Question

In case- control study, 185 women with endometriosis and 370 women without endometriosis were analyzed. The par- ticipants’ mean age was 35.21 years (SD: 7.09) in the case group and 35.28 years (SD: 7.03) in the control group. The two groups significantly were differed regarding the level of education; the percentage of participants with academic degrees in the case group was twice as high as those in the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, 32 (17.3%) women of the case group and 10 (2.7%) women of the control group were employed, again indicating a significant difference be- tween the two groups (P<0.001). However, the two groups were similar regarding the sufficiency of monthly income (P=0.698). The two groups were compared in a history of diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, seizures and asthma, and did not show any significant differences (P=0.860). The two groups were also similar regarding an autoimmune disease history, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, mul- tiple sclerosis, and lupus erythematosus (P=0.669). There were 38 (20.5%) women in the case group and 47 (12.7%) women in the control group with a history of allergies, in- dicating a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.016). Nevertheless, both groups were similar regard- ing the type of allergies (seasonal, food, drug, or skin) (P=0.946). In the case group 13 (7%) women reported a history of endometriosis in their mothers and sisters, and 7 (3.8%) women reported this in their aunts, while no woman in the control group reported a history of this disease in 
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her first-degree relatives, demonstrating a significant dif- ference between the groups (P<0.001). Only one woman in the control group had a history of smoking, and no one in either group had a history of alcohol use.

The results of the present study are consistent with the results of Samir’s group. Based on our findings, the risk of endometriosis is approximately five times higher in women who stated they had vaginal intercourse leading to orgasm during menstruation and three times higher in those with non-coital sexual activ- ity leading to orgasm during menstruation, compared to those who stated they did not. 

question

5. What are the findings of the study? Are these similar to what is already found in the field or are these new findings?

6. Did the graphs, tables and figures in the study clarify the results? Give specific examples.

Answer 1

5.

Findings of the study -

The two groups - women with endometriosis and women without endometriosis differs significantly in -

• the level of education (the percentage of participants with academic degrees for women with endometriosis was two times that of women without endometriosis
• employment (Women with endometriosis having a higher percentage of employment than women without endometriosis)
• history of allergies (Women with endometriosis having a higher percentage of participants with history of allergies than that of women without endometriosis)
• history of endometriosis in their first degree relatives ((Women with endometriosis having a higher percentage of participants with their first degree relatives having history of allergies than in the case of women without endometriosis)

The two groups - women with endometriosis and women without endometriosis were similar in -

• sufficiency of monthly income
• history of diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, seizures and asthma
• regarding an autoimmune disease history, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus erythematosus
• regarding the type of allergies (seasonal, food, drug, or skin

The findings -

the risk of endometriosis being approximately five times higher in women who stated they had vaginal intercourse leading to orgasm during menstruation

and three times higher in those with non-coital sexual activity leading to orgasm during menstruation, compared to those who stated they did not

are new findings of these study, because none of this is mentioned in the field study

6.

Conclusions that can be drawn from the study -

Since, the two groups do not differ in type of allergies but women with endometriosis have significantly more percentage of participants suffering from allergies, it can be called a significant cause for endometriosis

Another factor - history of endometriosis in their first degree relatives is controlled in itself meaning no other variable could have effected it. This indicates, a history of endometriosis in their first degree relatives to be a significant cause for endometriosis

Other than these factors, we have factors from the present study such as -

the risk of endometriosis being approximately five times higher in women who stated they had vaginal intercourse leading to orgasm during menstruation

and

three times higher in those with non-coital sexual activity leading to orgasm during menstruation, compared to those who stated they did not

Check for interaction of variables as well.

For example - women with endometriosis have more percentage of participants with an academic degree,and more percentage of participants working under an employer. This could also mean more chances of having a male partner to have intercourse with which will increase the risk of endometriosis by approximately five times as stated in the study.

Look out for other such examples as well.