A Life Course Approach to Endometriosis

Abstract Endometriosis is one of the most common chronic gynaecological disorders. Historically, public and professional awareness of the disorder and its consequences has been poor; however, in recent times, there has been greater recognition that endometriosis is a debilitating condition affecting over 10% of women of reproductive age globally. Because the symptoms can be attributed to a range of conditions and diagnosis requires surgical confirmation, current estimates of its prevalence and incidence are likely to be underestimated, and diagnosis can take up to 10 years. There is no known cure for endometriosis, so treatment is primarily for managing the symptoms. Women with endometriosis can experience financial burden because of ongoing medical costs and loss of productivity, and they have a poorer quality of life. It is therefore important to identify risk factors for endometriosis to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment. In this chapter, we outline the risk factors for endometriosis across the life course as well as the conditions that are more prevalent among women with endometriosis.