Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • Register
  • Login
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login

Quality in Sport

Endometriosis - Treatment Methods and the Impact of Physical Activity on Symptoms
  • Home
  • /
  • Endometriosis - Treatment Methods and the Impact of Physical Activity on Symptoms
  1. Home /
  2. Archives /
  3. Vol. 40 (2025) /
  4. Medical Sciences

Endometriosis - Treatment Methods and the Impact of Physical Activity on Symptoms

Authors

  • Iwona Pudełko University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Borowska 213 street, 50-556 Wrocław https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6403-4141
  • Filip Klimas SP ZOZ MSWiA Hospital in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25 street, 30-053 Kraków https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5266-8676
  • Zuzanna Zięba University Clinical Hospital in Poznan, Przybyszewskiego Street 49, 60-355 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1576-8058
  • Adriana Potoczek University Clinical Hospital in Katowice, Medyków 14 street, 40-752 Katowice https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3981-3490
  • Dorota Zatłoka-Mazur Tytus Chałubiński Regional Hospital in Zakopane, Kamieniec 10 street, 34-500 Zakopane https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3663-1891
  • Kacper Rusiński University Clinical Hospital in Poznan, Przybyszewskiego Street 49, 60-355 Poznań https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4002-9267
  • Kinga Kurenda SPZOZ District Railway Hospital in Katowice Panewnicka 65, 40-760 Katowice https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8908-2556
  • Adam Jan Ząbek Katowice Oncology Center, ul. Raciborska 26, 40-074 Katowice https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6799-1814
  • Izabela Lekan St. John Paul II Mazovian Provincial Hospital in Siedlce, Poland, Księcia Józefa Poniatowskiego 26, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5079-9795
  • Klaudia Ostrowicz Upper Silesian Medical Center of Prof. Leszek Giec SUM, Ziołowa 45/47, 40-635 Katowice https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4098-7213

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.40.59071

Keywords

Endometriosis, Treatment of endometriosis symptoms, Medical therapy, Pelvic pain, Physical activity

Abstract

Endometriosis is a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age, significantly impacting the quality of life. Numerous hypotheses regarding the etiology of endometriosis and its diverse clinical presentation limit the effectiveness of treatment to symptom management, as there is no targeted cure. This review presents the current understanding of how physical activity may contribute to the management of symptoms associated with endometriosis and summarizes the therapeutic strategies employed. 

References

[1]. Macer ML, Taylor HS Endometriosis and infertility: a review of the pathogenesis and treatment of infertility associated with endometriosis Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. N. Am. 2012; 39:535–549. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2012.10.002

[2]. Tennfjord MK, Gabrielsen R, Tellum T. Effect of physical activity and exercise on endometriosis-associated symptoms: a systematic review. BMC Womens Health. 2021 Oct 9;21(1):355. doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01500-4. PMID: 34627209; PMCID: PMC8502311.

[3]. Bem-Meir L.C., Soriano D., Zajicek M., Yulzari V., Bouaziz J., Beer-Gabel M., Eisenberg V.H. The Association Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Transvaginal Ultrasound Findings in Women Referred for Endometriosis Evaluation: A Prospective Pilot Study. Ultraschall Med. 2020:1300–1887. doi: 10.1055/a-1300-1887

[4]. Chen LH, Lo WC, Huang HY, Wu HM. A Lifelong Impact on Endometriosis: Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Treatment. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 19;24(8):7503. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087503. PMID: 37108664; PMCID: PMC10139092.

[5] Prins J.R., Gomes-Lopez N., Robertsona S.A. Interleukina-6 w ciąży i zaburzeniach ciąży. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2012; 95:1–14. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2012.05.004

[6].Słopień R., Męczekalski B. Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of endometriosis. Menopausal Review. 2016; 15:43–47. doi: 10.5114/pm.2016.58773.

[7]. Harada T., Taniguchi F., Onishi K., Kurozawa Y., Hayashi K. Obstetric complications of the JECsS group in women with endometriosis: a cohort study in Japan. PLoS JEDEN. 2016; 11:E0168476. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168476

[8]. 8.Sampson J.A. Metastatic or Embolic Endometriosis, due to the Menstrual Dissemination of Endometrial Tissue into the Venous Circulation. Am. J. Pathol. 1927;3:93–143

[9] Maître C. Endométriose et activité physique et sportive [Endometriosis, physical activity and sport]. Rev Prat. 2024 Jun;74(6):617-626. French. PMID: 39011693.

