The Burden of Endometriosis on Women’s Lifespan: A Narrative Overview on Quality of Life and Psychosocial Wellbeing

Luigi Della Corte, Claudia Di Filippo, Olimpia Gabrielli, Sabrina Reppuccia, Valentina Lucia La Rosa, Rosalia Ragusa, Michele Fichera, Elena Commodari, Giuseppe Bifulco and Pierluigi Giampaolino
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Luigi Della Corte: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Claudia Di Filippo: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Olimpia Gabrielli: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Sabrina Reppuccia: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Valentina Lucia La Rosa: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 951234 Catania, Italy
Rosalia Ragusa: Health Technology Assessment Committee, A.O.U. Policlinico V. Emanuele, 95123 Catania, Italy
Michele Fichera: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95030 Catania, Italy
Elena Commodari: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 951234 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Bifulco: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Pierluigi Giampaolino: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting more than 170 million women worldwide and up to 10% of women of reproductive age. As a consequence of inflammatory reaction and infiltration of anatomic structures, endometriosis can cause “pain symptoms” including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria, and chronic pelvic pain. In this review, we summarized the impact of endometriosis on quality of life in all its aspects including sexual life, work, and social relationships. The data research was conducted using web-based search engines and/or various electronic research databases querying for all articles related to endometriosis and quality of life from the inception of the database up to February 2020. Endometriosis has not only physical but also psychological effects, causing depression, anxiety, and compromising social relationships. Furthermore, endometriosis negatively impacts sexual life and social relationships. At last, the economic burden of endometriosis should not be underestimated, both individually and for the community, as this pathology leads to a loss of productivity at work and large use of health resources. Thus, endometriosis-related symptoms control women’s lives compromising the quality of life in all aspects. In this review, we summarized the impact of endometriosis on various aspects of women’s lives.

Keywords: endometriosis; lifespan; quality of life; questionnaire; social relationship; economic burden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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