A study by Instituto Bernabeu shows that low levels of progesterone can generate uterine contractility risk in patients with endometriosis

Dr Belén Moliner, coordinator of the Endometriosis Unit at Instituto Bernabeu, will present a study at the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF in Spanish) congress that could have important implications for the treatment of endometriosis. The study evaluates the correlation between serum progesterone levels and uterine contractility (when the muscle fibre shortens in a sustained manner and does not regain its original size) in women with endometriosis.

The study results suggest that, “while endometriosis alone does not increase uterine contractility, patients with endometriosis who have low progesterone levels do experience elevated uterine contractility compared to women without endometriosis,” explains Dr Moliner. This could be related to progesterone resistance, a common feature of endometriosis.

“These findings could have a significant impact on the way we treat endometriosis,” she says. “If we can better understand the relationship between progesterone and uterine contractility in endometriosis, we can develop new strategies to improve treatment success rates”.

The study was conducted using a retrospective analysis of data from 165 patients with endometriosis and matched controls. Endometriosis patients with low serum progesterone levels showed significantly greater uterine contractility than women without endometriosis, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as the presence of fibroids and endometrial volume.

The study findings highlight the importance of monitoring serum progesterone levels in patients with endometriosis. This could help identify women who are at increased risk of elevated uterine contractility and who may benefit from tailored interventions.