Freckles, moles linked to reproductive disorder

March 16, 2008

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2 & objectid=10498234

4:33PM Friday March 14, 2008By Tamara McLean

SYDNEY - Women with freckles, moles and easily-burned skin are more likely to suffer from endometriosis, experts in the reproductive disorder have found.

The new research suggests the painful fertility-related condition may be genetically-linked to malignant melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer.

Some risk factors for both conditions appear to be similar, according to the study of 100,000 older French women presented at the World Congress of Endometriosis in Melbourne today.

Researchers from France and Australia analysed the lifestyle and medical history of the women and found about 4000 of them had endometriosis, a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found in abnormal parts of the body like the abdominal cavity.

"We have demonstrated that women with a higher number of moles or freckles, or a greater susceptibility to sunburn, have a higher risk of endometriosis," said researcher Marina Kvaskoff.

Skin or hair colour had no bearing on risk, she said.

"There seem to be some common genetic links between melanoma and endometriosis, but this needs to be further investigated," Ms Kvaskoff said.

More risk factors have also been revealed at the international conference, with a study by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research suggesting underweight teenagers may be more at risk of the disease than their heavier peers.

Researchers could not explain the link, but believed hormonal influences rather than dietary or exercise patterns were at play.

Endometriosis affects six per cent of women and occurs in some girls when they first start to menstruate.

Untreated it causes infertility in about 30 per cent of cases.

There is no known cause or cure for the disease, but it can be managed through surgery, pain medication or hormone treatment.

The gathering of 950 reproductive experts and advocates was told as many as one in four senior Australian schoolgirls suffer from menstrual disturbances so severe they could be early warning signs of the disease.

- AAP