Association between body mass index and endometriosis risk: a meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have sought to establish a relationship between a woman's current body mass index and endometriosis, but with varying results. This meta-analysis was to summarize the current epidemiological evidence.MethodsPertinent studies were identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science through November 2016. Study-specific risk estimates were combined using fixed or random effects models depending on whether significant heterogeneity was detected.ResultsA total of 11 studies (two cohort studies and nine case-control studies) was included in the meta-analysis. The pooled relative risk of endometriosis was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.84) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in current body mass index, with statistical significant heterogeneity across the studies (P <0.001, I2 =86.9%). Compared with normal weight women, the pooled relative risk for obese women was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.96), which was lower than that for overweight women (relative risk =0.97; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.05). The combined estimate was robust across subgroup and sensitivity analyses and no observed publication bias was detected.ConclusionThis study suggested that higher body mass index may be associated with lower risk of endometriosis. Further work will need to focus on elucidating underlying biologic mechanism that contribute to the initiation of endometriosis.

Use of the Endometriosis Fertility Index to Predict Natural Pregnancy after Endometriosis Surgery: A Single-Center Study

“…Because all patients were non-obese women and their mean BMI was 20.5 ± 2.2, patients with obesity affecting fertility were not included in our study. Although the relationship between endometriosis and BMI is controversial, both a recent review and a meta-analysis on the association between endometriosis and BMI in the adult population suggested that there was an inverse relationship between endometriosis and adult BMI [31,32]. Additionally, another study revealed a strong association between BMI below 18.5 and endometriosis.…”

Circulating CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cells and postoperative fertility in ovarian endometrioma

“…Moreover, the number of CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cell was a significant predictor of postoperative fertility in three different COX regression models. As shown in Table 2 , Model I was used to analyze the crude hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI); Model II was used to adjust certain reported important confounding factors in infertility of OE, including age 22 , OE size 23 and circulating anti-Mullerian hormone 24 ; model III was used to further adjust additional pathogenic and prognostic factors of OE, including body mass index, age at menarche, OE location and surgical approach 23 , 25 , 26 . Following adjustment of all these confounding factors, the immune index was associated with an apparent drop in postoperative pregnancy rate (adjusted HR = 0.127, 95% CI = 0.024–0.675, P = 0.015).…”

Age at Menarche and Oxidative Stress Markers in Women with Endometriosis

“…Its appearance is most common in women of reproductive age (6-10%), and it is associated with dysmenorrhea, chronic lower abdominal pain, dyspareunia, and infertility [1,2]. Regarding the role of menarche age on the development of endometriosis, the existing studies conclude to controversial results [3][4][5]. According to meta-analysis of case-control studies, early menarche is associated with a mild increased risk of endometriosis [3].…”