Endometriosis and estroprogestins: the chicken or the egg causality dilemma

Fertil Steril. 2011 Jan;95(1):431-3. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.08.057.

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea as a reason to initiate estroprogestins is significantly more common in women with endometriosis than in women without the disease. This might explain the previously reported mild association between endometriosis and past use of oral contraceptives.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Contraceptives, Oral / administration & dosage
  • Contraceptives, Oral / adverse effects
  • Drug Combinations
  • Dysmenorrhea / drug therapy*
  • Dysmenorrhea / epidemiology
  • Endometriosis / drug therapy*
  • Endometriosis / epidemiology
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / administration & dosage*
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Norpregnenes / administration & dosage*
  • Norpregnenes / adverse effects
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Drug Combinations
  • Norpregnenes
  • estroprogestin
  • Ethinyl Estradiol