Lipedema in Women and Its Interrelationship with Endometriosis and Other Gynecologic Diseases: A Scoping Review

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that lipedema may share hormonal, in-flammatory, and genetic mechanisms with gynecologic diseases, particularly endome-triosis. However, the extent and nature of these interrelationships remain poorly cha-racterized, supporting the need for this scoping review. Objectives: To map and synthesize the available evidence on the clinical, pathophysiological, and epidemiolo-gical interrelationships between lipedema in women, endometriosis, and other gyne-cologic diseases. Methods: Searches were conducted in international and regional health databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, LILACS/VHL, APA PsycInfo, SciELO, Epistemonikos, and La Referencia, as well as grey literature sources and relevant institutional websites. There were no language restrictions. The search period began in 1940, the year in which li-pedema was first described by Allen and Hines. Study selection followed a two-stage process conducted independently by two reviewers, consisting of title and abstract screening followed by full-text review. Data extraction was performed using a pre-developed and peer-reviewed instrument covering participants, concept, context, study methods, and main findings. The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D65GS). Results: Twenty-five stu-dies from ten countries were included. Synthesis of the available evidence indicates that lipedema is consistent with a systemic condition involving metabolic and hormonal dimensions, characterized by onset related to reproductive milestones, a high frequency of gynecologic and endocrine comorbidities, and molecular features overlapping with steroid-dependent pathologies. These findings reflect a recent shift from a predominantly lymphovascular paradigm toward a more integrated endocrinometabolic framework. Conclusions: The findings indicate that lipedema clusters with hormone-sensitive gynecologic and endocrine features across reproductive life stages.