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New Therapeutics in Endometriosis: A Review of Hormonal, Non-Hormonal, and Non-Coding RNA Treatments
Website endobattery.com
Challenges in Endometriosis Care and Research
Speaker 1
0:01
Welcome
to
Endobattery
Fast
Charged
,
a
series
dedicated
to
keeping
you
informed
and
empowered
in
the
realm
of
endometriosis
.
Teaming
up
with
board-certified
patient
advocates
,
we
bring
you
the
latest
articles
,
research
and
insights
to
equip
you
with
accurate
information
and
a
deeper
understanding
.
Whether
you're
expanding
your
knowledge
,
staying
updated
or
seeking
clarity
,
you're
in
the
right
place
.
I'm
your
host
,
alana
,
and
is
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
charging
and
empowering
your
life
with
knowledge
.
Welcome
back
to
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
.
Today
we're
breaking
down
some
super
interesting
studies
and
research
so
you
can
be
both
informed
and
empowered
,
no
PhD
required
.
My
goal
is
to
arm
you
with
knowledge
to
help
you
advocate
for
yourself
,
whether
it's
in
a
doctor's
office
or
just
feeling
confident
in
your
own
skin
.
Now
,
before
we
dive
in
,
quick
reminder
I'm
not
a
doctor
and
this
isn't
medical
advice
.
Think
of
it
as
more
of
like
your
friend
texting
you
a
random
fact
at
2
am
,
friend
texting
you
a
random
fact
at
2
am
.
Remember
,
correlation
does
not
equal
causation
.
So
if
you're
ready
,
let's
get
charged
up
and
get
started
.
Speaker 1
1:12
Oh
,
the
Lancet
is
back
at
it
again
,
politely
reminding
the
world
that
endometriosis
care
is
still
a
hot
mess
.
In
their
recent
editorial
,
they
basically
gave
a
gentle
nudge
,
or
maybe
a
frustrated
shove
to
the
global
medical
community
saying
,
hey
,
remember
that
whole
thing
about
better
diagnostics
and
treatment
for
endometriosis
.
Yeah
,
that's
still
a
thing
,
and
we're
nowhere
near
done
.
Let's
break
this
down
In
the
article
titled
Endometriosis
Addressing
the
Roots
of
Slow
Progress
highlights
that
,
despite
all
the
noise
about
improving
care
for
endometriosis
,
huge
gaps
remain
in
actually
doing
something
about
it
.
We're
talking
disparities
in
access
to
care
,
lack
of
research
funding
and
the
glorious
world
of
gender
bias
,
where
periods
and
pelvic
pain
are
somehow
still
considered
niche
problems
.
It's
like
medicine
is
trapped
in
a
time
loop
and
someone
forgot
to
set
the
clock
forward
a
few
decades
.
But
wait
,
it
gets
better
.
Speaker 1
2:14
The
editors
didn't
shy
away
from
calling
out
the
governments
.
Looking
at
you
,
australia
Sure
,
they've
got
their
five-year
action
plan
,
but
you
know
what
?
They
don't
have
Proof
that
it's
working
.
You'd
think
that
after
five
years
we'd
have
some
sort
of
progress
report
on
how
these
national
plans
are
actually
improving
things
.
But
no
crickets
.
We've
got
some
extra
funding
sprinkled
in
here
and
there
,
but
the
funding
gap
between
endometriosis
and
other
chronic
diseases
is
like
comparing
change
to
a
trust
fund
In
true
Lancet
fashion
.
They
also
pointed
out
the
obvious
Without
measurable
goals
,
real
interventions
or
a
complete
overhaul
in
how
we
talk
about
periods
,
pain
and
gendered
health
,
we're
not
going
to
get
very
far
.
Honestly
,
it's
almost
like
this
world
is
hoping
that
if
they
just
ignore
endo
long
enough
,
it'll
sort
itself
out
.
And
spoiler
alert
,
it
doesn't
and
it
won't
.
So
.
Until
we
see
real
change
in
how
governments
,
healthcare
systems
and
society
at
large
treats
endometriosis
,
it's
safe
to
say
we're
going
to
be
stuck
in
a
slow
motion
nightmare
for
a
little
while
longer
.
Oh
,
endometriosis
.
