Two studies presented found a link between childhood physical or sexual abuse and reproductive disorders later in life. The first study of over 70,000 women followed for 20 years found that woman who reported sexual or physical abuse in childhood had a 13% greater risk of developing endometriosis. The second study of 131 women found that women who experience sexual abuse were 50% more likely to suffer accelerated ovarian follicle loss at midlife.
The lead researcher of the endometriosis study, Dr. Stacey Missmer, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, said that these studies are part of the growing evidence that stress and trauma affects the hormonal and central nervous center and can result in long term chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, fibroids, diabetes, and reproductive disorders.
When asked, researchers stressed that these studies do not mean that the majority of women with endometriosis or ovarian failure were abused or that the majority of abused children will develop reproductive disorders later in life. They do, however, provide evidence that extreme stress affects the whole body including reproductive health, and that that childhood and adolescence is a particularly vulnerable window for disease development.
Image credit: Howard Stanbury
My name is Anna, I was raped by my adoptive father. I have been having issues getting pregnant. My sisters all were adopted at a young age. One other sister was also raped by my adoptive father. He is not in jail and my adoptive mother knows everything. She is his public attorney and the police cannot question him, since she says he has dementia. My sisters are too scared to come forth. All of them have mental and physical abuse from our adoptive mom. Only two of us had sexual abuse. It is still happening to my sister, and there is nothing I can do about it. At this moment they all have endometriosis and can not get pregnant. I have a large cyst that I haven’t been able to go to the doctor for due to not having the expenses. If anyone has any suggestions or ways to help please let me know.
Anna,
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry for the pain and struggle you have endured. I hope you are taking care of yourself and getting help from experienced professionals to heal both physically and emotionally. You deserve the gift of health!
This resource might help you find a therapist with experience with issues related to adoption and trauma: https://creatingafamily.mystagingwebsite.com/adoption/resources/finding-adoption-therapist/. You should also seek the medical care of a reproductive endocrinologist or clinic specializing in endometriosis. This podcast might help you understand more: https://creatingafamily.mystagingwebsite.com/infertility-category/infertility-radio-shows/endometriosis-and-adenomyosis/
Thank you again for reading and reaching out. We wish you the best in your way forward.
I’ve been sexually abused multiple times In my life from 11 to 15 from different men … I couldn’t tell my parents till a few years ago I was 16 and I’m 20 atm and have some issues I get irregular periods and bad cramps and my periods won’t come for months I’ve never been to a doctor about it since I’m scared what they’ll say I don’t even know what to say to them about it and I fear that they’ll look at me odd…what should I do?
I’m so sorry for the abuse you’ve endured — no person should have to go through that. I would highly recommend that you see your family doctor and work out with them what the next steps are for taking care of yourself. It might help to bring a trusted friend, parent, or close relative so that both of you can take in the information and process it more fully. I also recommend that you reach out to a therapist, counselor or trusted clergy person to process these experiences in healthy, forward motion ways. You deserve healing in your heart, your mind, and your body.
Thanks for reaching out — I wish you healing!
I was abused by my neighbor and brother when I was 6 to 12 I never told anyone until 2017 I was in prison and my mum got cancer and was told she had a few weeks if that, I got to go out and visit her and something told me to tell her, I did n she cried and holded me so tight and said to me I new something was wrong, I went of the rails at the age of 13 getting into fights ect in and out of prison and now suffer from PTSD and servere depression, sadly 1 week after visiting my mom she passed away ???????? from 2018 when I was released from prison I met my partner absolutely amazing I’ve settled down and trying for a baby but I’ve had no luck I’m 33 n have no children.. now I’m angry at my self thinking I’m a failure as being a woman is all about reproducing, I’m scared to go doctors incase he finds something very wrong ???? other than pregnant issues… I don’t know what to do I have a regular period every month but do you think this is caused by being sexually abused? Writing this down has really helped me and to know I’m not alone. Thank you. ????????
Julie,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your story. I’m sorry for the struggles you’ve endured. I wonder, have you sought a therapist or counselor to help you unpack some of the expectations and frustrations you have about not conceiving? It might be helpful to you and your partner to work through some of those issues. And I cannot answer medical questions about why you aren’t conceiving — I’m not a medical professional. However, I do recommend that you speak with your doctors and ask them for help navigating the concerns you have.
Thanks again and best to you!
