Future of endometriosis research

Abstract

In women of reproductive age, health economic costs are estimated to be considerably higher for endometriosis than for conditions such as Crohn’s disease, migraine and hypertension, and similar to the cost of diabetes. However, more awareness of endometriosis among patients and politicians is needed to create a better climate for research funding in the area of endometriosis in particular, and women’s health in general. Recent collaboration between patients, physicians and politicians in the EU has shown that such efforts can be successful. Many arguments exist to organize the clinical care for women with advanced endometriosis in centers of excellence, but continuing education of primary-care physicians also remains a priority. New molecular techniques are resulting in new hormonal and nonhormonal targets for the noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. A future diagnostic serum assay might contain various elements from inflammatory serum markers to genetic/microarray/proteomics markers, owing to the multifactorial features of endometriosis.