31OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between selected characteristics and risk of pelvic endometriosis.
STUDY DESIGN:
Eligible for the study were 817 women with primary or secondary infertility or pelvic pain requiring laparoscopy. Of these, 393 were included for infertility and 424 for pelvic pain.
RESULTS:
A total of 345 (42.2%) had a diagnosis of endometriosis and 472 did not have the disease. Multiparous women had endometriosis less frequently than nulliparous, the estimated odds ratios (OR) were respectively 0.9 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.5-1.6) and 0.4 (95% CI 0.2-0.7) in women reporting one and two or more births. In comparison with women reporting no spontaneous abortion, the estimated OR was 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.5) in those who reported > or =1 miscarriage. In comparison with women reporting menstrual cycles lasting > or =25 days subjects with totally irregular menstrual cycles had a reduced risk of endometriosis (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-0.9). No significant association emerged between smoking, age at menarche and risk of endometriosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
this study confirms, with a different methodological approach to previously published studies, that multiparity, a history of abortion and lifelong irregular menstrual pattern decrease the risk of endometriosis in women with pelvic pain and infertility.nonenoneF. Parazzini; I. Ardovino; E. Struzziero; E. Zanardi; D. Pungetti; V. Mais; S. Aiossa; G. Mignemi; L. Di Leo; A. Bianchi; C. Campobasso; G. Scarselli; G. Bracco; P. Capetta; C. Bertulessi; S. Moroni; P. Mazza; P. Vercellini; P.G. Crosignani; A. Bacchi Modena; A. Casa; M. Massobrio; C. Ansaldi; G. Trossarelli; M.T. Gervasi; V. Marsoni; S. Guaschino; L. Troiano; G. Ricci; P. Beretta; M. FranchiF., Parazzini; I., Ardovino; E., Struzziero; E., Zanardi; D., Pungetti; V., Mais; S., Aiossa; G., Mignemi; L., Di Leo; A., Bianchi; C., Campobasso; G., Scarselli; G., Bracco; P., Capetta; C., Bertulessi; S., Moroni; P., Mazza; P., Vercellini; P. G., Crosignani; A., Bacchi Modena; A., Casa; M., Massobrio; C., Ansaldi; G., Trossarelli; M. T., Gervasi; V., Marsoni; Guaschino, Secondo; L., Troiano; Ricci, Giuseppe; P., Beretta; M., Franch
