Positive progress for women with endometriosis 

Scientific breakthroughs in recent months offer hope to the one in ten women who suffer from endometriosis, a chronic gynaecological condition that can affect fertility, writes Helen O’Callaghan

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like tissue locates beyond the uterus, causing a cascade effect. The abnormal tissue secretes substances that irritate surrounding tissues, causing them to bleed

‘HOPE’, ‘Possibility’, ‘Excitement’ — increasingly this year, these positive words have been used in the same sentence as endometriosis, a common gynaecological condition affecting one in ten women.

In March, University of Oxford researchers collaborating with teams worldwide published the largest-ever study of the genetic basis of endometriosis.