Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education

Ask the Expert

Get answers to your menopause and sexual dysfunction questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

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.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

Connect with UMMC

© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885