March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Doctors and researchers are trying to learn as much as they can about endometriosis, which can cause debilitating pain and infertility in women, as well as transgender and nonbinary people with uteruses.
Endometriosis affects one in 10 women during their reproductive years, and symptoms can include painful cramping, nausea, fatigue, and heavy bleeding. Additionally, between one-third and one-half of women with endometriosis have trouble getting pregnant.
While the disease was first discovered in the 1860s, scientists' understanding of endometriosis has not progressed much since then. As a result, patients and doctors often dismiss disease symptoms as severe period pain. Consequently, it has not received the research or funding that matches the scale of its impact on human health.
Elise Courtois, Ph.D., an endometriosis researcher at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), is searching for answers using a new approach. In partnership with UConn Health gynecologist Danielle Luciano, M.D., Courtois is studying tissue samples from endometriosis patients one cell at a time. By looking at the tiny building blocks of the human body, Courtois hopes to answer complex questions about how endometriosis works and how doctors can best treat it.
"The hospitalization, the surgeries, the lost ability to work, the emotional distress: the societal and economic impact of endometriosis is huge," Courtois said. "People need to realize how impactful this disease is not just for women, but for society as a whole."
Learn more here about how our client, JAX, is applying cutting-edge single cell technology to help researchers and patients better understand this disease.