Hormonal imbalance in umbilical vein cord blood of pregnant women with endometriosis: a propensity score-matched analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pregnancy involves a fine-tuned hormonal interplay between the fetus, placenta, and mother, which shapes long-term developmental outcomes. Endometriosis has been hypothesized to originate in utero due to altered fetal exposure to sex steroids. This study investigates differences in umbilical cord estradiol and androgen levels in female fetuses born to women with and without endometriosis, exploring a potential role of altered in utero hormone exposure in the intergenerational transmission of endometriosis risk.

Methods

This is a case-control study nested within a cohort of women delivering singleton females at our institution between June 2022 and June 2023. Cases were women with endometriosis (diagnosed via imaging or surgery before pregnancy) and controls were w

SUBMITTER: Salmeri N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12648777 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature