Endometriosis as a Culprit Behind Prescription Opioid Use

In a retrospective analysis, women with endometriosis used more opioids — and for longer — than women without the condition.

Pain is common in women with endometriosis, but does this symptom underlie increased use of opioids? In an industry-funded retrospective study of administrative claims from May 2000 through December 2017, U.S. investigators evaluated outcomes in some 54,000 women with endometriosis compared with 108,000 endometriosis-free controls matched for age, geographic region, race, insurance payer, and plan type (overall mean age, 38; 62% white; 52% residing in the South).

Women with endometriosis were significantly more likely to fill an opioid prescription than those in the control group (79.3% vs. 24.2%; adjusted relative risk, 2.91), to fill prescriptions for higher doses, to use opioids concomitantly with benzodiazepines (10.1% vs. 3.5%; adjusted…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Endometriosis as a Culprit Behind Prescription Opioid Use

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Reviewing Author