Matalliotakis, I M, Cakmak, H, Ziogos, M D E et al. · Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · 2010 · DOI
This study looked at whether Lyme disease (an infection from tick bites) appears more often in women with endometriosis (a painful condition affecting the uterus). Researchers reviewed medical records from 605 women over 6 years and found that 3 women had both endometriosis and Lyme disease. The study suggests that women with endometriosis may be more likely to develop autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including Lyme disease.
Many ME/CFS patients report post-infectious symptoms and potential Lyme disease exposure, and some experience comorbid endometriosis. This study highlights that certain chronic conditions may increase vulnerability to infections or autoimmune complications, which could help clinicians recognize overlapping presentations in women with ME/CFS and endometriosis.
This study does not establish causation between endometriosis and Lyme disease—only association in three rare cases. The findings cannot be generalized to the broader ME/CFS population, as the study focuses specifically on endometriosis and Lyme disease, not ME/CFS. The low prevalence (0.8%) makes it unclear whether this represents a true biological link or a chance co-occurrence.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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