Leisure and occupational physical activity at different ages and risk of endometriosis

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This study investigated the association between leisure and occupational physical activity across different life stages and the subsequent risk of developing endometriosis.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Cohort and case-control studies have suggested that adult physical activity (PA) may lower endometriosis risk and improve symptoms, but evidence is still controversial. To add information on leisure and occupational PA impact, if any, on endometriosis risk, we have analyzed data from a small case-control study conducted in Milan (Italy). STUDY DESIGN: Ninety cases and 90 controls (median age 35 years, range 18-76) were compared. Endometriosis was laparoscopically diagnosed within the year before interview. Information on demographic variables, menstrual and reproductive history, occupational and recreational physical activity was collected. RESULTS: A consistent protective effect emerged between leisure PA and endometriosis risk. For <2-4 and ≥5h/week (reference no PA), the estimated odds ratios (ORs) were, respectively: 0.36 (95% CI 0.18-0.74) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.27-2.53) as regards PA in early adolescence; 0.31 (95% CI 0.15-0.63) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.25-2.38) as regards PA in teenage years; 0.34 (95% CI 0.12-0.94) and 0.33 (95% CI 0.08-1.28) for PA in adulthood. However, no significant trend was seen according to hours spent in leisure PA. Occupational PA did not show statistical significant differences among different types or across age classes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that leisure PA in early adolescence, teenage years and adulthood may, to some extent, decrease the risk of endometriosis. In the interpretation of these results, however, the role of potential biases cannot be totally ruled out.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Leisure Activities Leisure Activities Motor Activity Motor Activity Occupational Health Occupational Health Adolescent Adolescent Adult Adult Aged Aged Age Factors Age Factors Case-Control Studies Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (33)

Cited by (6)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-10-24T06:12:55.650802+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-10-08T21:14:41.184593+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK