Sociodemographic and menstrual profile of infertile women with endometriosis: a comparative cross-sectional analysis from a tertiary centre in Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis disproportionately affects women during their reproductive years and has been associated with various sociodemographic and menstrual factors. Understanding these associations is critical for early identification and improved public health strategies, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Data on the sociodemographic profile of endometriosis from North India remain sparse. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional comparative observational study of 60 infertile women (30 with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and 30 controls) was conducted at a tertiary care centre in Jaipur, between July 2023 and July 2025. Demographic, anthropometric, and menstrual data were collected. Chi-square, Fisher exact test, and unpaired t-test were used for analysis. Results: No significant age difference was found between cases (mean 28.01±4.78 yrs) and controls (28.73±5.13 yrs; p=0.604). Women with endometriosis were significantly more likely to belong to higher socioeconomic status (53.33% upper class vs. 26.66% in controls; p=0.043) and had significantly lower BMI (21.26±2.91 vs. 23.26±3.26 kg/m²; p=0.0147). Shorter menstrual cycle length was significantly associated with endometriosis (mean 26.97±3.91 vs. 30.13±4.66 days; p=0.0013). No significant differences in religion, literacy, or parity were observed. Conclusions: Higher socioeconomic status, lower BMI, and shorter menstrual cycle length are significantly associated with endometriosis in infertile women. These factors may serve as clinical flags to prompt earlier investigation in appropriate patient populations.