Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEndometriosis OverviewHow Common Is It?Ethnicity StatisticsAge and GenderCauses and Risk FactorsMortality RatesScreening
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Endometriosis Overview
How Common Is It?
Ethnicity Statistics
Age and Gender
Causes and Risk Factors
Mortality Rates
Screening
Endometriosisis a gynecologic disorder that affects people with auterusand ovaries. The condition occurs when tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus and can impact surrounding organs, such asovaries, bowel, bladder, andfallopian tubes.
Approximately 1 in 10 people with a uterus are diagnosed with endometriosis yearly, and nearly half of those experience infertility. In addition, endometriosis is considered the primary cause of chronic pelvic pain in people who menstruate and are of childbearing age.
This article will provide important statistics and facts you should know about endometriosis.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
The endometrium plays a vital role in themenstrual cycleandpregnancy. It thickens in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg and is shed during menstruation if conception does not occur.
When endometrial tissue escapes the uterus, it can invade other organs like the fallopian tubes, ovaries, intestines, and bladder. As a result, the tissue can become inflamed and bleed every month as it did in the uterus.
Endometriosis can cause chronic pelvic pain, heavy menstrual cycles, painful periods, and infertility leading to depression.
How Common Is Endometriosis?
The prevalence of endometriosis is difficult to determine because many people don’t have symptoms or their symptoms go unreported. Between 1% and 7% of people with endometriosis are asymptomatic, while up to 70% of people have chronic pelvic pain.
It is estimated that more than 10 million people in the United States have endometriosis.
Symptoms of EndometriosisChronic pelvic pain, heavy menstruation, and infertility are common symptoms of endometriosis.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Chronic pelvic pain, heavy menstruation, and infertility are common symptoms of endometriosis.
A 2019 review that compiled facts from many other studies reported the following statistics regarding race and ethnicity in people with endometriosis:
Several factors could have influenced these results. For example, healthdisparitiessuch as lack of health insurance, language barriers, cultural practices, underreported symptoms, and biased beliefs about pain and gender may have affected the data collected. More research is needed to explore this topic further.
Endometriosis is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 40; however, people as young as 15 have been diagnosed with the condition.Those born without a uterus are not at risk of having endometriosis.
Causes and Risk Factors of Endometriosis
Although the exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, researchers believe several body dysfunctions may contribute to its development. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to prevent endometriosis; however, risk factors associated with the disorder can help identify the condition sooner.
Causes
In addition to highestrogenlevels, the following are suspected reasons for endometriosis:
Risk Factors
Here are some risk factors for developing endometriosis:
You should report any symptoms of endometriosis to your healthcare provider, especially if you have risk factors.
How Do Endometriosis Symptoms Feel?
Mortality Rates for Endometriosis
Although endometriosis doesn’t directly cause death, if left untreated, it can lead to the following life-threatening medical conditions:
Stage 4 Endometriosis vs. Endometrial Cancer: Effect on the Uterus
Screening and Early Detection
There are currently no screening or early-detection tests for endometriosis. In addition, diagnosis can take up to 10 years due to people not reporting symptoms, people normalizing their symptoms, a lack of healthcare provider knowledge, and misdiagnosis. Therefore, it’s essential to know the signs of endometriosis and have regular gynecologic health exams to establish a baseline assessment.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have endometriosis, imaging tests, medication, and surgery can be used to diagnose the condition.
Summary
Endometriosis is a gynecologic condition that affects 10% of people with a uterus in the United States. When endometrial tissue travels and grows outside the uterus, it can cause chronic pain, heavy menstrual cycles, and infertility. It’s important to know the signs of endometriosis and have regular gynecologic exams to help identify warning signs if they appear.
Although endometriosis doesn’t cause death directly, it can lead to life-threatening conditions. If you are experiencing symptoms, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Endometriosis
UpToDate.Endometriosis: Pathogenesis, epidemiology, and clinical impact.
Soliman AM, Surrey E, Bonafede M, Nelson JK, Castelli-Haley J.Real-world evaluation of direct and indirect economic burden among endometriosis patients in the united states.Adv Ther. 2018;35(3):408-423. doi: 10.1007/s12325-018-0667-3
Bougie O, Yap MaI, Sikora L, Flaxman T, Singh S.Influence of race/ethnicity on prevalence and presentation of endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BJOG: Int J Obstet Gy. 2019;126(9):1104-1115. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.15692
Endometriosis.org.Causes of endometriosis.
MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.
Yong PJ, Matwani S, Brace C, et al.Endometriosis and ectopic pregnancy: a meta-analysis.Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. 2020;27(2):352-361.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2019.09.778
Ferrero S, Camerini G, Leone Roberti Maggiore U, Venturini PL, Biscaldi E, Remorgida V.Bowel endometriosis: Recent insights and unsolved problems.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2011;3(3):31-38. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v3.i3.31
Kvaskoff M, Mahamat-Saleh Y, Farland LV, et al.Endometriosis and cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Human Reproduction Update. 2021;27(2):393-420. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa045
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