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Endometriosis - Risk Factors

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of endometriosis

Alternative Names

Hysterectomy and endometriosis

Risk Factors:

About 5 million American women have endometriosis.

Age

Endometriosis can occur in teenagers and adult women of all ages, but most typically occurs in women between the ages of 25 - 40.

Family History

A family history of endometriosis, especially in a mother or sister, increases a woman� ' s likelihood of developing it herself.

Not Having Had Children

Pregnancy appears to be protective against endometriosis, while never having had children is associated with a greater risk for the condition. However, endometriosis can still occur in women who have had children.

Menstrual History

Women at higher risk for endometriosis tend to have more problems with menstruation. Those at higher risk usually have a shorter than normal cycle, heavier periods, and longer periods. They may also have begun menstruating at a younger than average age.

Resources

www.asrm.com -- American Society for Reproductive Medicine
www.acog.org -- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
www.endometriosisassn.org -- The Endometriosis Association
www.womenshealth.gov -- National Women's Health Information Center
www.endometriosis.org -- Endometriosis.org
www.resolve.org -- National Infertility Association

References

Bulun SE. Endometriosis. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 15;360(3):268-79.

Davis L, Kennedy SS, Moore J, Prentice A. Modern combined oral contraceptives for pain associated with endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD001019.

Jacoby VL, Grady D, Sawaya GF. Oophorectomy as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Feb;200(2):140.e1-9. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Johnson, N. and C. Farquhar. Endometriosis. Clin Evid. 2006;(15): 2449-64.

Lobo RA. Endometriosis. Etiology, pathology, diagnosis, management. Katz VL, Lobo RA, Lentz G, Gershenson D, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2007: chap 19.

Mounsey AL, Wilgus A, Slawson DC. Diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Am Fam Physician. 2006 Aug 15;74(4):594-600.

Ortiz DD. Chronic pelvic pain in women. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Jun 1;77(11):1535-42.

Parker WH, Broder MS, Chang E, Feskanich D, Farquhar C, Liu Z, et al. Ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy and long-term health outcomes in the nurses' health study. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 May;113(5):1027-37.

Rodgers AK, Falcone T. Treatment strategies for endometriosis. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008 Feb;9(2):243-55.

Selak V, Farquhar C, Prentice A, Singla A. Danazol for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD000068.

Shakiba K, Bena JF, McGill KM, Minger J, Falcone T. Surgical treatment of endometriosis: a 7-year follow-up on the requirement for further surgery. Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jun;111(6):1285-92.

Reviewed last on: 8/5/2009
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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