Endometriosis risk factor research

Recent research has identified various physiological and psychological factors associated with the risk and impact of endometriosis.

A 25-year observational study of approximately 3 million women found that endometriosis is linked to a 46 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This risk was particularly high in premenopausal women and those with extra-pelvic endometriosis. Specific variations, such as superficial peritoneal endometriosis, showed a 67 percent higher risk, while rare cases involving unusual lesion locations showed more than double the risk of women without the condition.

Further research published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that traumatic life experiences, such as physical or sexual abuse and witnessing sudden deaths, are linked to an increased risk of the disease. Data from the UK Biobank and FinnGen project indicate a genetic connection between endometriosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and childhood abuse, suggesting that trauma and genetics may independently or collectively contribute to the development of the condition.