A recent study reviewed health records of more than 54,000 people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and found higher rates of many gynecologic and pregnancy‑related conditions in people with EDS compared to those without it. These included pelvic pain, heavy or irregular periods, endometriosis, and fibroids. During pregnancy, people with EDS were also found to be at increased risk of high blood pressure, pregnancy loss, early water breaking, and Cesarean birth.
The study also highlighted differences across racial and ethnic groups as well as types of EDS. Black people with EDS experienced higher rates of fibroids and related conditions compared with White participants. Hispanic people with EDS experienced higher rates of heavy, frequent, or irregular periods compared with White people.
This research helps confirm what many patients and several other population studies have long reported and highlights the need for more informed, personalized care.
It is important to note that participants were classified using ICD codes in their health records, and most were categorized as having unspecified EDS. As a result, differences between types may not be fully reflected.
Our Female Health Summit on March 7, 2026, will explore these topics further, including periods, menopause, pregnancy, pelvic pain, and more. You can also find video resources on our YouTube channel, and further resources linked below.
You can read the full research article here.
Authors: Marisa R. Imbroane, BSc, Hanna Kim, MD, Cydni Akesson, MD, and Elliott G. Richards, MD, PhD.
https://doi.org/10.1177/15409996261418483
Resources
- ICD codes for EDS and HSD
- International Guidelines for Pregnancy and Childbearing with hEDS and HSD
- Pregnancy and Delivery Outcomes in Vascular Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome
Scroll below for the latest update from the study and key findings.
