1490746.

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Multiple lesion inductions intensify central sensitization driven by neuroinflammation in a mouse model of endometriosis.

Harvey M, Shi M, Oh Y, Mitchell D, Slayden O, MacLean 2nd J bioRxiv. 2025; .

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Management of Endometriosis-Related Pain: Comparing the Effectiveness of Hormonal Therapy, Surgical Interventions, and Complementary Therapies.

Al Hussaini H, Alatawi E, Shabani J, Edhrabooh M, Alhawaj S, Almahfoodh M Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e75590.

PMID: 39803083 PMC: 11724681. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.75590.

Implication of the enteric glia in the IBS-like colonic inflammation associated with endometriosis.

Rivera-Arce L, Cruz M, Rodriguez-Cintron U, Torres-Pirela J, Appleyard C BMC Womens Health. 2024; 24(1):647.

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Unveiling the fibrotic puzzle of endometriosis: An overlooked concern calling for prompt action.

Anchan M, Kalthur G, Datta R, Majumdar K, P K, Dutta R F1000Res. 2024; 13():721.

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