Endometriosis is common among women of childbearing age, aged 15 to 49. It is a condition in which uterine tissue (endometrium) begins to grow outside the uterus.
This tissue growth outside the uterus can cause a variety of symptoms, including pelvic pain, severe menstrual pain, sexual intercourse pain, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, and fertility issues. Endometriosis can also result in digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain.
Factors that increase the risk of endometriosis in women
The cause of endometriosis is not known for sure. However, there are several factors that can increase the risk of endometriosis in women, including:
Family history of endometriosis
Studies show that people with a family history of endometriosis are more likely to develop the disease. However, genetics does not play a significant role in this condition. It is just that if someone in your family has endometriosis, you should be more aware of any symptoms that may appear and be felt.
Read more: Understanding Symptoms Of Endometriosis Other Than Heavy Menstruation
Early menstruation
Most girls have their first period at age 12, but some begin at age 8. Menstruation before the age of 11 increases the risk of endometriosis for several reasons:
- Longer estrogen exposure affects the growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus
- Early menstruation tends to have longer menstrual cycles
- Early menstruation is often associated with earlier reproductive maturity, including earlier ovulation and more regular menstrual cycles
Duration of menstrual cycle
Women who have longer menstrual cycles are more likely to develop endometriosis. This could be due to longer estrogen exposure and more ovulation cycles during the reproductive years.
Read more: Easy Pregnancy Tips For People With Endometriosis
Abnormalities of the uterus and fallopian tubes
Endometriosis is not directly associated with uterine or fallopian tube abnormalities. However, structural abnormalities in the uterus or fallopian tubes can disrupt the passage of sperm and eggs, resulting in a buildup of blood. This trapped blood can cause inflammation and aggravate endometriosis.
In some cases, endometriosis may go away on its own without treatment. However, effective treatments such as hormonal therapy or surgical procedures are necessary to help control and reduce endometriosis. So if you have been experiencing frequent menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, difficulty conceiving, recurrent miscarriages, pain during sexual intercourse, or pelvic pain, then you should see a doctor to determine the cause.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
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Anastasia Prodoromidou et al. (2022). Tubal Endometriosis: From Bench to Bedside, A Scoping Review. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8955934/
