
New blood test to diagnose Endometriosis PLUS discover how Zing Wellbeing can help ease your symptoms
Australian researchers have announced the development of a new blood test which could help diagnose women who have early-stage endometriosis.
The breakthrough was developed by Perth-based medical technology company Proteomics International, the findings were published last week in the international medical journal Human Reproduction.
Join Zing Wellbeing NOW to take part in the 6 Week Health Challenge to support all your health and wellbeing needs. Plus access our anti-inflammatory meal plan to help ease your Endometriosis symptoms.
What is Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects one in nine women and young girls in Australia and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body where it does not belong.
The disease can cause severe pelvic pain, painful periods, and infertility.
"This breakthrough is an exciting advance in the diagnosis of this debilitating disease," Professor Peter Rogers, research director at the Royal Women's Hospital and professor of women's health research at the University of Melbourne said.
"Currently, it takes on average seven years for a woman to receive a diagnosis and during that time she is enduring significant life-impacting symptoms, her years of fertility are reducing and the endometriosis is spreading.
"These results are a significant step towards solving the critical need for a non-invasive, accurate test that can diagnose endometriosis at an early stage as well as when it is more advanced."
"The blood test, called PromarkerEndo, could significantly reduce the cost and the amount of time typically spent on trying to solve the cause of symptoms suffered by women and girls over years, often from as early as when they start having periods.
"A blood test is more cost-effective for patients and the health system than the current use of ultrasounds, invasive laparoscopies, MRIs and biopsies to diagnose endometriosis, and work is underway to fortify the robustness and reliability of the new test for clinical use."
While there is currently no known cure for endometriosis, and treatment is usually aimed at controlling symptoms, Dr Rogers said access to early diagnosis and effective treatment of endometriosis was important.
"Detecting endometriosis at an early stage increases treatment options and may improve a patient's response to laser ablation or the medical therapies currently used," he said.
"Among healthy women undergoing fertility treatments there is a three-fold increased incidence of endometriosis."
How your diet can help fight symptoms of Endometriosis
Diet can play a vital adjunctive role to other therapies in helping to manage endometriosis symptoms and comorbidities.
Education around nutrition can women with endometriosis in maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet where possible and may assist with hormonal balance.
Adequate nutrition can also circumnavigate nutritional deficiencies or help to rectify them.
Anti-inflammatory foods
Include fresh fruit and vegetables which are high in fibre including polyphenols. They are also rich in antioxidants and an abundance of micro nutrients.
Aim for fruit and veg of the rainbow including 40 different plant foods a week where possible.
Reduce intake of highly processed foods including processed meat products, commercial baked goods and packaged foods with long ingredient lists.
Try the Zing Wellbeing anti-inflammatory meal plan.
Minimise refined sugars and carbohydrates such as soft drinks, sugary snacks and white foods as this may increase inflammation and lead to insulin resistance.
Try to keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum as these can exacerbate symptoms in some people.
Hormone balance
Maintaining hormonal balance through food is a mixture of balancing blood sugar levels, providing enough good fat to synthesise and create hormones and then supporting their metabolism and clearance from the body.
Live loving plant foods like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale can assist along with foods that may assist in modulating estrogen such as flaxseeds or linseeds and legumes.
Foods rich in luscious fat may assist as they can help reduce inflammation and support hormonal balance at the same time.
Fatty fish like salmon, sardines and trout, seeds and nuts, olive oil, avocado and avocado oil and coconut oil.
Try to avoid trans fats which are in many processed and fried foods. Avoid margarine and refined vegetable and seed oils where possible.
Try the Zing Wellbeing hormone balancing meal plan.
Simple things can help if we maintain them every day like staying hydrated, balancing our meals and eating enough protein and incorporating anti-inflammatory spices and herbs into our diet can go along way (like turmeric!).
Along with regular exercise that suits your body, plenty of sleep, maintain a healthy weight range and trying to manage stress.
Endometriosis is so much more than a reproductive disorder. It is a whole-body condition which we still don’t fully understand the extent of.
Women with endo face discrimination, stigma, misunderstanding and chronic pain most days of their adult life. In most cases a multi-disciplinary team of specialised support is needed for each individual woman.
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