- You are here:
- Home
- Health information
- Health in the news
- 2011
- Does endometriosis cause inflammatory bowel disease?
Does endometriosis cause inflammatory bowel disease?
21 December 2011
Actions
Rate this page
Need more information?
Women who have endometriosis are more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study published in the journal Gut.
Researchers looked at the hospital register of over 35,000 Danish women who had been diagnosed with endometriosis. They found that 320 of the women went on to develop IBD – 228 women developed ulcerative colitis and 92 women developed Crohn’s disease. Comparing this to estimates of women developing IBD in the general Danish population, the researchers calculated that women diagnosed with endometriosis were 50 percent more likely to also be diagnosed with IBD, even up to 20 years later.
The researchers suggest that both endometriosis and IBD may share similar disease characteristics that affect the immune system. Essentially, they are both autoimmune diseases, which causes the body to attack its own cells.
Dr Kim Glass, Lead Physician, Bupa Health and Wellbeing UK, commented: “This study attempts to understand if there is a link between endometriosis and IBD, but the results are inconclusive. There are many factors, such as family history, that may contribute to IBD that the study didn’t take into account and therefore can’t confirm any link between the two conditions.
“Also, it’s unclear exactly what the cause of IBD is in this study; is it a result of treatment for endometriosis, for example taking the oral contraceptive pill, or painkillers such as ibuprofen? Or, is it simply because the women were undergoing tests and check-ups for endometriosis and IBD was incidentally found?
“In light of these limitations, if you have or develop endometriosis, don’t worry – no link has been proven with IBD. If you have any concerns about endometriosis or IBD, talk to your GP.”
The study looked at the hospital register of 37,661 Danish women who had been diagnosed with endometriosis between 1997 and 2007. These hospital records were monitored for an average of 13 years to see how many women went on to develop IBD. These results were then compared to the number of women expected to develop IBD among the general population in Denmark.
Key facts
- Endometriosis is a condition in which the cells that normally line the womb (uterus) grow outside the womb. This can lead to pain, swelling and scarring, which can damage your fallopian tubes or ovaries, and cause fertility problems.
- IBD is an umbrella term for conditions that cause inflammation in the bowel – it most often refers to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Crohn’s disease is inflammation of the wall of your bowel. It can affect any part of your digestive system and causes symptoms such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
- Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease where the lining of your large bowel and back passage (rectum) becomes inflamed and develops ulcers. This means that your large bowel can't absorb as much water as usual, leading to diarrhoea.
- If you have IBD, lifestyle habits such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, limiting your alcohol intake and stopping smoking can help to manage your condition.
How can we help you?
Bupa Colon Health Check
A supplementary check with a virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan to enable doctors to look for polyps and cancers in the bowel. Find out more about Bupa Colon Health Check or call 0845 600 3458 quoting ref. HFS100.
Bupa Female Health Assessments including a mammography
A full assessment of breast and gynaecological health including a mammography for women over 40. Find out more about Bupa's Female Health Assessment by calling 0845 600 3458 quoting HFS100.
Read the study
Jess T, Frisch M, Jorgensen KT, et al. Increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease in women with endometriosis: a nationwide Danish cohort study. Gut 2011; online 19 December 2011. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2011-301095
Bupa By You
