Sexuality in Endometriosis: Preliminary Data on Pain Malevolence and Illness Intrusiveness

Abstract

Endometriosis has a major impact on women's sexual health, lessening fertility and causing pain and reduced sexual desire in at least 50% of patients. This article investigates the relationship between infertility and sexual intercourse concerns and illness intrusiveness. Since both pain and illness can be interjected as malevolent internal objects, we also looked at the mediating effect of pain representation as a malevolent object on those relationships.