I was sexually abused for two years by my sisters husband. From the age of 8 years old to 10 years old until my sister found out, she never left him therefore he was in my life until 4 months ago he died I have dealt with infertility for 8 years of marriage and have not been able to conceive and had laperoscopy surgery for endometriosis removal, I was diagnosed with endometriosis at surgery because its not viewable in ultrasound etc. I went through IVF with my husband and was not successful last year. I know I went though alot of stress and trauma and I have chronic stress I am always stressed even if I don’t have a reason to stress about. I am going to turn 30 years old in 2 months and I domt know what else I can do to get pregnant as its something me and my husband desire. I confessed to him 3 weeks ago about my child abuse to him and he has suggested we seek help to see all this has affected my fertility. This article is helpful and I was happy to see that I am not the only one having fertility and endometriosis problems after being sexually abused.
Evy,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. I am so sorry for all the pain and suffering you have endured at the hands of someone who should have been a protector and guardian of your childhood. I think your husband’s idea to seek help for how this has impacted your fertility is a great one. I would add, it might be a great time for the two of you to seek help for how the abuse impacted your heart and mind. If you build a family together, it will be of great benefit to your relationship and to your ability to parent to seek healing and healthy coping skills for the hurts that you sustained as a child. Maybe you’ve already begun that self-work — if so that is GREAT!
Thank you again, for sharing your experiences. We wish you the very best moving forward.
As a Survivor of childhood molestation I wasn’t able to have children I thought it was because of endometriosis until I had an atopic pregnancy An had an operation And they said I didn’t have any Endometriosis That what they saw was what happens when when a young child gets molested I never ask the Doctor what they saw . and never told them I was molested many many times from 4-14.. I’m wondering what they saw.
I’m so sorry for your painful experiences and for your losses. Thank you for sharing your story.
I know i was sexually abused as a child…i hve moved on forgave myself n the person who did it…who has passed on last year aswell…Iam 27 now n hve been trying to conceive since i was 24 to say…n its not happening..there’s this thing that that triggers tht it cud be my past history… I dnt know..but um hopeful for a miracle…
We are so sorry to hear of the abuse you suffered as a child. Have you spoken to your medical professionals about this information as it relates to your efforts to get pregnant? We are not medical professionals and therefore cannot offer medical advice, beyond to say that finding a reproductive specialist whom you can trust is a really good idea. Best wishes to you and thanks for following our resources.
The title is one of the worst myths I’ve read, except for one in India. There is NO correlation between sexual abuse and Endometriosis, which is GENETIC. HOX Genes 10 and 11 are abhorrent in women with endometriosis. Additionally, women develop the genetic “birth defect” likely in early pregnancy with the mother. This is found in autopsies Endometrial stromal cells have been found in newborns and women in their 70’s. smh..
You are an idiot Michelle because I was severely abused have experienced stress and anxiety every day of my life as a result of being physically and emotionallytortured which changed my hormones-OBVIOUSLY-being in fight r flight all the tie and now I am suffering endometriosis and NO ONE else IN THe FAMILY HAS IT. I was the only one abused. So take your opinion and shove it!
You tell him sister!!! The same thing happened to me as well. People that have not suffered this abuse do not get an opinion. Prayers to you in your healing.
I, too, experienced a summer of sexual abuse by my paternal grandfather. I was a very obedient child so, as instructed by him, I told no one. The next year when my parents said I would again be going there for the summer, I burst out crying. When they asked why I was crying, I lied saying “There’s no one to play with.” As a result, my cousin, who went with me, and I had a great summer. And I wonder if the abuse caused my infertility. I am approaching age 78.
Patricia,
I’m so very sorry for the pain of the abuse you endured as a child. I’m also grieved for your struggle through infertility. Thank you for sharing your experiences here. As Dawn mentioned in response to another comment, and as we are learning now about Adverse Childhood Events (ACE’s), traumatic events in childhood absolutely can impact health outcomes in later life. It stands to reason that if abuse can increase risk for health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fibroids, it could impact fertility. I’m so very sorry for those traumas you experienced.
Yeah dude you shouldn’t be on here to try invalidate people who survived trauma, im the only one in my family to have been sexually assaulted and developed endometriosis. If you’re body is stressed your sex drive shuts down Google that or watch explained. So if you grow up with a child molester in your home and you never get a break from the stress or abuse your reproductive system stays shut down for a very long time thus creating a negative feed back loop of ptsd, anxiety and reproductive problems don’t forget the depression too. So Michelle this has been the most valuable information for me today now I can use this in my defense against the predator I grew up around
Scarlet,
Thanks for reading and sharing your experiences. Yes, “extreme stress affects the whole body including reproductive health, and that that childhood and adolescence is a particularly vulnerable window for disease development.” It makes sense in context of the studies of ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) too. We hope you use this information to pursue healing and tools to manage the impacts you are facing. You deserve it — your body deserves it!
since the word “abhorrent” means hateful, and the one you’re reaching for is obviously “aberrant”, i would have to conclude that you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve known for years that my psycho family did this to me. They abused the bejesus out of me, then i got endometriosis and infertility. When i asked other sexual abuse survivors, i found the same thing. Even reading about people no longer with us who suffered this way (marilyn monroe for one) reinforced my theory as correct.
