Authors: Tiringer, D., Pedrrini A.S., Gstoettner, M., Husslein H., Kuessel L., Perricos A., Wenzl R.
Publication: BMC Women’s Health (2022) 22:538-545.
Synopsis:
The negative impacts of endometriosis on quality of life are well known. However, the impact of surgery on the quality of life for women with endometriosis is not well understood. Moreover, it is not known if the type of endometriosis lesion has a role to play. In this study, women who underwent surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis completed a standardized questionnaire (EHP30) on day one after surgery and 6-10 weeks after surgery. The results demonstrated that there was a significant improvement in all five quality of life measures: 1) pain, 2) self-determination, 3) emotional health, 4) social environment, and 5) self-image. The greatest benefit was experienced by women with deep infiltrating endometriosis compared to those with peritoneal endometriosis or endometriomas without deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Take home message:
This study shows that endometriosis surgery improves all 5 measures of quality of life. However, this was not a long-term study. The benefits of surgery beyond 10 weeks were not measured; so, the study results need to be interpreted with caution. In addition, the study authors do not thoroughly describe the women in the study in terms of factors like ethnicity or socio-economic status. Therefore, it is unclear if the results can be extended to all women and across all socio-economic groups.