Scientists have launched a clinical trial to evaluate a possible new treatment for endometriosis, the first in four decades, DPA/PA Media reported, cited by Agerpres.

Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Birmingham want to find out whether the drug – dichloroacetate – can help manage pain in people diagnosed with the disease.

If successful, the drug could become the first non-hormonal and non-surgical treatment for endometriosis, as well as the first new treatment in 40 years.

Approximately 100 women with this disease will be invited to participate in the clinical trial.

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is a permanent condition that can cause severe pain and discomfort.

The tissue, known as endometrial lesions, acts in the same way as endometrial tissue—it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle, causing inflammation, pain, and scar tissue.

According to Endometriosis UK, 1.5 million women in the UK suffer from this health problem.

The new study, funded by UK charity Wellbeing of Women and the Scottish Government, will start in the autumn.

Half of the women in the study will receive dichloroacetate, a drug previously used to treat rare metabolic disorders in children, while the other half will receive an inactive drug.

Previous research has shown that cells in the pelvic wall of women with endometriosis produce more lactate, a chemical the body makes for energy when there’s not enough oxygen. This is thought to create an environment that also supports the development of endometriosis.

Researchers previously found that when endometrial cells were treated with dichloroacetate, lactate production was reduced to normal levels and the size of endometrial lesions was reduced.

“We know that women with endometriosis are in desperate need of more treatment options and better ways to manage the often debilitating pain it causes. Our research to date shows encouraging results that dichloroacetate can make a huge difference,” she said. Head of research. , Dr Lucy Whitaker, Researcher at Women’s Well-Being and Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

“I hope our new study will confirm this and give women hope that new treatments and a better quality of life are on the horizon,” she added.

Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, added: “It is absolutely unacceptable that there have been no new treatments for endometriosis for the past 40 years. Too many women and girls suffer from debilitating symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain, fatigue and even fertility problems, and current hormonal and surgical treatments are not suitable for everyone.”

“Endometriosis is an underfunded area of ​​women’s health, so we are delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to invest in medical research that could transform the way this disease is treated for millions of women,” added Lindsay.

Marie Todd, Scottish Government’s head of public health and women’s health, said: “Scotland is the first country in the UK to introduce a women’s health plan where endometriosis is one of the main priorities (…) . I am delighted that we are working with Women’s Wellbeing to fund research into what could be the first non-hormonal treatment for endometriosis. This is a step towards ensuring that people with endometriosis have treatment options that meet their needs.”

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) develops outside the uterus. The ovaries, fallopian tubes and peritoneum (the sheet that lines the pelvic cavity) are often affected. In rare cases, endometrial tissue also extends beyond the pelvic region.

In endometriosis, the endometrial tissue that develops outside the uterus behaves the same way as the tissue inside: it thickens and bleeds with each period, but because it can’t be moved outside the body, it gets stuck at that level. When endometriosis affects the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas form. The surrounding tissues become inflamed, and eventually scars and adhesions (bands of fibrous tissue that form between the walls of the pelvic cavity and organs or between neighboring organs) are formed.

Endometriosis can cause pain (sometimes severe), especially during menstruation, and over time infertility can also occur, writes Medlife.ro.

The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but there are several theories that mention retrograde menstruation, hormonal causes, or an imbalance in the immune system.