Endometriosis Facts and Figures

The latest facts and figures about endometriosis.

 

  • 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis.1
  • 10% of women world wide have endometriosis - that’s 176 million worldwide.1
  • The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility be as high as to 30–50%.2
  • Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.3
  • Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women, a similar number of women affected by diabetes.4
  • On average it takes 8 years from onset of symptoms to get a diagnosis.5
  • Endometriosis costs the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.6
  • The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.

 

 

References for Endometriosis Facts and Figures

1. Rogers PA, D'Hooghe TM, Fazleabas A, et al. Priorities for endometriosis research: recommendations from an international consensus workshop. Reprod Sci 2009;16(4):335-46.

2. Meuleman C, Vandenabeele B, Fieuws S, Spiessens C, Timmerman D, D'Hooghe T. High prevalence of endometriosis in infertile women with normal ovulation and normospermic partners. Fertil Steril 2009;92(1):68-74.

3. University College London Hospitals. General information about Endometriosis. Accessed February 2014.

4. Diabetes UK: Diabetes prevalence 2012. (April 2012). Diabetes affects around 2.9 million people, of which slightly less than half of this are women.

5. Endometriosis in the UK: Time for Change - APPG on Endometriosis Inquiry Report 2020

A total 2890 women with endometriosis took part in a public awareness survey for Endometriosis UK. The average time given for diagnosis time from symptoms to diagnosis was 7.5 years. A similar finding of 7.4 years was found in: 

Arruda MS, Petta CA, Abrão MS, Benetti‐Pinto CL. Time elapsed from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of endometriosis in a cohort study of Brazilian women. Hum Reprod 2003;18(4):756-759.

6. Simoens S, Dunselman G, Dirksen C, et al. The burden of endometriosis: costs and quality of life of women with endometriosis and treated in referral centres. Hum Reprod 2012;27(5):1292-9. 

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