Prevalence and genesis of endometriosis

Tahir A. Mahmood, T A Mahmood, Allan Templeton, A Templeton
Human Reproduction · 1991 · vol. 6(4) , pp. 544–549 · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a137377 · PMID:1918305 · W1901751800
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This prospective study of 1542 pre-menopausal Caucasian women found endometriosis prevalence varied by indication for laparoscopy and was inversely correlated with oral contraceptive use, suggesting prolonged spontaneous menstruation may be causative.

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Abstract

A group of 1542 pre-menopausal Caucasian women were assessed prospectively to investigate the prevalence of endometriosis. The women were either having laparoscopy because of infertility (n = 654), undergoing laparoscopic sterilization (n = 598), having laparoscopy because of chronic abdominal and pelvic pain (n = 156) or undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for dysfunctional uterine bleeding (n = 134). Endometriosis was noted more frequently among women being investigated for infertility (21%) than among those undergoing sterilization (6%). Among those being investigated for chronic abdominal pain, the incidence of endometriosis was 15%, while among those undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, it was 25%. In all groups the total duration of combined pill usage was significantly higher in patients who had a normal pelvis compared to those with endometriosis. It is suggested that among susceptible women, both fertile and infertile, a prolonged period of regular spontaneous menstruation may play a causative role in the genesis of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Abdominal Pain Abdominal Pain Adult Analysis of Variance Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility Infertility Prospective Studies White People

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References (49)

Cited by (50)

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