Surgical treatment of endometriosis: prognostic factors for better quality of life

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of surgical treatment of endometriosis on physical and mental health. We undertook a prospective survey including 153 premenopausal women with histological diagnosis of endometriosis. The Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire comprising physical and mental component scales was used. Two groups of patients were distinguished: Group A (n = 42) with SF-12 scores above the median in both physical and mental scales; Group B (n = 111) with SF-12 scores below the median in either physical or mental scale. Group A was diagnosed and operated for endometriosis for the first time at an older age (30 vs. 26 years), had undergone more frequently a single surgical intervention (64% vs. 46%), was less affected by symptom or lesion recurrence and had reported less intense current pain symptoms than Group B. Having the first endometriosis surgery at a later age was an independent predictor of better health status (adjusted odds ratio 1.146 per year, 95% confidence interval 1.058–1.242) after accounting for the potential confounding effects of reoperation, pelvic pain and time elapsed since the first surgery. In conclusion, patients with endometriosis who had a single surgery at an older age have good symptom control and better quality of life (QoL).