OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of endometriosis in women attending family planning clinics with special reference to contraceptive methods. DESIGN: Non-randomised cohort study with follow up of subjects for up to 23 years. Disease was measured by first hospital admission rates since endometriosis can be diagnosed with accuracy only at laparotomy or laparoscopy. SETTING: 17 family planning centres in England and Scotland. SUBJECTS: 17,032 married white women aged 25-39 years at entry during 1968-74 who were taking oral contraceptives or using an intrauterine device or diaphragm. About 99% of the women approached agreed to participate and annual loss to follow up was about 0.3%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of endometriosis, age, parity, and history of contraceptive use. RESULTS: Endometriosis was significantly related to age, peaking at ages 40-44 (chi 2 for heterogeneity = 30.9, p < 0.001). Endometriosis was not linked to duration of taking oral contraceptives. Nevertheless, the risk of endometriosis was low in women currently taking oral contraceptives (relative risk 0.4; 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.7), but higher in women who had formerly taken them (1.8; 1.0 to 3.1 in women who had stopped 25-48 months previously) compared with women who had never taken the pill. A similar pattern was seen for use of intrauterine devices (relative risk 0.4 (0.2 to 0.7) in current users and 1.4 (0.4 to 3.2) in users 49-72 months previously compared with never users). No association was found between endometriosis and use of the diaphragm. CONCLUSIONS: Oral contraceptives seem to temporarily suppress endometriosis. Endometriosis may be diagnosed late in women using intrauterine devices as pain and bleeding occur with both.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of endometriosis in women attending family planning clinics with special reference to contraceptive methods. DESIGN: Non-randomised cohort study with follow up of subjects for up to 23 years. Disease was measured by first hospital admission rates since endometriosis can be diagnosed with accuracy only at laparotomy or laparoscopy. SETTING: 17 family planning centres in England and Scotland. SUBJECTS: 17,032 married white women aged 25-39 years at entry during 1968-74 who were taking oral contraceptives or using an intrauterine device or diaphragm. About 99% of the women approached agreed to participate and annual loss to follow up was about 0.3%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of endometriosis, age, parity, and history of contraceptive use. RESULTS:Endometriosis was significantly related to age, peaking at ages 40-44 (chi 2 for heterogeneity = 30.9, p < 0.001). Endometriosis was not linked to duration of taking oral contraceptives. Nevertheless, the risk of endometriosis was low in women currently taking oral contraceptives (relative risk 0.4; 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.7), but higher in women who had formerly taken them (1.8; 1.0 to 3.1 in women who had stopped 25-48 months previously) compared with women who had never taken the pill. A similar pattern was seen for use of intrauterine devices (relative risk 0.4 (0.2 to 0.7) in current users and 1.4 (0.4 to 3.2) in users 49-72 months previously compared with never users). No association was found between endometriosis and use of the diaphragm. CONCLUSIONS: Oral contraceptives seem to temporarily suppress endometriosis. Endometriosis may be diagnosed late in women using intrauterine devices as pain and bleeding occur with both.
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Keywords:
Age Factors; Barrier Methods; Biology; Bleeding; Cohort Analysis; Contraception; Contraceptive Methods; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Diseases; Endometrial Effects; Endometrium; Endoscopy; England; Europe; Examinations And Diagnoses; Family Planning; Family Planning Programs; Genitalia; Genitalia, Female; Iud; Laparoscopy; Laparotomy; Northern Europe; Oral Contraceptives; Pain; Physical Examinations And Diagnoses; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Research Methodology; Research Report; Scotland; Signs And Symptoms; Surgery; Treatment; United Kingdom; Urogenital System; Uterus; Vaginal Barrier Methods; Vaginal Diaphragm
Authors: D W Cramer; E Wilson; R J Stillman; M J Berger; S Belisle; I Schiff; B Albrecht; M Gibson; B V Stadel; S C Schoenbaum Journal: JAMA Date: 1986-04-11 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Claire Templeman; Sarah F Marshall; Giske Ursin; Pamela L Horn-Ross; Christina A Clarke; Mark Allen; Dennis Deapen; Argyrios Ziogas; Peggy Reynolds; Rosemary Cress; Hoda Anton-Culver; Dee West; Ronald K Ross; Leslie Bernstein Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2007-10-24 Impact factor: 7.329