Coupled torture due to endometriosis and depressive symptoms

Research indicates higher depression levels among endometriosis patients

Key Points

Highlight

• Endometriosis strongly correlates with depressive symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, and anxiety, impacting women's mental and physical well-being.

Importance

• Endometriosis detrimentally affects women's mental health, relationships, social well-being, and education, and diminishes the overall quality of life.
• Treatment challenges persist due to unclear causation.

What’s done here

• This is a review article that focuses on endometriosis’ impacts on women from many points of view.
• The main purpose is to provide insights on women's dual suffering, both mental and social; and critical comments on the present knowledge for providing future recommendations on psycho-social research.
• Various articles from sociology, psychology, and anthropology journals were reviewed through various research platforms.

Key results

• Women experiencing chronic pelvic pain reported high rates (86%) of depressive symptoms, along with somatoform concerns, sadness, infertility, and sexual dysfunction.
• Mood disorders, psychoticism, and increased anxiety in the presence of other chronic pain conditions like migraines are also noted.
• Coping with pain leads to irritability, depression, and reluctance to share experiences due to perceived disbelief in endometriosis patients.
• Strategies for managing endometriosis include dietary modifications, exercise, enhanced medical understanding, and school education to differentiate normal discomfort from concerning symptoms.

Lay Summary

Endometriosis significantly impacts various aspects of women's lives including their physical and mental health, careers, and social relationships. Physically, it causes chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia, affecting 5-10% of reproductive-age women and leading to infertility challenges and a substantial percentage of affected women experience impaired mental health. Career-wise, it decreases academic and job performance, causing an average loss of one working day. It also affects the social life of the patients by straining relationships and causing progressive isolation, particularly after the onset of chronic pelvic pain.

Chandel et al. from India conducted a literature review gathering articles from sociology, psychology, and anthropology through various research platforms, focusing on endometriosis' impact on women's mental health, social well-being, career, and physical health. The article was published in the July 2023 issue of the journal Annals of Neurosciences.

The evaluated studies revealed a strong correlation between endometriosis and depressive symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, anxiety, social withdrawal, and negative self-image. Women experiencing chronic pelvic pain reported high rates of depressive symptoms. Other associated issues included mood disorders, psychoticism, and increased anxiety in the presence of chronic pain like migraines. The authors comment that coping with pain makes women irritable, depressed, and hesitant to share experiences due to perceived disbelief. 

Regarding strategies to manage endometriosis, it is added that dietary modifications, exercise, enhanced medical understanding, and education in schools to differentiate between normal discomfort and concerning symptoms are important components. Initiatives promoting awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding menstrual abnormalities are essential. It is suggested that post-diagnosis healthcare should adopt a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach, emphasizing patient-centered care. What is more, informed diagnostic procedures, treatment management education, and support groups led by women who have overcome endometriosis can significantly assist patients.

The authors conclude by saying that implementing multifaceted strategies can alleviate symptoms, enhance mental health, and at the same time improve the quality of life for women suffering from endometriosis.

Research Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37779548/