[Health-related quality of life in women with endometriosis]

Abstract

According to definition, endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological disease which results from ectopic location of the endometrium outside the uterine cavity. On the basis of various researches it is estimated that prevalence of endometriosis in the general population is 10% and the disease concerns women mainly in reproductive age. As an effect of the disease, following common gynaecological and psychiatric symptoms appear: chronic pelvic pain which occurs in different circumstances, depressive and anxiety disturbances. In relation to pathological changes, decrease of health-related quality of life (QOL) is observed. The topic of medical researches concerns frequently an influence of pharmacological and surgical treatment on QOL improvement in women with endometriosis. To achieve objective results in evaluation of quality of life, it is recommended to use standardized and validated questionnaires, such as EHP-30, EHP-5, SF-36, WHOQOF-100 or WHOQOL-BREF.