Endometriosis and associated symptoms among Nigerian women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of endometriosis and identify associated symptoms among Nigerian women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a center in Ibadan, Nigeria, between October 2008 and December 2010. All women aged 18-45 years scheduled for their first diagnostic laparoscopy for gynecologic indications were enrolled. Participants completed a previously validated self-administered questionnaire. Endometriosis was diagnosed on the basis of visual evidence.


RESULTS
Among 239 women analyzed, 115 (48.1%) had endometriotic lesions. Endometriosis was more common among women reporting dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain than among those not reporting these symptoms (20/28 [71.4%] vs 95/211 [45.0%]; P=0.009). Women who reported dysmenorrhea were significantly more likely to have endometriosis than were those without dysmenorrhea (90/171 [52.6%] vs 25/68 [36.8%]; P=0.027). The risk of endometriosis was not significantly increased in women with one pain symptom (odds ratio [OR]1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-4.27), but was significantly increased in women with two (OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.13-6.52) or three (OR 4.87; 95% CI 1.88-12.82) pain symptoms (χ(2)trend=15.5; P<0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression model, only pain other than dysmenorrhea or dyspareunia independently predicted endometriosis (P=0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Endometriosis is fairly common among Nigerian women. Efforts to increase the awareness of endometriosis among the public, researchers, and clinicians are needed.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Electronic address: fawoleo@yahoo.co.uk.
Adeniran O
AO
Fawole
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Folasade A
FA
Bello
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Olayinka
O
Ogunbode
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Akin-Tunde A
AT
Odukogbe
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Gerald C
GC
Nkwocha
Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Kelechi E
KE
Nnoaham
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Krina T
KT
Zondervan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Adesina
A
Akintan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Rukiyat A
RA
Abdus-Salam
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Michael A
MA
Okunlola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Africa; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Laparoscopy; Pelvic pain