Abstract
BackgroundEndometriosis is a considerable health challenge for women of reproductive age. Information about its prevalence in the Jordanian population is sparse. The objective of this research was to evaluate the presence of endometriosis in gynaecological patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for various indications and to correlate the finding of endometriosis with variables, including patient demographics, obstetric history, type, and indication of laparoscopic procedure.MethodsA retrospective cohort study involving 460 women who underwent different laparoscopic procedures for a variety of indications was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Jordan University Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Jordan, between January 2015 and September 2020.ResultsThe prevalence of endometriosis in this patient group was higher than that of the general population (13.7% vs. 2.5%), and the mean age at diagnosis (31.9 years) was younger than the general population's age of peak incidence (35–45 years). It was significantly higher in women with lower numbers of pregnancies (p = 0.01) and a lower number of Caesarean sections (p = 0.05) and in those where the indication for surgery was related to decreased fertility or pelvic pain (p = 0.02). Women with high parity or where the surgery's indication suggested normal fertility, such as family planning, were less likely to have endometriosis.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first Jordanian study to assess the prevalence of endometriosis in women undergoing gynaecological laparoscopy. This study suggests that the epidemiology of endometriosis in this region follows similar trends to what has been previously documented in international literature, while emphasizing the need for further research into this important women's health issue in this part of the world.
Highlights
Endometriosis is a considerable health challenge for women of reproductive age
These were patients who had prior to surgery consented to the excision of the cystic lesion or oophorectomy and where an intraoperative diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma was made based on gross appearance
There is to date a paucity of information regarding the true prevalence of endometriosis in Jordan
Summary
Endometriosis is a considerable health challenge for women of reproductive age. The actual prevalence in the population is difficult to ascertain because the diagnosis is often delayed or overlooked [2], but it is estimated that the condition affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age [3]. Endometriosis in Jordan, a middle-income country in the Middle East, is considered a significant public health issue affecting the quality of life of women of reproductive age [6]. The prevalence of endometriosis in symptomatic young Jordanian women undergoing laparoscopy for refractory chronic pelvic pain was found to be as high as 71.4% [7]. There is considerable variation in the prevalence according to the type of population sample under investigation
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