Germaine M. Buck Louis

BACKGROUND: Women with endometriosis may have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Research has focused on infertility clinic populations limiting generalisability. Few studies report differences by endometriosis severity. OBJE…

BackgroundEndometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their mixtures may play an etiologic role.ObjectivesWe evaluated an adipose-to-serum ratio (ASR) of lipophilic EDCs and their mixtures assoc…

Study objectivePrior research has collectively shown that endometriosis is inversely related to women's adiposity. The aim of this study was to assess whether this inverse relationship holds true by disease severity and typology.DesignCross…

Endometriosis is a hormone-responsive gynecologic disease, signifying its connotations across a woman's life span. Previous studies suggested that endocrine disrupting chemicals were risk factors for endometriosis. Nevertheless, little is k…

BACKGROUND: Caffeine, alcohol, smoking and physical activity are known to alter sex steroid synthesis, which may affect hormone-dependent gynaecologic disease risk, such as endometriosis; however, few studies have assessed life style factor…

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and endometriosis have been inversely associated. To address gaps in this research, we examined associations among body composition, endometriosis, and physical activity. Materials and Methods: Women from 1…

BackgroundPerfluoroalkyl substances have been associated with changes in menstrual cycle characteristics and fecundity, when modeled separately. However, these outcomes are biologically related, and we evaluate their joint association with …

Purpose of reviewThis paper presents an overview of the exposome research paradigm with particular application to understanding human reproduction and development and its implications for health across a lifespan.Recent findingsThe exposome…

BackgroundHuman exposure to parabens and other antimicrobial chemicals is continual and pervasive. The hormone-disrupting properties of these environmental chemicals may adversely affect human reproduction.ObjectiveWe aimed to prospectively…

The secondary sex ratio (SSR), defined as the ratio of males to females at birth, has been investigated in relation to endocrine disruptors to search for environmental toxicants perturbing human sex selection. Benzophenone (BP)-type ultravi…

Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent gynecologic disease with lasting implications for many women's fertility, somatic health, and overall quality of life. Growing evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be etiolo…

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis has been associated with a lean body habitus. However, we do not understand whether endometriosis is also associated with other characteristics of adiposity, including adipose tissue distribution and amount of visc…

Published findings from the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study regarding the relation between environmental chemicals and couple fecundity, as measured by time-to-pregnancy (TTP), are reviewed with a pa…

BackgroundWhile several studies have shown an association between environmental pollutants and diabetes among non-pregnant adults, few studies have prospectively assessed the association among pregnant women. We estimated the association be…

STUDY QUESTION: Is sexual and/or physical abuse history associated with incident endometriosis diagnosis or other gynecologic disorders among premenopausal women undergoing diagnostic and/or therapeutic laparoscopy or laparotomy regardless …

Study questionWhat is the relationship between signs and symptoms of early pregnancy and pregnancy loss <20 weeks' gestation?Summary answerVaginal bleeding is associated with increased incidence of early pregnancy loss, with more severe ble…

IntroductionPrevious studies suggest female smoking increases time-to-pregnancy (TTP), a couple-dependent reproductive outcome, while associations with male smoking are more ambiguous. Furthermore, despite small increases in smokeless tobac…

BackgroundPhytoestrogens have been associated with subtle hormonal changes, but their effects on endometriosis are largely unknown.ObjectiveWe assessed the association between urinary concentrations of phytoestrogens and incident endometrio…

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a gynecologic disease reported to be associated with infertility and, possibly, adverse pregnancy outcomes. While considerable research focuses on pregnancy outcomes following diagnosis and/or treatment, few dat…

Bisphenol A, benzophenone-type UV filters, and phthalates are chemicals in high production and use including in a range of personal care products. Exposure of humans to these chemicals has been shown to affect endocrine function. Although s…

OBJECTIVE: To determine agreement on endometriosis diagnosis between real-time laparoscopy and subsequent expert review of digital images, operative reports, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histopathology, viewed sequentially. DESIGN:…

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We sought to evaluate the relationship between delayed conception and type 2 diabetes risk, given that there are plausible underlying mechanisms linking the two, including inflammation and insulin resistance. METHODS: Part…

STUDY QUESTION: What are the pain characteristics among women, with no prior endometriosis diagnosis, undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy regardless of clinical indication? SUMMARY ANSWER: Women with surgically visualized endometriosis rep…

ObjectiveTo assess benzophenone-type ultraviolet (UV) filter concentrations, chemicals used in sunscreen and personal care products, and semen endpoints.DesignCohort.SettingNot applicable.Patient(s)A total of 413 men provided semen and urin…

Speculation has arisen that human fecundity may be declining, possibly a function of exposure to persistent environmental chemicals that resist degradation resulting in various pathways for human exposure. In contrast to considerable animal…