Investigating new therapeutic targets for endometriosis associated pain.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, chronic inflammation leads to chronic pain. People with endometriosis experience pain during and outwith their period, pain during defecation, pain during urination and pain during sex. Current medications for endometriosis include analgesics but these do not actively target the source of the pain- chronic inflammation. We have been investigating Type I interferons as a potential treatment for endometriosis associated inflammation. In this project we will test whether Type I IFNs can be used to actively target nerve sensitisation to treat endometriosis associated pain.