title: Risk profiles for endometriosis in Japanese women: results from a repeated survey of self-reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence and risk factors for endometriosis may differ according to diagnosis methodologies, such as study populations and diagnostic accuracy. We examined risk profiles in imaging-diagnosed endometriosis with and without surgical confirmation in a large population of Japanese women, as well as the differences in risk profiles of endometriosis based on history of infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires that included items on sites of endometriosis determined by imaging techniques and surgical procedure were mailed to 1025 women who self-reported endometriosis in a baseline survey of the Japan Nurses' Health Study (n = 15 019).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and ten women had surgically confirmed endometriosis (Group A), 120 had imaging-diagnosed endometriosis without a surgical procedure (Group B), and 264 had adenomyosis (Group C). A short menstrual cycle at 18-22 years of age and cigarette smoking at 30 years of age were associated with significantly increased risk of endometriosis (Group A plus Group B), while older age was associated with risk of adenomyosis (Group C). In women with a history of infertility, a short menstrual cycle was associated with a significantly increased risk of endometriosis in both Group A and Group B, but risk profiles of endometriosis were different between Group A and Group B in women without a history of infertility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with surgically confirmed endometriosis and those with imaging-diagnosed endometriosis without surgery have basically common risk profiles, but these risk profiles are different from those with adenomyosis. The presence of a history of infertility should be taken into consideration for evaluation of risk profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Technology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizunuma
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Jung-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology