QUEENSLAND, Australia — There could be hope on the horizon for women suffering from endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered a significant link between endometriosis and common gastrointestinal disorders, including IBS, through shared genetic risk factors, shedding light on why some patients who suffer from one of these conditions may also experience the other.
“This genetic finding supports the clinical observation of an increased incidence of gastrointestinal disorders in women with endometriosis,” says Grant Montgomery, professor at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, in a university release. “We hope that this study will raise more awareness about the overlap of these conditions.”
Endometriosis, a severe condition that affects one in seven women, occurs when tissue resembling the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus itself. This condition has been notoriously challenging to diagnose and treat, and the new findings could be a significant step forward in addressing these challenges.
One of the key findings of the study is that women with endometriosis are twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of IBS compared to women without the disease. Additionally, they are 1.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This connection between endometriosis and gastrointestinal disorders is crucial as it can lead to confusion or misdiagnosis, resulting in years of delayed treatment and the progression of endometriosis to a more severe stage.
“Endometriosis should be considered as a possible cause if a woman presents to her GP with abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms,” notes Montgomery. “As our knowledge of risk factors for endometriosis increases, we hope to move closer to understanding how the disease develops and improve treatments and diagnosis.”
For their study, scientists used data from the UK Biobank – a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing anonymized genetic, lifestyle, and health information from 500,000 UK participants.
The study is published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.
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