Researchers have made a major breakthrough within the understanding and potential treatment of endometriosis, a chronic condition that has long perplexed the medical community.

As a part of a recent study, scientists have discovered that a form of bacteria commonly present in the gut and mouth could also be a risk factor.

The bacteria in query will be addressed by antibiotics, the research has shown. About 10% out of an estimated 190 million women and girls of reproductive age are affected by endometriosis. This disease is marked by extra tissue growing outside the uterine line, causing pain, infertility issues, pelvic pain, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms.

In accordance with the study published in Science Translational Medicine, a bacterium named Fusobacterium was found to be behind the condition. Scientists at Nagoya University and Toyota Kosei Hospital in Japan, who conducted the study, found that 64% of patients with endometriosis had Fusobacterium of their uterine lining, in comparison with fewer than 10% of participants within the control group.

Fusobacterium is a standard microbiome that’s present in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, and feminine genital tract. The brand new study found that ladies affected by endometriosis exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of the bacterium of their genital region in comparison with those without the condition.

Fusobacterium is an anaerobic, gram-negative bacterium related to dental plaque flora and known to cause various infections, including invasive head/neck infections and pharyngotonsillitis.

The recent study focused on the bacterium F. nucleatum, which is related to gum disease and gingivitis. Researchers conducted experiments on lab mice and located that those infected with Fusobacterium exhibited more and heavier lesions of their uteruses, a typical indicator of endometriosis. In addition they discovered that the bacterium triggered an immune response around endometriosis lesions.

Encouragingly, lesions decreased in size when the mice were treated with an antibiotic targeting Fusobacterium. Although further research is required, these findings suggest that eradicating the bacterium with antibiotics may very well be a possible treatment approach for endometriosis

“Eradication of this bacterium by the antibiotic treatment may very well be an approach to treat endometriosis for girls who’re positive for Fusobacteria infection, and such women may very well be easily identified by vaginal swab or uterus swab,” Professor Yutaka Kondo from the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine said in an announcement.

Severe pain and heavy bleeding during times is an early sign of endometriosis
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Published by Medicaldaily.com