Endometriosis affects about 5 to 10 percent of women, with a higher prevalence seen in those struggling with infertility. While it is common to find endometriosis in women who are infertile, it remains unclear whether the condition is the cause of infertility or if it is simply discovered during infertility tests.
Senior study author Dr. Stacey A. Missmer, Director of Epidemiologic Research in Reproductive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, emphasized, “Although women with endometriosis are at greater risk for infertility compared to women without the condition, our study suggests that most women with endometriosis do not face infertility. The majority go on to have pregnancies and build the families they desire.”
In a recent study, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed data from 58,427 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study-2. The study aimed to better understand the link between endometriosis and infertility. The findings revealed that while women with endometriosis had a higher risk of infertility, this risk was primarily seen in women under the age of 35. Additionally, the study indicated that the infertility risk posed by endometriosis was about half of what previous studies had estimated. This suggests there may have been detection bias in earlier research.
The study, published in Human Reproduction, highlights the importance of identifying women with endometriosis who are most at risk for infertility. Dr. Missmer emphasized that early detection is crucial for targeting treatments that address the biology of infertility, allowing women to access fertility treatments when needed.
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