Just
when
we
think
we've
got
it
all
figured
out
,
another
study
comes
along
to
make
us
question
everything
.
Speaker 1
3:34
Let's
take
a
look
at
this
next
study
,
titled
Does
the
Road
to
Treating
Endometriosis
Start
in
the
Gut
?
Researchers
are
claiming
to
be
on
the
road
to
developing
a
non-invasive
stool
test
to
diagnose
the
disease
,
potentially
replacing
the
gold
standard
laparoscopy
.
Their
discovery
?
Something
to
do
with
the
bacterial
metabolites
found
in
your
gut
.
Yes
,
the
place
you
thought
you
only
had
to
worry
about
.
Taco
night
fallout
.
That's
the
place
.
But
hold
on
to
your
horses
or
your
intestines
.
Well
,
it's
exciting
to
hear
about
non-invasive
tests
because
,
really
,
who
enjoys
surgery
?
This
is
very
much
in
the
early
days
category
,
like
if
this
were
a
Netflix
show
,
we'd
still
be
in
the
pilot
episode
where
they're
working
out
the
characters
and
the
plot
.
Speaker 1
4:19
Sure
,
these
researchers
found
that
gut
bacteria
and
their
metabolites
could
be
linked
to
lesion
growth
in
mice
.
But
,
as
we
all
know
,
what
happens
in
a
mouse
doesn't
always
stay
relevant
in
humans
.
Dr
Tatiana
Burnett
of
Mayo
Clinic
summed
it
up
perfectly
Mouse
models
are
great
,
but
we've
been
burned
before
by
promising
results
that
never
panned
out
in
humans
.
Yes
,
we've
all
heard
it
before
.
Whether
it's
a
magical
cure
from
a
mouse
study
or
your
aunt's
new
essential
oil
blend
,
the
road
to
success
is
paved
with
a
lot
of
maybes
.
Speaker 1
4:52
So
while
you
might
feel
optimistic
at
the
thought
of
swapping
surgery
for
poop
tests
,
let's
not
start
celebrating
just
yet
.
As
Dr
Ann
Thomas
put
it
,
this
small
sample
size
needs
a
much
larger
study
before
we
can
even
think
about
making
this
the
next
big
thing
in
endocare
.
And
that's
not
to
throw
shade
at
the
researchers
.
They're
on
to
something
,
but
we've
got
to
be
cautious
.
Think
of
this
like
baking
Just
because
you
found
the
perfect
cookie
recipe
in
a
tiny
toaster
oven
doesn't
mean
it'll
work
in
an
industrial
kitchen
.
We
need
more
trials
,
more
time
and
more
patience
.
So
is
the
gut
the
key
to
diagnosing
endo
?
Maybe
Should
we
start
pooping
probiotics
like
candy
?
Probably
not
.
Let's
give
science
its
due
time
to
figure
out
if
we'll
ever
be
trading
laparoscopy
for
stool
samples
.
For
now
,
let's
just
be
cautiously
optimistic
and
maybe
grab
a
snack
and
with
another
study
on
endometriosis
treatments
full
of
promise
and
new
ideas
.
But
let's
see
what
the
real
story
is
.
Speaker 1
5:55
This
review
titled
New
Therapeutics
in
Endometriosis
a
Review
of
Hormonal
,
non-hormonal
and
Non-Coding
RNA
Treatments
covers
a
range
of
therapeutic
options
from
hormonal
,
non-hormonal
to
that
mysterious
beast
called
non-coding
RNA
or
NCRNA
.
Sounds
fancy
,
right
?
Well
,
it's
mostly
the
same
old
players
with
a
bit
of
a
facelift
.
First
off
,
they
dive
into
hormonal
therapies
.
Yep
,
the
usual
suspects
like
GnRH
agonists
,
progestins
and
estrogen
blockers
take
the
stage
trying
to
convince
us
they're
the
gold
standard
in
treatment
.
Sure
,
they
can
suppress
symptoms
for
a
bit
,
but
let's
not
forget
their
lovely
side
effects
hot
flashes
,
mood
swings
and
bone
loss
.
Who
wouldn't
want
to
feel
like
a
menopausal
,
slightly
unhinged
skeleton
?
It's
a
tale
as
old
as
time
.
