Wearable earpiece could ease endometriosis symptoms, study finds
Endometriosis sufferers have been offered new hope from recent research which has shed light on the potential of a wearable earpiece which could ease symptoms of the condition.
March marks Endometriosis Awareness month, which is designed to bring awareness to the complex condition, which affects one in 10 women.
In the UK, around 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth are currently living with the condition, which sees tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
According to the NHS, the symptoms of endometriosis can vary. Some women are badly affected, while others might not have any noticeable symptoms.
For women who do experience symptoms, the main sign is likely extreme period pain in your lower tummy or back (pelvic pain), but other impacts include pain during or after sex, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and even brain fog.
While it can be treated there is currently no cure for endometriosis so those living with the condition are often left battling their symptoms in vain, but new research has found modulating the nervous system could help ease some of the main effects of the condition.
Studies, published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information and PubMed, have revealed how targeting the vagus nerve can positively influence the symptoms and progression of endometriosis.
The research discovered that women with endometriosis may have reduced activity in their vagus nerve, a key part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for regulating stress response and other bodily functions.
This imbalance, evidenced by lower heart rate variability (HRV), has been found to correlate with increased pain and stress levels, therefore suggesting that the autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in managing endometriosis symptoms.
Consequently, researchers are exploring the potential of nervous system modulation, through devices such as Nurosym, as a way to mitigate pain, reduce stress, and even slow down the progression of endometriosis.
Targeted electrical signals sent via the vagus nerve to the brainstem simultaneously increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, heart rate variability, and reduce inflammation, which are significant in endometriosis. Targeting this nerve can lead to reduced pain and other symptoms linked to nervous system dysregulation
While traditional medical devices are typically placed over the stomach to block pain signals sent to the brain, Vagal Neuromodulation technologies work by directly targeting key mechanisms in the cause and progression of the symptoms.
Recent clinical studies have found that patients using these wearable devices, which sit on the patient’s ear, have shown a 78% reduction in inflammation and a 50% increase in parasympathetic activity, which counteract the feelings of stress and helps us to feel relaxed.
In basic terms, the devices help to rewire your nervous system by delivering small, targeted electrical impulses to the brain via the vagus nerve.
Dr Susana de los Santos MD of Nurosym and medical reviewer at She Syncs, an educational resource and community for individuals with endometriosis, PCOS, and PMS, says these kind of devices are gaining popularity as a promising method for reducing endometriosis-related pain.
"Evidence shows that women who experience greater stress, also experience greater pelvic pain," she explains.
"Stress, especially when chronic, implies a constant 'fight or flight' bodily response. The vagus nerve is the main player to counter such response, by modulating it, we can induce a calmer 'rest and digest' bodily state and thus reduce pain severity."
Dr de los Santos hopes the non-invasive technique could offer hope to endometriosis sufferers who have experienced little relief from conventional treatments.
"Recent research suggests that by bringing the nervous system to balance, we can improve the patient’s quality of life and address the pain associated with endometriosis," she continues. "Neuromodulation technology devices to relieve pain pose a significant advancement in our approach to this complex condition."
Tasha is currently living with endometriosis and started using a wearable device last August, which she says has helped with her chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms.
"I have found it really helpful particularly for my fatigue and my brain fog," she explains. "I also now have fewer pain days. I track them quite religiously and have been surprised to see that I had far fewer pain days in the few months after I started using it."
Rachel, another user with endometriosis says the device "significantly reduces 80% of my pain within 15 minutes of use."
She also says she's noticed a huge improvement in her brain fog.
"I feel I am more focused and clear-headed like I can actually sit down and focus on my work," she explains. "My executive function is definitely a lot better."
The potential new breakthrough comes as it was revealed women are waiting nearly nine years for an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK.
The study, by the charity Endometriosis UK, suggests waiting times for a diagnosis have significantly deteriorated in recent years with a rise in diagnosis times in all four nations since 2020.
The time taken to receive a diagnosis has risen to 8 years and 10 months in both England and Scotland, to 9 years and 5 months in Northern Ireland, and 9 years 11 months in Wales.
The report, based on a survey of 4,371 people who have received a diagnosis, shows that 47% of respondents had visited their GP 10 or more times with symptoms before being diagnosed, and 70% had visited five times or more.
Commenting on the findings the chief executive of Endometriosis UK, Emma Cox, says: "Taking almost nine years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis is unacceptable. Our finding that it now takes even longer to get a diagnosis of endometriosis must be a wake-up call to decision-makers to stop minimising or ignoring the significant impact endometriosis can have on both physical and mental health."
Endometriosis: Read more
Fertility experts bust four common myths about endometriosis (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Woman's struggle to get endometriosis diagnosis: 'The pain was taking over my life' (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
The 5 key symptoms of Endometriosis all women should be aware of (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