[10]. Koppan A, Hamori J, Vranics I, Garai J, Kriszbacher I, Bodis J, Rebek-Nagy G, Koppan M. Pelvic pain in endometriosis: painkillers or sport to alleviate symptoms? Acta Physiol Hung. 2010 Jun;97(2):234-9. doi: 10.1556/APhysiol.97.2010.2.10. PMID: 20511133.

[11] McKnight K, Omotosho O, Jassim S, Cotter A. Exercise and endometriosis-is there a promising future? A narrative review. Ir J Med Sci. 2024 Oct;193(5):2375-2387. doi: 10.1007/s11845-024-03733-2. Epub 2024 Jun 25. PMID: 38916808

[12]. Lutfi M, Dalleck LC, Drummond C, Drummond M, Paparella L, Keith CE, Kirton M, Falconer L, Gebremichael L, Phelan C, Barry C, Roscio K, Lange B, Ramos JS. A Single Session of a Digital Health Tool-Delivered Exercise Intervention May Provide Immediate Relief from Pelvic Pain in Women with Endometriosis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 17;20(3):1665. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20031665. PMID: 36767032; PMCID: PMC9914835.

[13].Chen LH, Lo WC, Huang HY, Wu HM. Wpływ endometriozy na całe życie: patofizjologia i leczenie farmakologiczne. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 19 kwietnia; 24(8):7503. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087503. PMID: 37108664; PMCID: PMC10139092.[14].Dunselman G.A., Vermeulen N., Becker C., Calhaz-Jorge C., D’Hooghe T., De Bie B., Heikinheimo O., Horne A.W., Kiesel L., Nap A., et al. ESHRE guideline:

[15].Kuznetsov L., Dworzynski K., Davies M., Overton C., Guideline C. Diagnosis and management of endometriosis: Summary of NICE guidance. BMJ. 2017;358:j3935. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j3935.

[16].Langebrekke A., Johannessen H.O., Qvigstad E. Surgical treatment of endometriosis. Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 2008;128:1515–1518.

Management of women with endometriosis. Hum. Reprod. 2014;29:400–412. doi: 10.1093/humrep/det457.

[17].Harlev A., Gupta S., Agarwal A. Targeting oxidative stress to treat endometriosis. Expert Opin. Ther. Targets. 2015;19:1447–1464. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2015.1077226.

[18].Saunders P.T.K., Horne A.W. Endometriosis: Etiology, pathobiology, and therapeutic prospects. Cell. 2021;184:2807–2824. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.041.

[19].bokhrais I.M., Denison F.C., Whitaker L.H.R., Saunders P.T.K., Doust A., Williams L.J., Horne A.W. A two-arm parallel double-blind randomised controlled pilot trial of the efficacy of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the treatment of women with endometriosis-associated pain (PurFECT1) PLoS ONE. 2020;15:e0227695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227695.

[20]. Bruner-Tran K.L., Osteen K.G., Taylor H.S., Sokalska A., Haines K., Duleba A.J. Resveratrol inhibits development of experimental endometriosis in vivo and reduces endometrial stromal cell invasiveness in vitro. Biol. Reprod. 2011;84:106–112. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.086744.

[21].Vallee A., Lecarpentier Y. Curcumin and Endometriosis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020;21:2440. doi: 10.3390/ijms21072440.

[22].Xu H., Becker C.M., Lui W.T., Chu C.Y., Davis T.N., Kung A.L., Birsner A.E., D’Amato R.J., Wai Man G.C., Wang C.C. Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits angiogenesis and suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor C/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression and signaling in experimental endometriosis in vivo. Fertil. Steril. 2011;96:1021–1028. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.07.008.

[23].Taylor H.S., Giudice L.C., Lessey B.A., Abrao M.S., Kotarski J., Archer D.F., Diamond M.P., Surrey E., Johnson N.P., Watts N.B., et al. Treatment of Endometriosis-Associated Pain with Elagolix, an Oral GnRH Antagonist. N. Engl. J. Med. 2017;377:28–40. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1700089.

[24]. Surrey E., Taylor H.S., Giudice L., Lessey B.A., Abrao M.S., Archer D.F., Diamond M.P., Johnson N.P., Watts N.B., Gallagher J.C., et al. Long-Term Outcomes of Elagolix in Women With Endometriosis: Results From Two Extension Studies. Obstet. Gynecol. 2018;132:147–160. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002675.

[25].Sagsveen M., Farmer J.E., Prentice A., Breeze A. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues for endometriosis: Bone mineral density. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2003;2003:CD001297. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001297.

