Potential Role of Menstrual Fluid-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicle Proteins in Endometriosis Pathogenesis
Gurung S, Piskopos J, Steele J, et al.Journal of Extracellular Vesicles · 2025DOI 10.1002/jev2.70048
In plain language
Small extracellular vesicles from menstrual fluid, collected with a menstrual cup, were compared between 8 women with self-reported, surgically diagnosed endometriosis and 9 self-reported controls. Over 5,000 proteins were identified, most at lower levels in endometriosis, and the authors suggest the vesicle cargo may contribute to the disease and could be explored for earlier detection.
What it means
Vesicle proteins in menstrual fluid may play a part in endometriosis, adding to a growing set of signals. These discovery findings need validation in larger groups.
What it does not show
Seventeen women with self-reported diagnoses, established disease and cup-collected fluid; it suggests biology to study, not an early detection test.
How to cite
Gurung S, Piskopos J, Steele J, Schittenhelm R, Shah A, Cousins FL, et al. Potential Role of Menstrual Fluid-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicle Proteins in Endometriosis Pathogenesis. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. 2025;14(3):e70048. doi:10.1002/jev2.70048