In a controlled study of 268 Australian women with surgically confirmed moderate-to-severe endometriosis (cases) and 244 women without endometriosis (controls), researchers found that characteristics of a woman’s early menstrual cycles were associated with later development of endometriosis. Data showed those who did not start their menstrual cycle until after they turned 14 had a significantly reduced risk of later developing endometriosis.
Duration of the cycle, intensity of flow, and preferred choice of menstrual product showed no association with endometriosis.
The results are published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2009. You can read the abstract here.
