Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, affects many women and can cause severe pain and infertility. A study analyzing electronic health records of nearly 3 million women found those diagnosed with endometriosis had a 46% higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study, published in Diabetologia, found the association between endometriosis and type 2 diabetes was more pronounced in premenopausal women and those with a body mass index (BMI) below 30 kg/m2, suggesting women without obesity might face greater risk.
Women with endometriosis tissue outside the pelvic region—such as in the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal wall, or chest—had more than twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to women without endometriosis.
Researchers also evaluated whether a history of gestational diabetes affected this link among women who had given birth. They found gestational diabetes history did not modify the relationship between endometriosis and type 2 diabetes risk.
The findings suggest earlier metabolic screening could benefit certain subgroups of women with endometriosis, particularly those who are premenopausal and have lower BMI.
The research was conducted by an NIH-funded team led by Maggie Fuzak Nunziato and Dr. Anna Pollack of George Mason University, based on data collected in Utah from 1996 to 2021.