And research program which could change the lives of millions of women with endometriosis. This gynecological disease affects 8% to 10% of women, between 3 and 4 million patients in France.
It first manifests itself with very painful periods, a symptom sometimes downplayed by doctorsor even by the patients themselves. It therefore takes on average 7 years to obtain a diagnosis.
One of the challenges of a research program by Inserm and the Institut Pasteur is therefore to improve care and diagnosis. Researchers have begun to look at period blood. They collected samples, compared the blood of women with or without endometriosis for clook for disease markers.
The first results are encouraging according to Camille Berthelot who is leading this research. “We actually see differences in the way these cells function,” she explains for RTL. “This is something that would open up avenues for more massive screening. We could imagine a test that looks at these genes in particular. “
A simple test in menstrual blood, that would be real progressbecause today, the diagnosis of this disease is made after an MRI or after an invasive procedure in the operating room.
Our researchers’ interest in menstrual fluids is unfortunately very recent. “It’s partly linked to cultural issues, period blood is often considered something dirty, which has greatly limited research,” explains the researcher. “Once you think about it, it seems a bit obvious to use this fluid for screening for uterine diseases.”
Mentalities are changing, including among our researchers. Especially since better analyze menstrual blood in womenit is also a hope for detecting other gynecological diseases, in particular cancers.
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