Erika L. Meaddough, David L. Olive, Peggy Gallup, Michael Perlin, Harvey J. Kliman (Department of Public Health, Southern Connecticut State University, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA)
Retrograde menstruation is widely accepted as playing a role in the etiology of endometriosis. Research has demonstrated the phenomenon of menstrual fluid backward flux, the viability of endometrial tissue in menstrual discharge, and the presence of endometrial tissue in peritoneal fluid found in the pelvic cavity. There is ample epidemiological evidence as well. Endometriosis is primarily seen among women of reproductive age. In addition, there is a higher incidence of endometriosis among women with prolonged menstruation, shorter cycles, or obstructed genital outflow tracts. The identification of factors that obstruct menstrual outflow or facilitate menstrual reflux would be worthwhile, since these factors may increase the amount of endometrial ‘seeding’ which occurs during menses. Olive and Henderson found that cervical obstruction increases the likelihood of endometriosis by increasing the menstrual debris available to the pelvic cavity. There are few studies which address the possible relationship between sexual behavior during menstruation and endometriosis. Filer and Wu sought to determine if coital habits during menses are associated with increased risk for endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. While no association with pelvic inflammatory disease was revealed, they found that infertility patients who frequently or occasionally engaged in coitus during menstruation were almost twice as likely to have endometriosis than those who did not report coital behavior during menses. Filer and Wu proposed that this difference may be due to increased intrauterine pressure during orgasm, which assists in the transport of endometrial debris to an ectopic site. Darrow et al performed a study focusing on the belief that women with endometriosis typically delay childbirth. It was thought that orgasm and sexual penetration during menstruation may be contributing factors. In contrast to Filer and Wu, Darrow et al found no association between these factors and endometriosis.
The goal of the current study was to further investigate sexual behaviors and hygienic practices performed during menstruation as they relate to the development of endometriosis.
Specifically, the frequencies of sexual activity and orgasm during menstruation, tampon use, and douching, were measured to determine if these variables are associated with an increased risk for the development of endometriosis.
Recent Comments