{"paper_id":"70cc2633-054d-4d60-839f-a46ea477f141","body_text":"Causal Relationship Between Abortion and Endometriosis: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study\nFunding: This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of Reproductive Health and Women's and Children's Health Assurance Special Fund (2022YFC2704004).\nABSTRACT\nProblem\nThe relationship between abortion and endometriosis (EMS) has been inconsistent in previous observational studies and remains controversial. We intended to examine the causal relationship between abortion and EMS.\nMethods of Study\nWe conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, drawing data from the FinnGen database and the UK Biobank. The primary analysis utilized the random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach, complemented by weighted median, weighted mode, and MR–Egger methods. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses were conducted, encompassing the Cochran's Q statistic for assessing heterogeneity and MR-PRESSO to detect pleiotropy. Additionally, Leave-One-Out (LOO) analysis was conducted to confirm the stability of our results.\nResults\nThe IVW method revealed no statistically significant causal association between various types of abortion and EMS. Specifically, the odds ratios (ORs) were as follows: medical abortion (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.78–1.18, p = 0.72), spontaneous abortion (OR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.81–1.21, p = 0.92), and other types of abortions (OR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99–1.03, p = 0.36), indicating no significant effects on the risk of EMS. Similarly, analysis in the reverse direction showed no significant causal effects of EMS on the likelihood of experiencing any type of abortion, with ORs for medical abortion (0.97, 95% CI: 0.91–1.03, p = 0.33), spontaneous abortion (0.98, 95% CI: 0.92–1.04, p = 0.50), and other abortions (1.30, 95% CI: 0.76–2.23, p = 0.34). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings, demonstrating no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or significant heterogeneity.\nConclusion\nOur MR results do not support a causal relationship between abortion and EMS.\nConflicts of Interest\nThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.\nData Availability Statement\nAll data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article and supplementary information files.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}