An estimated 10%-15% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis and
can be plagued with one or many forms of pain. It is no mystery that
endometriosis is an extremely complex disease, with several factors leading to
the predominant symptoms of infertility and pain. Although there are currently
multiple options available for treating endometriosis-associated pain, none have
the ability to completely relieve the symptoms. This review both highlights the
current trends in treatment of endometriosis-associated pain and explores some
novel options available for therapy directed towards oxidative stress,
inflammation and nociceptive mechanisms of pain. A PubMed search was conducted
to identify the most recent publications on the topic of pain associated with
endometriosis, and further research was performed to clarify the mechanism by
which current treatments target pain. Lastly, the authors include a review of
pharmacological options at the forefront of endometriosis research. A more
comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind endometriosis-associated
pain will ultimately lead to more effective treatments and improved prognoses
for patients.
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