Endometriosis linked to adverse pregnancy outcome

Whether or not women use assisted reproductive technology (ART), women with endometriosis are about 33% more likely than women without the condition to give birth prematurely (adjusted OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.23-1.44), according to a nationwide Swedish study. They are also almost twice as likely to require cesarean delivery; 80% more likely to experience antepartal bleeding, including placental disorders; and at greater risk for preeclampsia.

In this study, which included data on more than 1.4 million births, 13,090 singleton births occurred among 8,922 women diagnosed with endometriosis.

Far more women with endometriosis used ART than did women without (11.9% vs 1.4%, respectively).

The authors of the study found no association between endometriosis and small-for-gestational-age birth or stillbirth.

Stephansson O, Kieler H, Granath F, Falconer H. Endometriosis, assisted reproduction technology, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Hum Reprod. 2009;24(9):2341-2347.