I-27: Risk Factors of Endometriosis in Iranian Infertile Women

Background: Endometriosis as one of the most common health problems of women during their reproductive age, affects 2.5-3.3% of women. Endometriosis may be asymptomatic or associated with dysmenorrheal symptoms, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility. The objective of present study was to determine the risk factors related to endometriosis among Iranian infertile women. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, infertile women who referred for laparoscopy to two infertility clinics in Tehran-Iran were enrolled. According to laparoscopy results,infertile women were divided into case and control groups. Control group consists of women who had normal pelvis in laparoscopy while women who had endometriosis considered as case group. The case group was divided into 2 subgroups: Mild (stage I and II of endometriosis) and severe (Stage III and IV). A questionnaire consists of demographic, menstrual and reproductive characteristics was completed for each one of the patients. The significant level was defined as p value less than 0.05. Results: In present study, 403 infertile women were studied. Among them, 250 subjects (62%) had endometriosis (case group) and 153 (38%) had normal pelvis (control group). This study revealed that age, duration of infertility, BMI, duration of menstrual cycle, abortion history, dyspareunia, pelvic pain and family history of endometriosis are the independent predictive factors for any type of endometriosis. In addition, it was shown that education, duration of infertility, BMI, amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, menstrual pattern, dyspareunia, pelvic pain and family history of endometriosis are the independent predictive factors of severe endometriosis. Conclusion: Demographic, menstrual and reproductive characteristics of infertile women could predict any type of endometriosis and also severe ones .