[26].Brown J., Pan A., Hart R.J. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues for pain associated with endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2010;2010:CD008475. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008475.pub2

[27].Hayashi A., Tanabe A., Kawabe S., Hayashi M., Yuguchi H., Yamashita Y., Okuda K., Ohmichi M. Dienogest increases the progesterone receptor isoform B/A ratio in patients with ovarian endometriosis. J. Ovarian Res. 2012;5:31. doi: 10.1186/1757-2215-5-31.

[28].Muzii L., Galati G., Di Tucci C., Di Feliciantonio M., Perniola G., Di Donato V., Benedetti Panici P., Vignali M. Medical treatment of ovarian endometriomas: A prospective evaluation of the effect of dienogest on ovarian reserve, cyst diameter, and associated pain. Gynecol. Endocrinol. 2020;36:81–83. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1640199.

[29].Del Forno S., Mabrouk M., Arena A., Mattioli G., Giaquinto I., Paradisi R., Seracchioli R. Dienogest or Norethindrone acetate for the treatment of ovarian endometriomas: Can we avoid surgery? Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 2019;238:120–124. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.04.010.

[30].Angioni S., Pontis A., Malune M.E., Cela V., Luisi S., Litta P., Vignali M., Nappi L. Is dienogest the best medical treatment for ovarian endometriomas? Results of a multicentric case control study. Gynecol. Endocrinol. 2020;36:84–86. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1640674.

[31].Strowitzki T., Marr J., Gerlinger C., Faustmann T., Seitz C. Dienogest is as effective as leuprolide acetate in treating the painful symptoms of endometriosis: A 24-week, randomized, multicentre, open-label trial. Hum. Reprod. 2010;25:633–641. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep469.

[32].Strowitzki T., Marr J., Gerlinger C., Faustmann T., Seitz C. Detailed analysis of a randomized, multicenter, comparative trial of dienogest versus leuprolide acetate in endometriosis. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 2012;117:228–233. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.01.009.

[33].Strowitzki T., Faustmann T., Gerlinger C., Seitz C. Dienogest in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain: A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 2010;151:193–198. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.04.002.

[34].Casper R.F. Progestin-only pills may be a better first-line treatment for endometriosis than combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills. Fertil. Steril. 2017;107:533–536. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.003.

[35].Vercellini P., Pietropaolo G., De Giorgi O., Pasin R., Chiodini A., Crosignani P.G. Treatment of symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis with an estrogen-progestogen combination versus low-dose norethindrone acetate. Fertil. Steril. 2005;84:1375–1387. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.03.083.

[36].Harada T., Momoeda M., Taketani Y., Aso T., Fukunaga M., Hagino H., Terakawa N. Dienogest is as effective as intranasal buserelin acetate for the relief of pain symptoms associated with endometriosis—A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, controlled trial. Fertil. Steril. 2009;91:675–681. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.12.080.

[37].Vercellini P., Buggio L., Somigliana E. Role of medical therapy in the management of deep rectovaginal endometriosis. Fertil. Steril. 2017;108:913–930. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.08.038.

[38].Horne A.W., Saunders P.T.K., Abokhrais I.M., Hogg L., on behalf of theEndometriosis Priority Setting Partnership Steering Group Top ten endometriosis research priorities in the UK and Ireland. Lancet. 2017;389:2191–2192. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31344-7.

[39].Rogers P.A., Adamson G.D., Al-Jefout M., Becker C.M., D’Hooghe T.M., Dunselman G.A., Fazleabas A., Giudice L.C., Horne A.W., Hull M.L., et al. Research Priorities for Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 2017;24:202–226. doi: 10.1177/1933719116654991.

[40].Houshdaran S., Chen J.C., Vallve-Juanico J., Balayan S., Vo K.C., Smith-McCune K., Greenblatt R.M., Irwin J.C., Giudice L.C. Progestins Related to Progesterone and Testosterone Elicit Divergent Human Endometrial Transcriptomes and Biofunctions. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020;21:2625. doi: 10.3390/ijms21072625.

[41].Reis F.M., Coutinho L.M., Vannuccini S., Batteux F., Chapron C., Petraglia F. Progesterone receptor ligands for the treatment of endometriosis: The mechanisms behind therapeutic success and failure. Hum. Reprod. Update. 2020;26:565–585. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa009.

[42].Buggio L., Somigliana E., Barbara G., Frattaruolo M.P., Vercellini P. Oral and depot progestin therapy for endometriosis: Towards a personalized medicine. Expert Opin. Pharmacother. 2017;18:1569–1581. doi: 10.1080/14656566.2017.1381086.

[43].Gibson D.A., Simitsidellis I., Collins F., Saunders P.T.K. Androgens, oestrogens and endometrium: A fine balance between perfection and pathology. J. Endocrinol. 2020;246:R75–R93. doi: 10.1530/JOE-20-0106.

[44].Yilmaz B.D., Bulun S.E. Endometriosis and nuclear receptors. Hum. Reprod. Update. 2019;25:473–485. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmz005.

[45]. Li T., Mamillapalli R., Ding S., Chang H., Liu Z.W., Gao X.B., Taylor H.S. Endometriosis alters brain electrophysiology, gene expression and increases pain sensitization, anxiety, and depression in female mice. Biol. Reprod. 2018;99:349–359. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioy035.

[46].As-Sanie S., Harris R.E., Napadow V., Kim J., Neshewat G., Kairys A., Williams D., Clauw D.J., Schmidt-Wilcke T. Changes in regional gray matter volume in women with chronic pelvic pain: A voxel-based morphometry study. Pain. 2012;153:1006–1014. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.01.032.

[47].Chung M.K., Chung R.R., Gordon D., Jennings C. The evil twins of chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Endometriosis and interstitial cystitis. JSLS. 2002;6:311–314

[48].Cheong Y.C., Shelton J.B., Laird S.M., Richmond M., Kudesia G., Li T.C., Ledger W.L. IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of women with pelvic adhesions. Hum. Reprod. 2002;17:69–75. doi: 10.1093/humrep/17.1.69.

[49].Forster R., Sarginson A., Velichkova A., Hogg C., Dorning A., Horne A.W., Saunders P.T.K., Greaves E. Macrophage-derived insulin-like growth factor-1 is a key neurotrophic and nerve-sensitizing factor in pain associated with endometriosis. FASEB J. 2019;33:11210–11222. doi: 10.1096/fj.201900797R.

[50].Kato T., Yasuda K., Matsushita K., Ishii K.J., Hirota S., Yoshimoto T., Shibahara H. Interleukin-1/-33 Signaling Pathways as Therapeutic Targets for Endometriosis. Front. Immunol. 2019;10:2021. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02021

Downloads

  • PDF

Published

2025-04-02

How to Cite

1.
PUDEŁKO, Iwona, KLIMAS, Filip, ZIĘBA, Zuzanna, POTOCZEK, Adriana, ZATŁOKA-MAZUR, Dorota, RUSIŃSKI, Kacper, KURENDA, Kinga, ZĄBEK, Adam Jan, LEKAN, Izabela and OSTROWICZ, Klaudia. Endometriosis - Treatment Methods and the Impact of Physical Activity on Symptoms. Quality in Sport. Online. 2 April 2025. Vol. 40, p. 59071. [Accessed 28 June 2025]. DOI 10.12775/QS.2025.40.59071.
  • ISO 690
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

Issue

Vol. 40 (2025)

Section

Medical Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Iwona Pudełko, Filip Klimas, Zuzanna Zięba, Adriana Potoczek, Dorota Zatłoka-Mazur, Kacper Rusiński, Kinga Kurenda, Adam Jan Ząbek, Izabela Lekan, Klaudia Ostrowicz

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Stats

Number of views and downloads: 184
Number of citations: 0

Search

Search

Browse

  • Browse Author Index
  • Issue archive

User

User

Current Issue

  • Atom logo
  • RSS2 logo
  • RSS1 logo

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Newsletter

Subscribe Unsubscribe

Tags

Search using one of provided tags:

Endometriosis, Treatment of endometriosis symptoms, Medical therapy, Pelvic pain, Physical activity
Up

Akademicka Platforma Czasopism

Najlepsze czasopisma naukowe i akademickie w jednym miejscu

apcz.umk.pl

Partners

  • Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie
  • Akademickie Towarzystwo Andragogiczne
  • Fundacja Copernicus na rzecz Rozwoju Badań Naukowych
  • Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
  • Instytut Tomistyczny
  • Karmelitański Instytut Duchowości w Krakowie
  • Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Krośnie
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych we Włocławku
  • Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa im. Stanisława Pigonia w Krośnie
  • Polska Fundacja Przemysłu Kosmicznego
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
  • Towarzystwo Miłośników Torunia
  • Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
  • Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
  • Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
  • Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
  • Uniwersytet Warszawski
  • Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna - Książnica Kopernikańska
  • Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Pelplinie / Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne „Bernardinum" w Pelplinie

© 2021- Nicolaus Copernicus University Accessibility statement Shop