Impact of endometriosis on quality of life: a pilot study
Abstract
Endometriosis affects 6-10% of women in reproductive age, 35-50% of whom experience pain, infertility or both. Mild cases are managed medically but surgery provides relief to women in pain. However, symptoms recur in 75% of cases within 2 years. We investigated the impact of endometriosis on quality of life among 65 women aged 18-60 years working at a city supermarket in Giessen, Germany. Of the 65 women, 12 had undergone surgeries, 22 had dysmenorrhoea, 24 dyspareunia and 3 were infertile. Of the 22 women with dysmenorrhoea, 10 had difficulties performing gardening, housework, sports and leisure activities. Five of these 10 women experienced social isolation, 6 professional setbacks; 6 declined efficiency at work and 3 had taken time off work. Of the 24 women with dyspareunia, 7 experienced minimal, 12 light and 5 moderate to strong pain. Only 16 of these 24 women discussed the problem with their partners. This study demonstrates that pain is a major cause of physical, psycho-social, emotional and professional or work related impairment among women with endometriosis. Because endometriosis is likely to impose emotional and financial burdens, we suggest that future studies should be extended to include interviews with family members.
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Qualitative research has documented how endometriosis affects health, work productivity, and daily activities.
“Impact on health, work productivity, and daily life activities has been already described by qualitative studies (16-20) and costs of productivity loss has been estimated (21).”
From Quantification of the impact of endometriosis symptoms on health-related quality of life and work productivity (2011) · cites this paper as [17]
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“Impact on health, work productivity, and daily life activities has been already described by qualitative studies (16-20) and costs of productivity loss has been estimated (21).”
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- Authors
- Oehmke, F., Weyand, J., Hackethal, A., Konrad, L., Omwandho, C., & Tinneberg, H.-R.
- Affiliations
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- University of Nairobi (KE)
- Corresponding author
- Tinneberg, Hans-Rudolf
- ORCID
- Konrad, Lutz
- Venue
- Gynecological Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-10-23
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 722-725
- ISSN
- 0951-3590 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0766
- OpenAlex
- W2104557704
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 4.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gynecological Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gynecological conditions and treatments
- Keywords
- endometriosis, quality of life, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, infertility, social isolation, work impairment, pain, emotional burden, financial burden, women's health
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Dysmenorrhea, Dyspareunia, Endometriosis, Female, Humans, Leisure Activities, Middle Aged, Pain, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Severity of Illness Index, Social Isolation, Sports, Work, Gardening, Young Adult
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