The Impact of Surgically Diagnosed Endometriosis on Family and Friend Relationships and Social Engagement

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects at least 10% of women of reproductive age. Symptoms can include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, bladder and/or bowel problems, and infertility. Nearly 95% of women with endometriosis live with at least one comorbid illness, including depression or anxiety. These factors can have a profound impact on a woman’s ability to participate socially. The social impact of endometriosis has been largely under-examined by researchers. The current study seeks to explore this gap in knowledge by using a mixed methods approach to examinine a number of women’s own statements regarding the impact that endometriosis has had on their family and friend relationships and their ability to engage at social events. Inductive content analyses were conducted on short answer questions (n= 993) to create a numerical count of positive, neutral, and negative statements that women made about the impact endometriosis has had on their relationships and engagement at social events. The statements were largely negative (n=2089), with far fewer neutral (n=164) or positive (n=345) responses. From this the Impact Statement Score (ISS) was created, a measure used to quantify the impacts of endometriosis. The relationship between the ISS and the participants’ (n=331) demographic, clinical, and endometriosis-specific characteristics were analysed. Standard multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the influence a number of variables have on the ISS. This analysis of the ways endometriosis impacts on family and friend relationships and engagement at social events will deepen our understanding of the way endometriosis affects women’s lives.