Endometriosis Doubles Risk Of Premature Birth

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 08 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PST

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New research published this week reveals that the common gynaecological disease, endometriosis, doubles the risk of premature birth. Endometriosis affects more than two million women in the UK1, while 60,000 babies are admitted to NHS premature baby units a year in England.

The comparative study, led by Professor David Healy of Monash University, Australia was funded by medical research charity, the Bupa Foundation. Professor Healy studied 6,750births, including those from In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) programmes, to find that regardless of IVF treatment, women with endometriosis are twice as likely to have a premature birth. Critically, the research can now be used to identify pregnant women with endometriosis, who are at increased risk of premature labour and premature birth, through the use of ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy.

Professor Healy commented: "This research is important for all pregnant women and is the first time that endometriosis has been so clearly associated with premature birth. Obstetricians will now be able to more readily identify and monitor mothers-to-be who are at increased risk of premature labour and premature birth. The key will be early diagnosis, especially as up to 44 percent of women show no symptoms of endometriosis."

Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, vice-chairman of the Bupa Foundation, which provided a grant of £170,000 to Professor Healy and his team, added: "This research will help to drive new gynaecological practice to significantly improve patient safety and will help thousands of women to have as safe a birth as possible."

The full findings from the Professor Healy's study are published today in the international medical journal, Fertility and Sterility. Health advice and information on endometriosis is available at: http://www.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets.

1. Source: Endometriosis UK

About the Bupa Foundation

The Bupa Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that funds medical research into the prevention, relief and cure of sickness and ill health. Since its inception in 1979, the Bupa Foundation has awarded grants in excess of £23 million, the vast majority of which go to medical research teams in NHS hospitals. Further information on the Bupa Foundation is available at http://www.bupafoundation.co.uk.

About Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is where cells like the ones found in the womb lining (endometrium) grow on organs outside the womb. Endometriosis is most common on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissues that hold the womb in place. Endometriosis can also occur on or around other organs in your pelvis, such as your bladder or bowel. In very rare cases, endometriosis can occur on organs outside the pelvis.

What causes endometriosis?

No one knows for certain what causes endometriosis or why some women get it and others do not.

Who gets endometriosis?

Endometriosis can affect any woman of childbearing age, regardless of ethnicity. It can also run in families. Women who have low fertility or very painful periods are more likely to have endometriosis. In some women, difficulty becoming pregnant is the first sign of endometriosis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of endometriosis can vary: some women have no symptoms at all, while others have severe pain. The most common symptom is pelvic pain that feels like period pain.

Other symptoms include:

- severe period pain
- back pain during menstruation
- pain during sexual intercourse
- changes to periods, such as a small loss of blood before the period is due (spotting), irregular bleeding or heavy periods
- infertility
- painful bowel movements
- difficulty becoming pregnant
- fatigue

About Bupa

Bupa is the UK market leader in health and care with a strong international presence. Established in 1947, it has around 10 million customers in over 190 countries and more than 49,000 employees. Its main interests are health insurance, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services. Bupa Travel offers a bespoke travel insurance service. Sanitas in Spain, MBF, HBA, Mutual Community in Australia and DCA Agedcare in Australia and New Zealand, IHI in Denmark and Health Dialog in the US are all part of the Bupa Group which also has centres in Hong-Kong, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Bupa is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. As a result, it can focus on its customers, helping them to live longer, healthier lives and can reinvest all of its profits to do this ��" this is the dividend that Bupa provides.

Bupa