Shining a light on endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to normal uterine lining grows and invades areas around the pelvis, creating scar tissue that impedes the function of organs and reduces their mobility.

Endometriosis affects one in nine women, causing serious pain and, in some cases, infertility. There is still much we don’t know about this disease, and current treatment is only effective for some.

It’s estimated to have had a total economic impact on the Australian economy in FY2018 of $7.4 billion, with a cost of $129,993 to an individual woman over her lifetime.

The genetic and environmental risk factors for endometriosis are like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and we are putting the pieces together to understand the causes and discover effective new treatments for endometriosis.

"Many symptoms of endometriosis overlap with other gynaecological conditions.

There is no single non-invasive diagnostic test and it can take up to 7 to 12 years to diagnose.

As such, it’s taken a really long time to obtain the basic understanding and  awareness required to launch endometriosis studies that can make a difference to affected women.

The Institute for Molecular Bioscience is leading the global race to understand the causes of endometriosis and has made significant progress in understanding how genetic risk factors increase the risk of disease."

Dr Sally Mortlock, IMB Researcher in Endometriosis.