Suppress
the
hormones
and
hope
for
the
best
.
Oh
,
and
don't
get
too
attached
to
these
solutions
because
spoiler
alert
they
don't
cure
endo
,
just
slap
a
band-aid
on
it
.
Speaker 1
6:59
Then
comes
the
non-hormonal
therapies
,
which
sounds
like
a
breath
of
fresh
air
,
until
you
realize
how
experimental
they
still
are
.
There's
a
lot
of
talk
about
immune
modulating
therapies
and
anti-inflammatories
,
which
makes
sense
given
endo's
inflammatory
nature
.
But
here's
the
kicker
very
little
clinical
data
.
That's
like
window
shopping
for
a
car
that
hasn't
been
built
yet
.
Looks
nice
in
theory
,
but
you
can't
drive
it
off
the
lot
.
Speaker 1
7:26
The
real
fun
begins
with
non-coding
RNA
.
In
case
you
were
wondering
,
these
are
small
bits
of
genetic
material
that
don't
code
for
proteins
but
can
influence
gene
expression
.
The
study
suggests
that
targeting
NC
RNAs
could
help
regulate
endo-related
genes
,
possibly
leading
to
breakthroughs
.
It
sounds
groundbreaking
,
but
we're
still
in
the
maybe
someday
phase
,
so
don't
hold
your
breath
for
this
to
show
up
at
your
doctor's
office
anytime
soon
.
Overall
,
the
study
does
a
pretty
decent
job
of
highlighting
potential
treatments
,
but
the
excitement
is
pretty
tampered
by
the
reality
that
most
of
this
stuff
is
still
under
research
.
Sure
,
hormonal
therapies
are
tried
and
true-ish
,
but
with
their
side
effects
,
who's
really
winning
here
?
Non-hormonal
and
ncrna
therapies
might
eventually
lead
to
something
real
,
but
for
now
it's
all
just
whispers
of
what
could
be
if
the
stars
align
and
clinical
trials
don't
flop
.
So
if
you're
looking
for
actual
viable
treatments
,
you
might
want
to
check
back
in
a
few
years
.
For
now
it's
a
lot
of
this
could
work
,
followed
by
a
collective
shrug
In
continuing
to
talk
about
diagnosis
,
let's
talk
about
the
delightful
experience
of
finally
being
diagnosed
with
endometriosis
.
Speaker 1
8:44
A
diagnosis
,
for
most
,
comes
after
a
scavenger
hunt
of
medical
visits
,
tests
and
being
told
it's
just
period
pain
honey
.
This
study
,
titled
what's
the
Delay
,
digs
into
the
reality
of
why
so
many
take
years
to
get
diagnosed
,
as
if
finding
endo
is
a
twisted
medical
version
of
hide
and
seek
.
The
problem
isn't
just
in
our
heads
,
despite
what
we're
often
told
.
According
to
this
study
,
the
diagnosis
delay
isn't
because
women
aren't
trying
hard
enough
.
It's
because
they're
consistently
brushed
off
or
misdiagnosed
by
doctors
who
seem
to
think
that
pelvic
pain
is
just
a
rite
of
passage
.
Many
women
report
being
told
to
suck
it
up
,
pop
a
painkiller
and
carry
on
.
Speaker 1
9:24
The
study
reveals
how
medical
professionals
routinely
dismiss
or
downplay
women's
pain
,
creating
a
perfect
storm
of
frustration
,
self-doubt
and
the
feeling
that
their
body
is
betraying
them
for
no
reason
.
Until
someone
finally
figures
out
that
you
know
endometriosis
is
real
.
It
gets
better
.
Even
when
women
do
finally
get
referred
to
a
specialist
,
the
road
to
diagnosis
is
still
anything
but
smooth
.
One
participant
mentioned
waiting
over
a
year
for
a
consultation
only
to
be
handed
another
round
of
.
It's
probably
nothing
serious
.
The
study
highlights
how
this
lack
of
urgency
from
healthcare
providers
drags
out
the
process
,
making
women
feel
like
they're
the
crazy
ones
,
when
really
they're
just
trapped
in
a
medical
maze
.
But
wait
,
there's
more
.
Of
course
there's
more
Once
you
finally
score
that
diagnosis
.
It's
not
exactly
a
victory
parade
.
