Meta-analysis shows BPA exposure linked to higher endometriosis risk in 2,488 participants
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Key Takeaway
Note that BPA exposure is associated with increased endometriosis risk in observational data.
This publication is a meta-analysis reviewing the association between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and the risk of endometriosis. The analysis pooled data from a total of 2,488 participants to evaluate this relationship. The authors did not report specific details regarding the study setting or individual population characteristics. The primary outcome assessed was the risk of developing endometriosis relative to BPA exposure levels.
The analysis reported a statistically significant increase in endometriosis risk associated with BPA exposure. The pooled effect size was an odds ratio of 1.36. The 95% confidence interval for this estimate ranged from 1.13 to 1.63. The p-value for this association was 0.008. No specific adverse events, tolerability data, or discontinuation rates were reported in the source material.
The authors note that the evidence comes from observational sources rather than randomized trials. Consequently, causal language is avoided. The study does not report specific limitations beyond the observational design. Clinicians should interpret these findings as an association rather than proof of causation. Practice relevance is limited by the lack of reported population details and safety data.
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View Original Abstract ↓
Recent studies have disputed the association between bisphenol A (BPA) and endometriosis. This updated meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of BPA exposure on endometriosis.
This study evaluated BPA exposure and endometriosis risk, analyzing studies from Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases (CNKI, CBM, Wanfang, VIP) through August 2025. Methodological quality was assessed via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Tool (AHRQ). Heterogeneity was quantified using I2 statistics. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models according to heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were supplemented to validate the overall finding.
Seven studies comprising 2,488 participants were included in quantitative synthesis. The meta-analyses demonstrated that BPA exposure was associated with a statistically significant increase in endometriosis risk (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.13–1.63, p = 0.008). Additionally, subgroup analysis indicated that BPA exposure may further elevate endometriosis risk in cases with different regions, populations, and measurement methods. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the results of these meta-analyses were relatively robust. No publication bias was detected.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251019552, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420251019552).
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