Effects of Endometriosis Symptoms on Women's Overall Health and Well-Being

Sep 26, 2024
Effects of Endometriosis Symptoms on Women's Overall Health and Well-Being

Negative Impact of Endometriosis Symptoms on Women’s Physical, Social, and Psychological Health

Key Points

Highlights:

  • Women with endometriosis should undergo personalized assessments to identify their unique symptom experiences

Importance:

  • Women with endometriosis should be carefully assessed to identify the symptoms that most significantly affect them, enabling tailored strategies to enhance their quality of life.

What’s done here?

  • This international, cross-sectional study using two online surveys atudy aimed to identify the most severe symptom affecting quality of life in women with endometriosis.
  • In Survey 1, participants listed symptoms experienced in the past 3 months., symptoms were grouped into the top 20 most common and impactful.
  • Survey 2 included these top 20 symptoms and any reported by at least5 participants if over 50% labeled it as the “most impactful symptom.”
  • Participants reviewed the list and selected their experienced symptoms, identifying one as the “most impactful.”

Key results:

  • A total of 195 valid responses were collected from Survey 1. Survey 2 received 983 valid responses.
  • Most participants had a surgically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, 56% had undergone only one endometriosis-related surgery.
  • Survey 1 identified 118 different symptom categories and 275 symptom descriptions.
  • Almost all participants reported at least one pain-related symptom.
  • The most commonly experienced symptoms were abdominal pain (93%), bloating (92%), and fatigue (90%).
  • The most impactful symptoms were pelvic pain (20%), abdominal pain (15%), and cramps (7%).
  • Infertility (99.8/100), irregular menstrual cycles (95.3/100), and constipation (92/100) had the highest impact scores.

Lay Summary

Endometriosis significantly affects women's quality of life. Many women face daily challenges due to pelvic pain, which can lead them to miss work or school and withdraw from social activities. It's crucial to assess and manage the symptoms associated with endometriosis to avoid these serious consequences. However, symptoms can vary widely among individuals.

A group of Australian researchers led by Mitchell et al. published a study titled “The Most Impactful Endometriosis Symptom” in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. Their goal was to find out which symptoms have the greatest effect on women’s lives. They conducted two online surveys to identify the most severe symptoms among women over 18 who either had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis or were suspected to have it.

Almost all participants reported experiencing pain, with abdominal pain, bloating, and fatigue being the most common symptoms. The symptoms that had the most significant impact were pelvic pain, abdominal pain, and cramps. Additionally, infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and constipation received the highest impact scores.

The researchers noted, “The variability in responses emphasizes the potential need for a personalized approach to capture these diverse symptom experiences.”

Research Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39041353/

endometriosis impact symptoms questionnaire survey

DISCLAIMER

EndoNews highlights the latest peer-reviewed scientific research and medical literature that focuses on endometriosis. We are unbiased in our summaries of recently-published endometriosis research. EndoNews does not provide medical advice or opinions on the best form of treatment. We highly stress the importance of not using EndoNews as a substitute for seeking an experienced physician.

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