Endometriosis
More red meat, more endometriosis
56%More endometriosis above two servings of red meat a day
Among premenopausal nurses followed for two decades, women eating more than two servings of red meat a day had 56% more diagnosed endometriosis than women eating a serving a week or less[1]. Unprocessed red meat carried the strongest link[1]. Diet also affects how much it hurts: in a review of dietary changes, every study reported less pain[2], though most were not randomized[2]. Endometriosis affects roughly one in ten women of reproductive age.
What the evidence says
The main points first. Every claim is tied to a source below.
More than two servings of red meat a day came with 56% more endometriosis
Across more than a million person-years in the Nurses’ Health Study II, with 3,800 cases in all, women who ate more than two servings of red meat a day had 56% higher risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis than women eating a serving a week or less[1]. Unprocessed red meat carried the strongest link[1], and the highest processed-meat intakes raised risk 20%[1].
Read full article →Every study of dietary change reported less pain
A systematic review of six studies of dietary change in endometriosis found that pain improved in every one[1]. Most were not randomized controlled trials, so the result is suggestive rather than settled[1].
Read full article →Articles
More red meat, more endometriosis
In the Nurses' Health Study II, women eating more than two servings of red meat a day had 56% more endometriosis, and studies of dietary change all reported less pain.
Read full article →
Sources
Papers and datasets. Each card keeps its caveats, including small samples and single-animal cases.
[1]American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2018 · Observational
Red meat and endometriosis — 3,800 cases
Over a million person-years in the Nurses’ Health Study II: women eating more than two servings of red meat a day had 56% higher risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis than those eating a serving a week or less. Unprocessed red meat carried the strongest link; the highest processed-meat intakes raised risk 20%.
[2]European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2022 · Review
Diet and endometriosis pain — six studies
Systematic review: every included study found that dietary change improved pain, but most were not randomized controlled trials, so the evidence is suggestive rather than settled.