The association between endometriosis and the risk of LBW: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecologic disease, with a prevalence of 6%-10% in reproductive women. Endometriosis is defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial gland and stroma outside of the uterine cavity. 1 It can cause pelvic inflammation, adhesions, infertility, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea. The symptoms of endometriosis can occur with manifestations in systems such as the gastrointestinal, urinary, and psychiatric systems. 2 However, the etiology of endometriosis is not well understood. 3 There are some risk factors, such as infertility, early age at menarche, shorter menstrual cycle, hypermenorrhea, nulliparity, mullerian anomalies, birth weight (<7 pounds), one of multiple fetal gestation, diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure, endometriosis in first-degree relative, dioxin/polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure, alcohol/caffeine exposure, diet high in fat and red meat, being tall, underweight, nulliparity, and smoking. 4 Some of these risk factors have confounding influences and may actually be a consequence of the disease instead of a cause. This adds to the difficulty in determining the exact relationship. Menstruation duration and nulliparity have been demonstrated by some authors as a clear risk for the development of endometriosis.

The association between body mass index and the risk of endometriosis: A meta-analysis

“…1 It can lead to dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, adhesions, infertility and low birth weight. 2 The more obvious side effect of endometriosis is the reduction of productivity in women, and imposing health care expenditures on health care systems is a major challenge for societies. 3 Although the costs of endometriosis are high, anyway, risk factors that increased the risk of the endometriosis in women poorly explicated.…”