Does contraception modify the risk of endometriosis?
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Epidemiological data show no consensus on whether oral contraceptives or intrauterine devices affect endometriosis risk, with studies reporting increased, decreased, or no effect on disease development.
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Abstract
Long episodes of regular, prolonged, abundant menstrual flows are generally agreed to increase the risk of endometriosis. Since oral oestrogen-progestogen combinations reduce and intra-uterine contraceptive devices increase menstrual flow, an effect on the risk of development of endometriosis in women utilizing these forms of contraception could be expected. Analysis of the most recent epidemiological observations shows no consensus on a possible relationship between use of cyclic oral contraceptives and endometriosis, with an increase, a decrease, and no effect on the risk of developing the disease all being reported. A lower relative risk of endometriosis in previous users of the intrauterine contraceptive device was only found in two series, most of the other data suggesting a rise in risk or no effect. Further studies on the relationship between type of contraception and endometriosis are needed to demonstrate whether the risk of development of the disease could be influenced, and whether well tolerated, relatively inexpensive, long-term treatment might be available for symptomatic patients not desiring offspring.
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Cited by (18)
- Les endométrioses iatrogènes de la femme avant la ménopause : principaux enjeux 2013
- Oral contraceptives and risk of endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis 2010
- Post-operative oral contraceptive use reduces the risk of ovarian endometrioma recurrence after laparoscopic excision 2009
- Low-dose oral contraceptive pill for dysmenorrhea associated with endometriosis: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial 2008
- Postoperative oral contraceptive exposure and risk of endometrioma recurrence 2008
- Medikamentöse und konservative Therapie 2004
- The Keeper<sup>®</sup>, a Menstrual Collection Device, as a Potential Cause of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis 2003
- Tratamiento de la endometriosis y medicina basada en la evidencia 2003
- Comprehensive preventive health care in female-factor infertility: issues, problems and proposals 2002
- Estroprogestin vs. gonadotrophin agonists plus estroprogestin in the treatment of endometriosis-related pelvic pain: a randomized trial 2000
- Epidemiology of chronic pelvic pain 2000
- 10.1016/b978-2-294-72762-7.00015-5 2000
- Medical management of endometriosis and infertility 2000
- Risk Factors for Endometriosis: Menstrual and Life-Style Characteristics 1998
- Menstrual characteristics in women with and without endometriosis 1997
- Visible and non-visible endometriosis at laparoscopy in fertile and infertile women and in patients with chronic pelvic pain: a prospective study 1996
- Pain relief after combined medical and laparoscopic conservative treatment of stage III–IV endometriosis: A comparison with medical therapy 1996
- Contraceptive methods and risk of pelvic endometriosis 1994
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