Abstract
Abstract Objectives: to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of women with endometriosis and to determine the association with the prognostic characteristics of the disease. Methods: retrospective descriptive study involving 237 women attended at two referral hospitals for endometriosis, between 2011 and 2017. Associations between groups were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: most women (65.4%) were of reproductive age (29-39 years), with a body mass index in the range of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 and a high prevalence (23-81%) of symptoms of the disease, with 49.5% being infertile. The average time of diagnosis was 5 years. Ovarian endometrioma and/or deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) were the most frequent type of endometriosis (87%), and 59% of patients were in the III/IV stage of the disease. Approximately 87% of women with surgical diagnosis were aged over 30, married (70%) and had lower parity. Dyspareunia was negatively associated with superficial endometriosis. Infertility was positively associated with age (30-39 years) and DIE in the uterine tubes; dysmenorrhea with DIE in the uterosacral ligament; cyclic intestinal complaints with DIE in the rectosigmoid and intestine, and with DIE classification and III/IVstage. Conclusions: knowing the epidemiological and clinical profile of Brazilian women with endometriosis can help in diagnosis and treatment planning.
Highlights
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, associated with different symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, infertility and cyclical intestinal and urinary complaints.[1]
Endometriosis is usually present in women of reproductive age,[2,3] according to the mean age (36 years) described in the present study
The endometriosis risk associated to a lower body mass index (BMI) has been described but remains an enigma.[2,3,9]
Summary
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, associated with different symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, infertility and cyclical intestinal and urinary complaints.[1]. Other factors have been associated with endometriosis, such as early age at menarche[3] and infertility,[12] all conferring an increased risk, while parity[13] and oral contraceptive use[3] are associated with a decreased risk. It is not known whether these associations are causes or consequences of endometriosis, and should be interpreted with caution, mainly due to the inability to diagnose it before the onset of symptoms.[1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
