1. Endometriosis: A Woman’s Struggle
Nicole Li| Professor Jim Dixon | Biological Research 2017

2. What is endometriosis? Displaced endometrial tissue causes Scar tissue
Adhesions
Cysts (endometriomas)

3. Symptoms “Killer” cramps Pain with bowel movements, urination, etc
Fatigue
Constipation
Bloating and nausea
Infertility
Higher risk of ovarian cancer and endometriosis-associated adenocarcinoma

4. Current Treatment & (Limited) Diagnosis Methods
Hormone therapy
Danazol
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists
Surgery
Conservative
Hysterectomy
Pelvic exams- not possible to feel small areas of endometriosis, unless they've caused a cyst to form
Ultrasounds- cysts only
Laparoscopy- assumes that endometriotic lesions will always be visible when in fact endometriosis can exist microscopically and still cause pain

5. Some Little Problems
Not everyone can tolerate something. Nothing is effective for everyone. Not everything is available to everyone. Not everything is what it seems.

6. SynBio Approaches
Disrupted Hormone Sensing Unique miRNA Profiles

7. References