{"paper_id":"1fc76d12-cc44-47db-a142-a6a7dc41fdbe","body_text":"Abstract\nThe experience of endometriosis can impact on every aspect of a woman’s life and of those around her, although the range of experience is diverse. Using qualitative research undertaken with women with endometriosis, this chapter explores the experiences that are most frequently reported. It begins by considering the well-documented delay in diagnosis, and comments on the impact that receiving a diagnosis can have. It then moves on to explore the pain of endometriosis, and the way in which women describe this. A particular type of pain that is common in endometriosis is dyspareunia and this is discussed along with fertility, as both are important aspects of sexuality that may be disrupted by endometriosis. The impact of endometriosis on a woman’s life is played out in her social relationships, her interactions with health professionals, and her experience of interventions and treatments. These issues are presented in remainder of the chapter. Through the words of women with endometriosis, the impact of the disease is brought into sharp relief.\nAccess this chapter\nTax calculation will be finalised at checkout\nPurchases are for personal use only\nPreview\nUnable to display preview. Download preview PDF.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nDenny E. Women’s experience of endometriosis. J Adv Nurs 2004;46:641–648\nDenny E. ‘You are one of the unlucky ones’: delay in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Diversity in Health and Social Care 2004;1:39–44\nDenny E, Mann CH. Endometriosis-associated dyspareunia: the impact on women’s lives. J Family Plann Reprod Health Care 2007;33:189–193\nDenny E, Mann CH. Endometriosis and the primary care consultation. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2008; 139:111–115\nDenny E. ‘I never know from one day to another how I will feel’: pain and uncertainty in women with endometriosis. Qual Health Res 2009; 19:985–995\nCox H, Henderson L, Henderson N, Shi C. Focus group study of endometriosis: Struggle, loss and the medical merry-go-round. Int J Nurs Pract 2003;9:2–9\nBallard K, Lowton K, Wright J. What’s the delay? A qualitative study of women’s experiences of reaching a diagnosis of endometriosis. Fertil Steril 2006;86:1296–1301\nManderson L, Warren N, Markovic M. Circuit breaking: pathways of treatment seeking for women with endometriosis in Australia. Qual Health Res 2008; 18:522–534\nGilmour JA, Huntington A, Wilson HV. The impact of endometriosis on work and social participation. Int J Nurs Pract 2008; 14:443–448\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nRights and permissions\nCopyright information\n© 2011 Springer-Verlag Italia\nAbout this chapter\nCite this chapter\nDenny, E. (2011). The Experience of Living with Endometriosis. In: Deep Pelvic Endometriosis. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1866-2_4\nDownload citation\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1866-2_4\nPublisher Name: Springer, Milano\nPrint ISBN: 978-88-470-1865-5\nOnline ISBN: 978-88-470-1866-2\neBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}