- Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause intense pain in several circumstances, including during menstruation and sexual intercourse.
- It can be challenging for some people to receive a prompt diagnosis of endometriosis.
- Recent research found that several factors can delay an endometriosis diagnosis by as much as 11 years due to personal and societal barriers and the actions and training of healthcare professionals.
A recent systematic review and qualitative synthesis examined why receiving a prompt diagnosis of endometriosis is difficult.
The researchers identified several factors, including the normalization of menstrual pain, the diversity of symptoms, and a lack of training and prompt referrals among healthcare professionals.
The review sheds light on areas for improvement in the prompt diagnosis and, thus, treatment of endometriosis.
The study is published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Ann Peters, an obstetric and gynecology specialist at Mercy Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, offered further insight into endometriosis to Medical News Today:
“[Endometriosis] is also a[n] extremely debilitating chronic disease that presents most commonly with painful periods but also a number of other complaints such as pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, urinary symptoms such as urinary frequency and urgency, heavy periods, chest pains, and chronic fatigue.”
“[One] out of…
Read the full article here