The
emotional
impact
of
years
of
gaslighting
,
frustration
and
untreated
pain
levels
leaves
many
feeling
a
mix
of
relief
and
rage
.
The
study
points
out
that
a
diagnosis
doesn't
magically
fix
the
years
of
suffering
,
but
at
least
it
puts
the
name
to
it
right
,
and
that's
supposed
to
be
progress
,
apparently
.
In
the
end
,
this
study
does
a
great
job
,
pointing
out
the
obvious
the
healthcare
system
is
failing
women
with
endometriosis
.
The
delay
in
diagnosis
is
like
a
slow
motion
train
wreck
,
and
the
only
thing
women
can
do
is
keep
advocating
for
themselves
,
hoping
one
day
the
medical
world
will
get
its
act
together
and
stop
treating
them
like
they're
overreacting
to
a
little
cramp
.
Speaker 1
10:55
This
last
study
,
titled
Addressing
Challenges
in
Endometriosis
Pain
Communication
Between
Patients
and
Doctors
the
Role
of
Language
,
dives
into
the
critical
issue
of
communication
between
endometriosis
patients
and
doctors
,
specifically
focusing
on
how
language
shapes
the
way
pain
is
understood
and
treated
.
One
of
the
core
challenges
it
addresses
is
that
endometriosis
pain
is
often
downplayed
or
misunderstood
because
patients
and
doctors
,
thank
you
,
missed
and
not
receiving
appropriate
care
.
The
article
highlights
that
many
patients
struggle
to
find
the
right
words
to
explain
their
pain
,
which
can
be
complex
and
varied
.
Endometriosis
pain
isn't
just
about
the
intensity
,
but
also
about
the
location
and
type
,
like
burning
or
stabbing
,
and
how
it
affects
daily
life
.
However
,
when
doctors
expect
pain
to
fit
into
a
standard
mold
of
medical
terminology
,
they
might
not
take
the
patient's
experiences
seriously
if
it
doesn't
match
their
expectations
.
This
can
leave
patients
feeling
invalidated
and
cause
delays
in
diagnosis
or
effective
treatment
.
Another
key
point
is
that
patients
may
hesitate
to
fully
describe
their
pain
,
either
due
to
fear
of
not
being
believed
or
because
they've
grown
used
to
their
suffering
.
This
can
result
in
underreporting
,
further
complicating
treatment
decisions
.
Speaker 1
12:22
This
study
emphasizes
the
importance
of
doctors
asking
the
right
questions
and
creating
a
more
empathetic
environment
where
patients
can
feel
safe
to
describe
their
pain
in
their
own
words
.
The
research
suggests
that
improving
this
communication
could
enhance
the
patient-doctor
relationship
and
lead
to
better
treatment
outcomes
.
A
more
patient-centered
approach
,
where
doctors
can
take
the
time
to
really
listen
and
interpret
patients'
descriptions
of
pain
,
could
reduce
the
gap
between
patient
experience
and
medical
evaluation
.
Training
for
doctors
to
better
understand
the
emotional
and
personal
language
of
pain
could
also
be
a
step
towards
a
more
accurate
diagnosis
and
effective
treatment
.
Ultimately
,
the
study
underscores
that
both
patients
and
doctors
need
to
collaborate
in
redefining
how
pain
is
communicated
.
This
might
involve
educating
patients
on
how
to
describe
their
symptoms
in
ways
that
align
with
medical
evaluation
,
while
also
encouraging
doctors
to
be
more
receptive
to
diverse
expressions
of
pain
.
By
bridging
this
language
gap
,
both
sides
can
work
toward
faster
,
more
comprehensive
and
more
effective
care
for
endometriosis
patients
Empowering Endometriosis Advocacy
Speaker 1
13:26
.
Speaker 1
13:26
Thanks
for
joining
me
on
this
episode
of
EndoBattery
Fast
Charged
.
If
you
found
these
articles
intriguing
and
fascinating
,
remember
that
you
can
read
more
about
them
in
the
description
of
this
podcast
.
If
you
have
an
article
you
want
to
learn
more
about
or
for
me
to
break
down
,
them
to
me
at
contact
at
endobatterycom
.
And
until
next
time
,
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
those
that
you
love
.