Demographic Correlates of Endometriosis Diagnosis Among United States Women Aged 15-50

Abstract

To compare demographic characteristics for women with and without a diagnosis of endometriosis. Data were collected from the National Survey of Family Growth - a publicly available survey designed and administered by the Centers for Disease Control, which uses a nationally-representative sample of the United States population. Univariate data were reported as survey-weighted percentages and means, and were analyzed using chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression. Analyses accounted for complex survey design. United States PARTICIPANTS: Interviews were conducted with 6,141 female respondents, aged 15-50, between 2017 and 2019. Data were collected through in-person interviews. Nationally, 5.7% reported a diagnosis of endometriosis (95% CI 4.6-6.9%). Those with endometriosis were older, with a mean age of 39 (95% CI 38.1-39.9), compared to 31.7 (95% CI 31.2-32.2) among those without (p < 0.0005). Endometriosis diagnosis was significantly associated with race. Compared to non-Hispanic White women, Hispanic women had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.37 (95% CI 0.21-0.65) for diagnosis of endometriosis, and non-Hispanic Black women had an aOR of 0.54 (95% CI 0.35-0.84). We also observed a difference in diagnosis by health insurance: compared to those with private insurance or Medi-Gap coverage, those with Medicare or military insurance had an aOR for endometriosis diagnosis of 2.49 (95% CI 1.36-4.55). Finally, compared to those with less than a high school education, those who had completed high school or greater had an aOR for endometriosis diagnosis of 2.84 (95% CI 1.15-6.99). These disparities in endometriosis diagnosis suggest that intersecting barriers may preclude certain groups from accessing timely endometriosis diagnosis and management. Further studies are warranted to explore these hypothesis-generating data, and to identify and address specific barriers to equitable endometriosis diagnosis and management.