Association Between Age of Women when Diagnosed with Endometriosis and Infertility

Abstract Because endometriosis is considered to be the primary cause of infertility in women and the diagnosis is known to be delayed by many years, it is important to understand the association between endometriosis and infertility. The purpose of this cross-sectional, secondary data analysis study was to determine whether there was an association between the age of women when diagnosed with endometriosis and infertility. Using the general model of total patient delay (i.e., the Andersen model) as a theoretical foundation, data for this study was collected by assessing patient medical records of women with endometriosis at multiple OB-GYN clinics in Eastern North Carolina. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine potential association between variables. The results presented that diagnosis at an older age and presence of uterine fibroids are significant risk factors for infertility among women with endometriosis. From the results, it can be concluded that infertility may be preventable in women diagnosed with endometriosis and uterine fibroids in younger age. This study presents positive social change by preventing infertility amongst women who suffer from both endometriosis and uterine fibroids; potentially creating preventative programs aimed at better educating women on the risks of endometriosis and uterine fibroids (especially when presented together).