Abstract
Endometriosis is one of the major causes of economic burden and compromised quality of life in a very large percentage of Asian women. While it is perceived as a benign condition, recent research has shown that it may be a significant cause of infertility and metastatic cancer. It has also been associated with other diseases linked to the functioning of the immune system. Genetic as well as environmental factors are known to affect the manifestation and progression of endometriosis. This review aims to summarize recent research pertaining to the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in Chinese women. It also provides an overview of identified genetic mutations and polymorphisms and their effects on the risk of developing endometriosis in the Chinese population. A comparison has been drawn between Asian and European-American female populations and the differences in risk factors and treatment responses have been summarized. Since traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often used to treat endometriosis, wherever possible, a comparison between efficacies of Western medicine and TCM in the Chinese population has also been provided. Although much progress has been made in the treatment and resolution of endometriosis, several gaps remain and this review also highlights possible areas of future research and advancement that can result in an improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life.
Highlights
Endometriosis is an estrogen-responsive, chronic condition that arises from the extra-uterine growth of the stromal or glandular tissue that lines the uterus [1]
Evaluation of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and clinical guidelines for the management of Chinese women with endometriosis Since women with endometriosis are known to suffer from a significant deterioration in quality of life and fertility outcomes, HRQoL assessment is important during the clinical evaluation of treatment efficacy in endometriosis patients
Generic Visual Analog Scales such as Short-Form 36 or Short-Form 12 and EuroQoL may be used to evaluate the efficacy of treatments in terms of HRQoL, several specific questionnaires that focus on different endometriosis-related QoL parameters such as self-image, relationship with children, effect on work life, and productivity have been developed
Summary
Endometriosis is an estrogen-responsive, chronic condition that arises from the extra-uterine growth of the stromal or glandular tissue that lines the uterus [1]. Worldwide, it represents a significant cause of morbidity in about 10-15% of women in their reproductive years [2]. Dai et al Reproductive Health (2018) 15:82 enhance detection and subsequently treat endometriosis, diagnosis in the majority of women is delayed on average by 10 years globally [3] and by 13 years in China [4]. Identification of risk factors is integral to diagnose endometriosis.
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