Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of endometriosis-a nationwide cohort study

Is childhood adversity associated with the subsequent diagnosis of endometriosis?

Childhood adversities, including parental substance abuse, parental intellectual disability, parental psychiatric disorder, having a teenage parent, child welfare intervention, parental separation, residential instability, receiving public assistance, exposure to violence, and parental exposure to violence were linked to a higher risk of endometriosis, and the risk increased with increasing number of adversities.

The etiology of endometriosis is still not fully explained and there is a need for identification and greater understanding of risk factors. A few studies have previously demonstrated an association between self-reported childhood abuse and an increased risk of endometriosis.

This prospective cohort study included all women born in Sweden from 1974 to 2001 using data from a linkage of several national registers. Women who died, emigrated, or received an endometriosis diagnosis before age 15 years and women who were adopted were excluded, leaving 1 316 946 women in the analytical sample. We identified 24 311 women with endometriosis based on ICD-codes registered by a health care professional. Childhood adversities were identified through a variety of different registers. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios between experiencing adversities and subsequent endometriosis diagnosis.

All the examined adversities, except familial death, were associated with an increased risk of later endometriosis diagnosis. Among the adversities associated with endometriosis risk, the strongest association observed was for exposure to violence (HR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.89-2.99) and the weakest association observed was for having a teenage parent (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.13-1.27). Having experienced any adversity was significantly associated with an increased risk for endometriosis diagnosis (HR = 1.20 95% CI 1.17-1.24) and the risk increased with increasing number of adversities, with an up to 60% increase in risk among those who had five or more adversities (HR = 1.61 1.37-1.88). Adjustment for covariates did not substantially influence the results.

Since endometriosis is widely underdiagnosed there might be many false negatives in the sample, which may introduce bias if differential.

The results of our study suggest that early life adversity is associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with endometriosis. This finding could help guide further etiological research. It also strengthens the already large amount of evidence showing that childhood adversity has profound consequences for future health, and that there is a need for effective policies to protect children and support parents. Additionally, clinicians might need to be aware of childhood adversity as a potential risk factor for endometriosis development, and make sure to offer a thorough gynecological evaluation in individuals who have experienced childhood adversities and present with pelvic pain or dysmenorrhea.

Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm supported this work. The funding sources had no direct involvement. K.G.-D. reports honoraria for ad hoc participation as invited speaker or expert for Organon, Bayer, Gedeon Richter, ObsEva, Addeira, Exelgyn/Nordic, Exeltis, Cirqle, and Natural Cycles. The remaining authors report no conflict of interest.

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