Among the various factors that hinder pregnancy, endometriosis is a reproductive disorder that cannot be overlooked.
Each month, as eggs mature, the hormone estrogen (E2) is secreted, causing the uterine lining (endometrium) to thicken in preparation for embryo implantation. However, it can be incredibly challenging when this tissue grows outside the uterus in incorrect locations, such as the ovaries, behind the uterus, or in the fallopian tubes. This is precisely what endometriosis is.
Endometriosis can cause a wide range of pain, including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and even painful bowel movements. On average, approximately 15% of women of reproductive age suffer from this condition.
The progression of endometriosis can slow down or go into remission during periods when E2 is not secreted and menstruation ceases—such as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consequently, older women who have never been pregnant face a higher probability of developing the condition compared to multiparous women or those who have given birth.
Recent research has revealed that girls who are taller and leaner during childhood face a higher likelihood of developing endometriosis later in life.
According to a report by the domestic medical news outlet Kormedi Dot Com, researchers at the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention in Denmark analyzed data from 171,000 girls born between 1930 and 1996. The study tracked their birth weights, as well as their height and weight between the ages of 7 and 13.
By the time the follow-up period concluded in June 2017, approximately 2,100 women had been diagnosed with endometriosis.
Through this longitudinal study, the researchers discovered that women who had a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) during childhood actually had a lower probability of developing endometriosis.
Conversely, girls who were tall and slender faced a higher risk of being diagnosed with the condition as adults. For instance, a girl who weighed 2.3 kg less at age 7 had an 8% higher risk of adult endometriosis, while a girl who was 5.2 cm taller faced a 9% increased risk.
Critiquing the study’s premise and conclusion, Dr. Valerie Flores, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University, offered a alternative perspective: “It is not that being tall and lean makes a girl prone to endometriosis, but rather that endometriosis itself causes patients to become leaner.”
Dr. Jeong-hyun Cho, a fertility specialist and medical director at Sarangi Fertility Center, explained, “The most frequent site for endometriosis is the ovaries. The ovaries are crucial organs that house the eggs, which are central to conceiving life. When endometriosis develops here, it inevitably exerts a negative impact on egg quality. Cysts within the ovaries can rupture, and as they grow larger, they cause severe pain. Furthermore, this condition inhibits follicular growth and interferes with uterine implantation, thereby increasing miscarriage rates.”