Interstitial Cystitis Advice

Story originally posted on August 22, 2005

It is estimated that as many as six million American women, and nearly half a million or more Canadian women currently have endometriosis. Add to that the epidemiology of the rest of globe (numbers are often scant, or unreported in many areas) and you are looking at a very significant percentage of the female population who are affected by this chronic, often debilitating painful condition. Only females can develop endometriosis, as it is a condition that stems from the female reproductive system in which endometrial tissue that normally exists only in the uterus spreads to areas outside of the uterus (such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, colon and surrounding pelvic tissues and ligaments). This “foreign” tissue continues to behave much the same way as if it were still housed within the uterus and in fact can continue to grow in size and spread further through out the woman’s body (primarily within the area centred around the pelvic region). This can cause a host of very serious symptoms such as intense pelvic/lower abdominal pain, painful and/or heavy periods, spotting, fatigue, painful sex, bowel/intestinal problems such as bloating and/or constipation or diarrhea, back pain and in some cases even pain related to voiding.

Endometriosis may be responsible for up to fifty percent of all female infertility and may occur in as many as ten percent of the world’s female population, as well it is often seen in patients with interstitial cystitis. A glimmer of hope has come forth recently in the battle to understand this baffling condition as a new study, the findings of which have just been released, aims to shed light on a possible genetic factor behind endometriosis.

A large scale, long-term study lead by scientific researchers from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (the QIMR) studied over 1,175 families in which two more members had developed endometriosis (in one family five sister all had endometriosis). The participants were from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. In order to carry out the study the scientists drew blood samples from high percentages of sisters who both (or all) have surgically diagnosed endometriosis, as well as other members of those participant’s families.

The research which was headed up by Dr Sue Treloar, a genetic epidemiologist spawn from the observations of a Brisbane gynaecologist Dr Dan O’Connor who noted that he saw endometriosis occurring in “clusters” of women from the same family. The genetic findings of ten years of research are highly encouraging.

As the September edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics will report the group has identified an area on chromosome number ten which is the most likely to contain endometriosis genes. The next however is trying to locate which gene (or genes) in particular it is that could be behind the occurrence of endometriosis. A crucially important step as the Dr Treloar states that over fifty percent of a woman’s liability to develop endometriosis is caused by her genes, however she also adds that (thus far) unknown environmental factors come into play too. Nor she points out is it a disease/conditions that is caused by a singular change in a gene’s structure. And that it appears that endometriosis is a condition that can be inherited from either the mother or the father’s side of a woman’s genetics.

The team is hopeful that if they are able to determine the precise gene (or genes) that is predisposing women to develop endometriosis they could find not only spot and diagnosis it quicker but also combat endometriosis with more affective, targeted treatment methods such as the use of pain medications, hormone therapy and in many cases surgery to remove the endometrial growths that have occurred in areas such as the fallopian tubes, pelvic cavity, bladder, and many other locations.

Mirroring the thoughts and feelings of many with endometriosis and man who study or treat it Dr Treloar pointed out that “it’s a condition which really isn’t well treated.” Yet she encouragingly added, "What we hope is by finding the genes, or at least one gene, new medications would be able to be developed to block the expression of that gene."

While as with so many things only time and dedicated research will show if and when that specific gene (or genes) is located, this report is undoubtedly positive and very encouraging news not only for those who have endometriosis for all of womankind.

Information resources:

-Television New Zealand News
-Reuters Health News