What Is Endometriosis?
3. Statistics
In the United States, endometriosis is estimated to occur in 6% to 10% of women with 4 in 1,000 hospitalized annually. However, the exact incidence is unknown as definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy or visualization via surgery. Since it is an estrogen dependent disease, it generally affects women in the reproductive age group. Among infertile women, endometriosis has a prevalence of 20% to 50% while the numbers increase to 71% to 87% among women with chronic pelvic pain.
In a study involving adolescent females that have chronic pelvic pain, 45% of the study participants were diagnosed with endometriosis after laparoscopy. In the same study, 12% were 11 to 13 years old while 45% were 20 to 21 years old. Studies have not found any differences in incidence among different ethnic or social groups.
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