Correlation between Serum Phthalate Concentration and Endometriosis

[Objective]To assess phthalic acid esters(PAEs) exposure in women of childbearing age and to analyze the correlation of PAEs with endometriosis.[Methods]A case-control study was conducted among 176 controls and 134 endometriosis patients using the information collected from questionnaires and the serum PAEs concentrations measured by gas chromatography.[Results]The positive rates of serum diethyl phthalate(DEP),di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(DEHP) in 310 women were 15.5%(geometric mean,0.062mg/L),95.2%(0.219mg/L),and 93.5%(0.178mg/L),respectively.The positive rate of serum DBP in the patients was significantly higher than that in the controls(98.5% vs.92.6%,P0.05).The levels of serum DBP and DEHP in the patients were significantly higher than those in the controls(0.304mg/L vs.0.171mg/L,P0.05;0.200mg/L vs.0.163mg/L,P0.05,respectively).The results of multivariate logistic analysis revealed that high education level,abortion history,taking contraceptives,family history of gynecological diseases,and high serum DBP concentration could be potential risk factors of endometriosis(OR1,P0.05)[.Conclusion]Exposure to PAEs is probably correlated to endometriosis occurrence.