title: Risk factors for deep endometriosis: a comparison with pelvic and ovarian endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether deep endometriosis has different risk factors compared with endometriosis at other sites. In epidemiological terms, this should be the case if deep endometriosis represents a different condition than ovarian and peritoneal endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first group of cases included 181 women with a diagnosis of deep endometriosis. The second group of cases included 162 women with endometriosis at other sites. The control group included women younger than 55 years of age who were admitted for acute non-gynecological, non-hormonal, non-neoplastic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age distribution of women with cases of deep and ovarian and pelvic endometriosis was not statistically significantly different. A higher body mass index decreased the risk of both deep as well as ovarian and pelvic endometriosis: the estimated ORs for women reporting a body mass index of > or =21 vs. those reporting a body mass index of <21 were 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.8) for deep endometriosis and 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9) for pelvic and ovarian endometriosis. Parous women were at decreased risk: in comparison with nulliparae, the odds ratio for deep endometriosis was 0.1 (95% CI, 0.1-0.2) for women reporting one or more births. The corresponding value for pelvic and ovarian endometriosis was 0.1 (95% CI, 0.1-0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that deep as well as ovarian and pelvic endometriosis share similar risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Seconda Clinica Ostetrico Ginecologica, Università di Milano, Fondazione Policlinico Mangiagalli Regina Elena, Milan, Italy. parazzini@marionegri.ittug
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotsch
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanconato
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010298:Parity; D010388:Pelvis; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires