Wine, spirits, and beer intake and endometriosis risk among infertile women: Results from a case control study

Background: Alcohol consumption, a common habit worldwide, may affect estrogen levels. A relation between alcohol intake and endometriosis risk has been suggested. Materials and Methods: Case-control study including 80 infertile women with histologically confirmed endometriosis and 90 women, admitted for a wide spectrum of acute conditions unrelated to known potential risk factors for endometriosis, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Potential risk factors for endometriosis were analyzed using unconditional multiple logistic regression, fitted by the method of maximum likelihood. Results:Women with endometriosis were more educated and leaner. They also performed physical exercise during adolescence. The estimated odds ratios (ORs), in comparison with women reporting no alcohol intake, were 1.45 (95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.76-2.78) for alcohol in general, 1.48 (95% CI 0.76-2.87) for women who drank wine, 1.29 (95% CI 0.65-2.58) for beer, and 1.30 (95% CI 0.56-3.03) for spirits. These findings were confirmed in strata of education, BMI, and leisure physical exercise during adolescence. Conclusions: This analysis, although base on limited number of subjects, may offer some information about the suggested relation between endometriosis and alcohol intake.