Women's Health - Endometriosis -

Risk factors

About five million women in the United States have endometriosis. This makes it one of the most common health problems for women. In general, women with endometriosis:

Get their monthly period
Are 27 years old on average
Have symptoms for two to five years before finding out they have the disease

Women who have gone through menopause (when a woman stops having her period) rarely still have symptoms.

You are more likely to develop endometriosis if you:

Began getting your period at an early age
Have heavy periods
Have periods that last more than seven days
Have a short monthly cycle (27 days or less)
Have a close relative (mother, aunt, sister) with endometriosis

Some studies suggest that you may lower your chances of developing endometriosis if you exercise regularly and avoid alcohol and caffeine.