She was chronically abused sexually and suffered terribly with endometriosis and infertility. I only wonder why people are just reaching these conclusions now — i’ve been onto this tragedy and the unfortunate cause and effect for 15 yrs or more. What a sick world. People need to start valuing women and girls more. People keep getting away with this evil because it’s taken “lightly” by society….”boys will be boys, etc” It ruins lives, puts people in hospitals and causes untold suffering and death. These perps need to start getting 25 to life sentences — then maybe things will improve. Actually, the perps should be executed…… the victims have to live with a life sentence, so the soul-murderers should pay as heavily. God help this disgusting world. Watch your children, believe in them, stand up for them, protect them. [Edited slightly to remove foul language.]
Well I have to disagree with because I was so young and a victim of repeated sexual abuse . I have a tilted uterus and my pelvic bone is off a few inches out . Due to the abuse I miscarried so many times . It was hard for my to carry and it broke my heart and no one in my family has it but me and my sister that went through the same thing .
Surprise, a study conducted in Israel has found a link between childhood sexual abuse & infertility/ other reproductive issues. Read the book “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk. It is likely that these genes are present and turned on after sexual trauma during childhood.
Dawn, Thank you for sharing this – I have also posted in the Women’s Mental Health and Women’s Sexual Health groups, respectively on Linkedin and shared via facebook and twitter.
Thanks Kim.
Thank you Dawn I hope that with no contact with my abusers the stress in my life will abate and I will heal.
Wow, this is interesting.
ICLW #74 Dragondreamer’s Lair
Wow. That’s an amazing link. I wonder if it’s just correlation, like lower incomes may have higher sexual abuse patterns and poorer health care leading to endo. Interesting stuff though!
Weaslewam, I believe they controlled for socio economic factors.
no. I had a comfy, middle class upbringing, i don’t come from an underprivileged ghetto.
It would seem to be a “mechanical” problem…… Unfortunatey, some creep is messing with an area that should never be messed with, i.e. forcing himself on a child. Tissue is injured, foreign objects forced upwards, etc…. it follows that inflammation would be pushed up and out through the fallopian tubes, causing the endometriosis; even the endometrial lining itself has been described as being forcibly pushed into an abnormal location (abdomen, ovaries, etc). I cant see the need for some elaborate socio-economic theory when this explanation seems to make sense.
I believe you are RIGHT ON!!!
I hope whatever might be published about this is done in context, or it’s going to reinforce those “maybe if you just relax” cliches. It could be interpreted as infertily as a state of mind (reaction to a life event) rather than an actual medical condition. Or this there something to “relaxing,” or better, seeking therapy to cope with physiological stress? Did the study compare possible infertility due to child abuse to other stressful life events, like war, natural catastrophies, etc? This raises a lot of questions for me!
anon, funny you should bring this up. I spoke with the lead researcher, Dr. Stacey Missmer of Harvard, at length about just that point. She also was quite concerned that the results not be interpreted as further fuel for the “it’s all in your head” camp. Her point is that ALL catastrophic life events affect all parts of our bodies and these impacts can last a lifetime. Childhood abuse also increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fibroids, etc.
As a survivor, who learned at the age of 43 of my childhood sexual abuse due to lifting amnesia, I’d like to comment that Dawn is right. My BODY tried to tell me the truth my whole life. It was my mind that WASN’T getting it. I trust my body now. It’s finally letting me process the truth and heal, now that it knows that I’m safe and stable. I’m lucky. I’ve never been able to conceive, among a HOST of other “unexplained” and strange bodily issues, including ‘childhood epilepsy’ that wasn’t epilepsy at all, as it turns out. The whole thing to takeaway from this is that – it’s NOT in our heads at all. It’s in our bodies. The trauma that women like me endured as little girls lives in our bodies and slowly cripples us over our lifetimes. Whether our heads know it or not. Those of us who are lucky enough to figure this out go through hell to get here. Read The Body Keeps the Score. I bought it 4 years ago before I knew what happened to me because my body knew I’d need it to understand what’s happening to me.
Thank you for sharing your story and your experiences. We are big fans of The Body Keeps Score as well. It’s wonderful to read that you are learning to heal and create safety for yourself. We wish you the best!
Stopping by from ICLW!! Happy commenting!
It’s amazing you can keep up with the blogs while at the annual meeting!