Endometriosis and race

The pelvic findings of 202 infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were compared to that of 464 infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Endometriosis was significantly more common in the women from Kuala Lumpur (51% against 22%, p less than 0.001). There was however no significant difference seen in the severity of the disease (AFS Classification, 1985). These findings confirm our clinical impression that endometriosis is more common in Asian women when compared to Caucasian women.