Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
1Endometriosis: epidemiology and aetiological factors
Section snippets
Frequency
Few well-conducted studies have reported data on the prevalence of endometriosis and no data are available on the frequency of the onset of the disease in a given period (its incidence) in women without a previous diagnosis.
Differences in the prevalence of the disease vary by as much as 30–40 times.8., 9., 10., 11., 12., 13., 14., 15. Studies that have analysed the frequency of endometriosis in women who underwent surgery for fibroids have suggested a prevalence of the condition of about 10%10,
Peritoneal endometriosis
The mechanism of histogenesis referred to as implantation theory, or Sampson's theory, suggests that endometriotic lesions result from the reflux of viable endometrial tissue through the fallopian tubes that implants on peritoneal surface or pelvic organs.4 Substantial evidence exist to support this hypothesis: (1) viable endometrial cells have been demonstrated in the menstrual effluent and peritoneal fluid51; (2) endometrium can be implanted experimentally and grown within the peritoneal
Summary
Estimates of the frequency of endometriosis vary widely. Based on the few reliable data, the prevalence of the condition is around 10%. Although there is no consistent information on the incidence of the disease, temporal trends suggest an increase among women of reproductive age. This can be partly explained by changing reproductive habits. Numerous epidemiological studies have indicated that nulliparous women and women reporting short and heavy menstrual cycles are at increased risk of
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