Endometriosis
How common is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is very common.
About 5.5 million women in North America have endometriosis.
1
Source:
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Endometriosis.
Available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/endometriosis (accessed on 21 April 2008).
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Endometriosis.
Available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/endometriosis (accessed on 21 April 2008).
It's hard to give a precise figure because lots of women with the condition have no symptoms, so it's not diagnosed. Also,
doctors can only find endometriosis by doing a laparoscopy. And you'll probably only have this test if your endometriosis is very painful or you are having a problem getting pregnant.
This is what we know from research:
- Between 2 percent and 22 percent of women have endometriosis, but no symptoms.
Source:
Mahmood TA, Templeton A.
Prevalence and genesis of endometriosis.
Human Reproduction. 1991; 6: 544-549.
2Source:
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi.
Prevalence and anatomical distribution of endometriosis in women with selected gynaecological conditions: results from a multicentric Italian study.
Human Reproduction. 1994; 9: 1158-1162.
3Source:
Moen MH, Schei B.
Epidemiology of endometriosis in a Norwegian county.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1997; 76: 559-562.
4Source:
Eskenazi B, Warner ML.
Epidemiology of endometriosis.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 1997; 24: 235-258.
5Source:
Missmer SA, Hankinson SE, Spiegelman D, et al.
Reproductive history and endometriosis among premenopausal women.
Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004; 104: 965-974.
6 These figures are guesses based on the number of women whose disease is discovered by accident during surgery. - Between 40 percent and 60 percent of women with painful periods have endometriosis.
Source:
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi.
Prevalence and anatomical distribution of endometriosis in women with selected gynaecological conditions: results from a multicentric Italian study.
Human Reproduction. 1994; 9: 1158-1162.
3Source:
Ajossa S, Mais V, Guerriero S, et al.
The prevalence of endometriosis in premenopausal women undergoing gynecological surgery.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994; 21: 195-7.
7Source:
Waller KG, Lindsay P, Curtis P, et al.
The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertile partners.
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. 1993; 48: 135-139.
8 - Between 20 percent and 30 percent of women who go for infertility treatment have endometriosis.
Source:
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi.
Prevalence and anatomical distribution of endometriosis in women with selected gynaecological conditions: results from a multicentric Italian study.
Human Reproduction. 1994; 9: 1158-1162.
3Source:
Ajossa S, Mais V, Guerriero S, et al.
The prevalence of endometriosis in premenopausal women undergoing gynecological surgery.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994; 21: 195-7.
7Source:
Waller KG, Lindsay P, Curtis P, et al.
The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertile partners.
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. 1993; 48: 135-139.
8
Sources for the information on this page:
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).Endometriosis.Available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/endometriosis (accessed on 21 April 2008).
- Mahmood TA, Templeton A.Prevalence and genesis of endometriosis.Human Reproduction. 1991; 6: 544-549.
- Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi.Prevalence and anatomical distribution of endometriosis in women with selected gynaecological conditions: results from a multicentric Italian study.Human Reproduction. 1994; 9: 1158-1162.
- Moen MH, Schei B.Epidemiology of endometriosis in a Norwegian county.Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1997; 76: 559-562.
- Eskenazi B, Warner ML.Epidemiology of endometriosis.Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 1997; 24: 235-258.
- Missmer SA, Hankinson SE, Spiegelman D, et al.Reproductive history and endometriosis among premenopausal women.Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2004; 104: 965-974.
- Ajossa S, Mais V, Guerriero S, et al.The prevalence of endometriosis in premenopausal women undergoing gynecological surgery.Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994; 21: 195-7.
- Waller KG, Lindsay P, Curtis P, et al.The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertile partners.European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. 1993; 48: 135-139.
This information was last updated on Nov 06, 2008
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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