Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at OPM.gov.

What are the risk factors for endometriosis?

Research shows that certain factors may increase or decrease a woman’s risk for endometriosis.

Studies show that women are at higher risk for endometriosis if they:

  • Have a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis1
  • Started their periods at an early age (before age 11)2
  • Have short monthly cycles (less than 27 days)2
  • Have heavy menstrual periods that last more than 7 days2
  • Are infertile3

Some studies suggest that having a lean body mass or low body fat may increase a woman’s risk for endometriosis.4

Studies also show that some factors may lower the risk for endometriosis, including:

  • Pregnancy3
  • Periods that started late in adolescence5
  • Breastfeeding6
  • Eating more fruit, especially citrus fruits7

Citations

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2019). Endometriosis. Retrieved October 10, 2019, from https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Endometriosis external link
  2. ACOG. (2010, reaffirmed 2018). Practice Bulletin No. 114: Management of endometriosis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 116(1), 223–236. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Citation/2010/07000/Practice_Bulletin_No__114__Management_of.41.aspx external link
  3. Peterson, C. M., Johnstone, E. B., Hammoud, A. O., Stanford, J. B., Varner, M. W., Kennedy, A., et al. (2013). Risk factors associated with endometriosis: Importance of study population for characterizing disease in the ENDO Study. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 208(6), 451.e1–451.11. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4114145/
  4. Farland, L. V., Missmer, S. A., Bijon, A., Gusto, G., Gelot, A., Clavel-Chapelon, F., et al. (2017). Associations among body size across the life course, adult height, and endometriosis. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 32(8), 1732–1742. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5850750/
  5. Treloar, S. A., Bell, T. A., Nagle, C. M., Purdie, D. M., & Green, A. C. (2010). Early menstrual characteristics associated with subsequent diagnosis of endometriosis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 202(6), 534.e1–534.e6. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002937809019802?via%3Dihub external link
  6. Farland, L. V., Eliassen, A. H., Tamimi, R. M., Spiegelman, D., Michels, K. B., & Missmer, S. A. (2017). History of breast feeding and risk of incident endometriosis: Prospective cohort study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 358, j3778. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3778 external link
  7. Harris, H. R., Eke, A. C., Chavarro, J. E., & Missmer, S. A. (2018). Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of endometriosis. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 33(4), 715–727. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6018917/
top of page BACK TO TOP