Endometriosis - How common is it?

Endometriosis is very common.

It's hard to give precise figures because lots of women with endometriosis have no symptoms, so it's never diagnosed. Also, doctors can only find endometriosis by doing a laparoscopy. And you'll probably only have this test if your endometriosis is very painful or you are having problems getting pregnant.

This is what we know from the research.

Between 2 and 22 percent of women may have endometriosis without getting any symptoms.[5] [2] [6] [1] [7] These figures are guesses based on the number of women whose disease is discovered by accident during surgery.
Between 40 and 60 percent of women with painful periods have endometriosis.[2] [3] [4]
Between 20 and 30 percent of women who go for infertility treatment have endometriosis.[2] [3] [4]

References

Eskenazi B, Warner ML. Epidemiology of endometriosis. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 1997; 24: 235-258.
Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell'Endometriosi. Prevalence and anatomical distribution of endometriosis in women with selected gynaecological conditions: results from a multicentric Italian study. Human Reproduction. 1994; 9: 1158-1162.
Ajossa S, Mais V, Guerriero S, et al. The prevalence of endometriosis in premenopausal women undergoing gynecological surgery. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994; 21: 195-197.
Waller KG, Lindsay P, Curtis P, et al. The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertile partners. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 1993; 48: 135-139.
Mahmood TA, Templeton A. Prevalence and genesis of endometriosis. Human Reproduction. 1991; 6: 544-549.
Moen MH, Schei B. Epidemiology of endometriosis in a Norwegian county. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1997; 76: 559-562.
Missmer SA, Harkison SE, Spielgelman D, et al. Incidence of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis by demographic anthropometric and lifestyle factors. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2004; 160: 784.

This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.