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Cited by 457Endometriosis Research and TreatmentGynecological conditions and treatmentsEctopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management

Can symptomatology help in the diagnosis of endometriosis? Findings from a national case–control study—Part 1

Ballard, KD, Seaman, HE, De Vries, CS, Wright, JT·2008·BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
DOI 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01878.x
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Abstract

Objective To determine the value of patient‐reported symptoms in diagnosing endometriosis. Design A national case–control study. Setting Data from the UK General Practice Research Database for years 1992–2001. Sample A total of 5540 women aged 15–55 years, diagnosed with endometriosis, each matched to four controls without endometriosis. Methods Data were analysed to determine whether specific symptoms were highly indicative of endometriosis. Odds ratios for these symptoms were derived by conditional logistic regression analysis. Main outcome measures Symptoms associated with endometriosis. Results The prevalence of diagnosed endometriosis was 1.5%. A greater proportion of women with endometriosis had abdominopelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea or menorrhagia (73%) compared with controls (20%). Compared with controls, women with endometriosis had increased risks of abdominopelvic pain (OR 5.2 [95% CI: 4.7–5.7]), dysmenorrhoea (OR 8.1 [95% CI: 7.2–9.3]), menorrhagia (OR 4.0 [95% CI: 3.5–4.5]), subfertility (OR 8.2 [95% CI: 6.9–9.9]), dyspareunia and/or postcoital bleeding (OR 6.8 [95% CI: 5.7–8.2]), and ovarian cysts (OR 7.3 [95% CI: 5.7–9.4]), and of being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (OR 1.6 [95% CI: 1.3–1.8]) or pelvic inflammatory disease (OR 3.0 [95% CI: 2.5–3.6]). Women with endometriosis were also found to consult the doctor more frequently than the controls and were twice as likely to have time off work. Conclusions Specific symptoms and frequent medical consultation are associated with endometriosis and appear useful in the diagnosis. Endometriosis may coexist with or be misdiagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease or IBS.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01878.x

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  • The prevalence estimates in our study are similar to findings from two UK studies that estimated the prevalence of endometriosis at 1.4% and 1.5%.

    “The prevalence estimates in our study are similar to findings from two UK studies, a community-based study 22 and a population-based study, 23 that estimated the prevalence of endometriosis at 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively.”

    From Risk of cardiovascular outcomes among women with endometriosis in the United Kingdom: a retrospective matched cohort study (2021) · cites this paper as [23]

  • The incidence estimates from our study align with two UK-based population studies that estimated the incidence of endometriosis at 0.97 per 1000 person-years among women aged 15-55 years and 1.46 per 1000 person-years among women aged 12-54 years.

    “The incidence estimates from our study align with two UK-based population studies that estimated the incidence of endometriosis at 0.97 per 1000 personyears among women aged 15 -55 years, 23 and 1.46 per 1000 person-years among women aged 12 -54 years. 24”

    From Risk of cardiovascular outcomes among women with endometriosis in the United Kingdom: a retrospective matched cohort study (2021) · cites this paper as [23]

  • In previous observational studies that used surgically confirmed endometriosis as the case definition, the inclusion of non-surgically confirmed endometriosis cases in sensitivity analyses, or in stratified analyses, did not lead to changes in the observed effect estimates.

    “Third, in previous observational studies that used surgically confirmed endometriosis as the case definition, the inclusion of non-surgically confirmed endometriosis cases in sensitivity analyses, 29 or in stratified analyses, 23 did not lead to changes in the observed effect estimates.”

    From Risk of cardiovascular outcomes among women with endometriosis in the United Kingdom: a retrospective matched cohort study (2021) · cites this paper as [23]

  • Women with endometriosis are at increased risk of abdominopelvic chronic pain, dysmenorrhea and deep dyspareunia compared to controls without the disease.

    “Women with endometriosis are at increased risk of abdominopelvic chronic pain, dysmenorrhea and deep dyspareunia compared to controls without the disease [3].”

    From Oral and depot progestin therapy for endometriosis: towards a personalized medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Ballard, K., Seaman, H., De Vries, C., & Wright, J.
Affiliations
University of Surrey (GB)
Corresponding author
Ballard, KD
Venue
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-09-15
Volume
115
Issue
11
Pages
1382-1391
ISSN
  • 0306-5456 (ISSN-L)
  • 1470-0328
  • 1471-0528
DOI
10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01878.x
OpenAlex
W2152861053
Cited by
457
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 15
FWCI
7.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
  • Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Bupa Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gynecological conditions and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
Keywords
endometriosis, patient-reported symptoms, diagnostic accuracy, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, subfertility, dyspareunia, postcoital bleeding, ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, misdiagnosis, time off work
MeSH terms
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Adolescent, Adult, Dysmenorrhea, Dyspareunia, Endometriosis, Family Practice, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female, Menorrhagia, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Young Adult

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