ENDO Study: Endometriosis, Natural History and Diagnosis

ENDO研究是一项合作流行病学研究，其目标是评估接触环境化学品与可能影响妇女生殖健康的生活方式因素之间的关系。 特别关注的将是生殖活性化学物质和发展子宫内膜异位症的风险之间的关系，考虑到妇女的生活方式。 子宫内膜异位症是一种子宫内膜组织位于子宫外的疾病，可能与盆腔疼痛，月经变化和不孕有关。 大约10%的18-44岁的妇女可能受到影响，许多病例目前可能未被发现。 到目前为止，子宫内膜异位症的原因尚不清楚，越来越多的人怀疑一些受影响的妇女的环境病因。 为了回答环境和生活方式对女性妇科健康影响的问题，ENDO研究将采用手术队列设计。 居住在加州州和犹他州地理区域的18-44岁女性，接受腹腔镜检查或剖腹手术，沿着居住在参与医院和诊所服务的地理区域的女性有资格入选本研究。 参与这项研究的女性需要：1）完成一次访谈，提供有关生活方式和病史的信息; 2）完成一次人体测量评估，以测量肥胖程度; 3）提供血液和尿液样本，以测量化学物质。 接受手术的妇女将被要求允许外科医生去除脂肪，腹膜液和子宫内膜组织进行实验室分析，以帮助确定子宫内膜异位症的原因。 这项研究预计将于2010年完成。

The ENDO Study is a collaborative epidemiologic study whose goal is to assess the relation between exposure to environmental chemicals and lifestyle factors that may affect womens reproductive health. Particular focus will be on the relation between hormonally active chemicals and risk of developing endometriosis considering womens lifestyles. Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue is found outside the uterus and can be associated with pelvic pain, menstrual changes and infertility. Approximately 10% of women aged 18-44 years may be affected, and many cases may be currently undetected. To date, the cause of endometriosis is unknown and, increasingly, an environmental etiology is suspected for some affected women. To answer questions about the effect of the environment and lifestyle on womens gynecologic health, the ENDO Study will use an operative cohort design. Women aged 18-44 years residing in geographically defined areas of California and Utah who are undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy are eligible for inclusion in this study, along with women who reside in geographic areas served by participating hospitals and clinics. Participation in the study asks women to: 1) complete an interview to provide information about lifestyle and medical history; 2) complete an anthropometric assessment to measure fatness and 3) provide blood and urine samples for the measurement of chemicals. Women undergoing surgery will be asked permission for the surgeon to remove fat, peritoneal fluid and endometrial tissue for laboratory analysis to help identify the cause(s) of endometriosis. The study anticipates being completed in 2010.