title: Leisure and occupational physical activity at different ages and risk of endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cohort and case-control studies have suggested that adult physical activity (PA) may lower endometriosis risk and improve symptoms, but evidence is still controversial. To add information on leisure and occupational PA impact, if any, on endometriosis risk, we have analyzed data from a small case-control study conducted in Milan (Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety cases and 90 controls (median age 35 years, range 18-76) were compared. Endometriosis was laparoscopically diagnosed within the year before interview. Information on demographic variables, menstrual and reproductive history, occupational and recreational physical activity was collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A consistent protective effect emerged between leisure PA and endometriosis risk. For <2-4 and ≥5h/week (reference no PA), the estimated odds ratios (ORs) were, respectively: 0.36 (95% CI 0.18-0.74) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.27-2.53) as regards PA in early adolescence; 0.31 (95% CI 0.15-0.63) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.25-2.38) as regards PA in teenage years; 0.34 (95% CI 0.12-0.94) and 0.33 (95% CI 0.08-1.28) for PA in adulthood. However, no significant trend was seen according to hours spent in leisure PA. Occupational PA did not show statistical significant differences among different types or across age classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that leisure PA in early adolescence, teenage years and adulthood may, to some extent, decrease the risk of endometriosis. In the interpretation of these results, however, the role of potential biases cannot be totally ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garavaglia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: ed.ricci@libero.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiaffarino
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cioffi
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frigerio
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016272:Occupational Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Case-control study; Endometriosis; Epidemiology; Physical activity