Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition causing chronic pain and infertility. Only limited data exist on body size during childhood and adolescence in affected women. A leaner body shape has been associated with endometriosis in adults. However, longitudinal follow-up data from birth to adulthood are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the association between body size and endometriosis from birth to age 46 years. We also performed in-depth analysis of the endometriosis subtypes.

Material and methods: This was a population-based study including 96% of the children born in Northern Finland in 1966. Endometriosis case identification was based on (a) the World Health Organization’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases code documentation from national hospital discharge registers and (b) self-reported diagnosis. A total of 348 women with endometriosis (203 in subtype analysis) and 3487 women without endometriosis were identified. Pregnancy, birth, and growth data up to adolescence were collected from welfare clinical records. Follow-up data of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 were collected at ages 14, 31, and 46 years through postal questionnaires and clinical examinations and included height, weight, and waist and hip circumference measurements. The associations between endometriosis and body size were assessed using logistic regression models.

Results: Body sizes in childhood and adolescence were comparable between women developing endometriosis and those not developing endometriosis. On average, the risk for endometriosis was 2% lower for every kilogram of weight (odds ratio [OR] 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–1.00) and 6% lower for every body mass index unit (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.99) at age 31. By age 46, a lower risk for peritoneal endometriosis was observed with greater weight (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98), weight gain from age 14 to age 46 years (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–1.00), body mass index (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98), waist circumference (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.99), and waist-hip ratio (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21–0.78).

Conclusions: This study provides further evidence of the associations between endometriosis and body size and adiposity, specifically in women with peritoneal endometriosis. The associations are evident in adulthood but not in childhood or adolescence.