title: Epidemiology of endometriosis: an assessment of risk factors.
abstract: Endometriosis is the third leading cause of gynecologic hospitalization in the United States. This disease impacts both a woman's physical and mental well being. This impact is often compounded by the frequent delay from the onset of symptoms to a confirmed diagnosis, which may average 6 years or more. The precise incidence and prevalence of endometriosis remains elusive for a multitude of reasons, and their measurement remains difficult to accurately assess. None the less, there are many unique and interesting components to the disease which arise when population-based analyses are performed. The goal of this paper is to investigate and summarize the existing epidemiologic parameters, primarily risk factors, associated with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, SAUSHEC, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Brandi S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Retzloff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology