This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
The relation between contraceptive methods and risk of pelvic endometriosis has been
analyzed in a case-control study. Cases were 376 women with laparoscopically or laparotomically
confirmed pelvic endometriosis admitted to a network of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clinics in Lombardy, Northern Italy. Controls were 522 women admitted for acute non-gynecological and non-obstetrics conditions to the
same hospitals where cases had been identified. A total 153 women (40.3%) out of the
377 cases and 154 (29.7%) out of the 522 controls reported ever oral contraceptive
(OC) use: the corresponding relative risk (RR) was 1.6 (95% confidence interval, CI,
1.2–2.2). The risk was restricted to ex-OC users (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.4), the estimated
RR for current users being 0.9 (95% CI 0.5–1.9). No clear relation emerged with duration,
recency and latency of OC use and risk of endometriosis. In comparison with never
IUD users, the risk for ever users was 1.3 (95% CI 0.6-2.8), and no clear relation
emerged with duration of use. Likewise, no association was observed between barrier
method of contraception and risk of endometriosis (RR ever vs never users 0.5, 95%
CI 0.3-1.4). The role of selection and other biases should be considered in the interpretation
of epidemiological data on the role of OC on the risk of endometriosis.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to ContraceptionAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Does contraception modify the risk of endometriosis?.Hum Reprod. 1993; 8: 547-551
- Epidemiology of endometriosis.J Epidemiol Community Health. 1993; 47: 84-88
- The relation of endometriosis to menstrual characteristics, smoking, and exercise.JAMA. 1986; 255: 1904-1908
- Menstrual cycle characteristics and the risk of endometriosis.Epidemiology. 1993; 4: 135-142
- Reproductive and menstrual factors and risk of peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis.Fertil Steril. 1991; 56: 230-234
- Epidemiology of endometriosis in women attending family planning clinics.BMJ. 1993; 306: 182-184
- Oral contraceptives and health: An interim report from the oral contraceptive study of the Royal College of General Practitioners.Pitman Medical Publishing, London1974
- Center for Population Research Monograph, Publication No. 81-564. The Walnut Creek contraceptive drug study: A prospective study of the side effects of oral contraceptives. Vol. III. National Institute of Health, Bethesda1981
- Epidemiology of endometriosis.BMJ. 1993; 306: 930-931
- Risk factors for endometrioid, mucinous and serous benign ovarian cysts.Int J Epidemiol. 1989; 18: 108-112
- The analysis of case-control studies.in: IARC Sci Publ 32. Statistical methods in cancer research. Vol. 1. 1980
- The GLIM System, Release 3.Numerical Algorithms Group, Oxford1978
- Endometriosis.N Engl J Med. 1993; 328: 1759-1769
- Contraception: A risk factor for endometriosis.Obstet Gynecol. 1988; 71: 829-831
Dizerega GS, Barber DL, Hodgen GD. Endometriosis: Role of ovarian steroids in initiation, maintenance, and suppression. Fertil Steril 33: 649–653.
- Endometriosis in Lebanon: A case-control study.Am J Epidemiol. 1986; 124: 762-767
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 1994 Published by Elsevier Inc.
