Truly common health problems often have a little bit more name-recognition than endometriosis does, however, it’s actually one of the more common health conditions that affect women of reproductive age.
The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that endometriosis affects around 5 million American women, and Johns Hopkins estimates that it affects between 2% and 10% of American women between the ages of 25 and 40. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists goes further than that, and simply estimates that endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women.
Endometriosis is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s, but isn’t uncommon in young women, either, especially young women who have one or more relatives who have been diagnosed with endometriosis. In fact, a study at Boston Children’s Hospital found that endometriosis was one of the most common conditions found to cause pelvic pain in young women and teenaged girls.
Endometriosis isn’t preventable, but there are certain groups that are more likely to be diagnosed with it. These groups include:
-
Women who have never given birth
-
Women who have one or more genetic relatives who have been diagnosed with endometriosis
-
Women with medical conditions that might get in the way of a normal menstrual flow out of the body
-
Women with a personal history of pelvic infections or uterine abnormalities
Sources
-
“FAQ: Endometriosis.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, October 2012. Web.
-
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Endometriosis.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, April 2 2013. Web.
-
“Endometriosis: What You Need to Know.” HopkinsMedicine. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Web.
-
“Endometriosis.” Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 5 2015. Web.
- “Endometriosis: A Guide for Friends, Siblings, and Significant Others.” youngwomenshealth. Boston Children’s Hospital, July 30 2014. Web.
