{
  "id": 10991263,
  "title": "Why does endometriosis only cause major pain for some?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/why-does-endometriosis-only-cause-major-pain-for-some",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-30T17:07:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurity",
    "slug": "futurity",
    "url": "https://www.futurity.org/how-endometriosis-causes-pain-3347702/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New research may shed light on why some individuals with endometriosis experience severe pain while others do not. Despite the extent of disease not determining symptom severity, Yale School of Medicine researchers conducted a study to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind endometriosis pain. By examining biopsies from patients with either symptomatic or asymptomatic endometriosis, they discovered genetic differences that distinguish cases of endometriosis with pain. The findings, published in Molecular Human Reproduction, provide a potential explanation for the variability in symptom severity among patients. Current treatments for endometriosis primarily aim to mask pain without addressing its underlying cause, and the researchers hope their insights will lead to new treatments that directly target the mechanisms driving pain. Professor Hugh Taylor, the study's principal investigator, explained that this discovery could serve as a starting point for developing more effective pain treatments. The exact cause of endometriosis remains unknown, but it is believed to arise from retrograde menstruation, in which menstrual cells travel backwards and implant outside the uterus. Patients may exhibit a wide range of symptoms, including painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding, and infertility. Some patients, even with extensive lesions, may not experience any pain, while others with milder disease may suffer debilitating symptoms. Taylor's team analyzed biopsies from 19 patients (nine with painful disease and 10 asymptomatic) and found that nearly 900 genes were expressed differently between the two groups. Many of these differences involved genes involved in inflammation. They also measured protein levels and confirmed that changes in gene expression corresponded with increased inflammatory molecules that could contribute to painful symptoms. In particular, they discovered that elevated levels of IL16, an inflammatory cytokine, were linked to pain severity. Taylor and his colleagues believe that IL16 may recruit immune cells into endometriotic lesions and promote the production of additional inflammatory cytokines, thereby heightening pain and inflammation. The current treatments for endometriosis pain focus on alleviating symptoms rather than targeting the root cause, which researchers believe could lead to more effective therapies. Future studies will explore IL16 as a potential target for new drugs, with the aim of reducing pain associated with endometriosis.",
  "summary": "\"It has never made complete sense why people could have extensive disease and not have pain.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "Elevated IL16 levels linked to pain severity in endometriosis.",
    "New insights could lead to targeted pain treatments for endometriosis."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}