Abstract
Adenomyosis, characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within
the myometrium, can have a substantial impact on the quality of women's lives. Despite
this, the epidemiologic research on this condition lags considerably behind that of
other noncancerous reproductive health conditions. The lack of progress and knowledge
is due in part to the challenges in designing valid epidemiologic studies, since the
diagnosis of adenomyosis historically has been limited to the examination of uterine
specimens from hysterectomy. This review describes the available data on the frequency
of this condition and the epidemiologic investigation thus far into the risk factors
for disease—highlighting the methodologic and inference challenges primarily around
study sample selection. We conclude with providing recommendations for approaches
to future epidemiologic study that capitalize on the advancements in imaging technology
to detect adenomyosis and provide a fuller picture of the occurrence and risk factors
for disease.
Keywords
adenomyosis - epidemiology - risk factors - prevalence - hysterectomy
