Physical activity and endometriosis risk in women with infertility or pain

Abstract

Background:The potential association between endometriosis and physical activity (PA) has been suggested in several epidemiological studies.We aimed to establish whether PA influences endometriosis risk.Methods:MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched using “physical activity” OR “exercise” combined with “endometriosis,” in Medical Subject Headings and free text. We selected original articles in English, published up to April 2016, evaluating the association between endometriosis and recent or past PA (case–control or cohort studies). References of retrieved papers were reviewed. We computed summary odds ratios (ORs) of endometriosis for recent and past PA.Results:Six case–control and 3 cohort studies included 3355 cases for recent PA and 4600 cases for past PA. The summary OR for endometriosis according to PA level, calculated by the random-effect model, was 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–1.07] for any recent versus no PA. As compared to no recent PA, ORs for low and moderate/high PA were 1.00 (95% CI: 0.68–1.28) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.53–1.07), respectively.Conclusions:Though it suggests that PA may reduce the risk of endometriosis, this meta-analysis does not conclusively support the hypothesis. Whether our findings are really explained by the benefit of exercise at molecular and endocrine level, or related to confounding mechanisms, such as study design, choice of controls, and PA potentially improving pain, needs to be further investigated.

Impact of Changing Lifestyle on Endometriosis Related Pain

“…Adding to the previous , a case control study, related the risk of endometriosis to other less studied factors such as anthropometric variables (height, weight and BMI), physical exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The authors observed an inverse association between [15], also pointed that is possible that the protective effect of exercise in patients with endometriosis result from the fact that women who suffer from endometriosis do not feel well enough to practice exercise. In general, curative treatment alone is not enough to promote health.…”

“…Also [15] indicated that healthy behavior is not only physical activity, but also a construct of mental, educational, and environmental situations that enables us to live a healthy life. In the situation of endometriosis and pain, or perception of pain, social factors and environment play an important role; thus, the social and psychological support might be of further relevance.…”

“…On this basis, experimental models of endometriosis would be justified because they would permit the characterization of the time course of the disease in order to elucidate whether physical exercise is indeed able to interfere with the development of the endometriosis injury. In addition, it would be possible to determine what intensity would be necessary for physical exercise to be used in both a preventive and curative manner regarding the disease [15]. Reducing the amount of red meat in diet, upping intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and getting three or more days of moderate-to high-high intensity exercise will help in several ways and may make a difference in the severity of endometriosis related pain.…”

Effects of Endometriosis on Sleep Quality of Women: Does Life Style Factor Make a Difference?

“…Our finding suggest that high levels of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of endometriosis. Regular physical exercise could be to improve levels of immune and anti-inflammatory markers and reduced menstrual flow that could lead to decreased endometriosis risk (8).On the other hand, in women with a higher level of exercise, increased levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) can lead to reducing the level of bioavailable estrogen (8). Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been related to endometriosis risk that physical activity can reduce these.…”

“…Lifestyle factors play an important role in preventing many chronic diseases. Available evidence on the effect of lifestyle-related factors such as physical activity, nutritional status, body mass index, smoking, and SQ on endometriosis is controversial (1,(6)(7)(8)(9). Therefore, modified lifestyle recommendations in these patients have been discussed.…”