A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. A woman can get endometriosis with or without the risks factors listed below. The chances of getting endomitriosis are greater in women who have many risk factors. Things that can raise the risk are:
The risk may be higher in women who:
- Had their period before age 10
- Have a cycle that is less than 28 days
- Have a period that lasts 5 to 6 days
Waiting to have children may raise the risk. Pregnancy hormones can slow or stop endometriosis.
Problems in the way the uterus was formed may cause blood flow issues. This can lead to endometriosis.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Practice bulletin no. 114: management of endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jul;116(1):223-236, reaffirmed 2018
Endometriosis. ACOG website. Available at: https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Endometriosis. Updated January 2019. Accessed November 2, 2019.
Endometriosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/endometriosis . Updated August 30, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2019.
Endometriosis. US HHS Office on Women's Health website. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis. Updated April 1, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2019.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Elliot Levine, MD
- Review Date: 09/2019
- Update Date: 11/17/2020