Antonina Mikocka‐Walus

Knowledge pertaining to the interplay between body image, body compassion, and endometriosis-related symptoms is limited. The current study aimed to elucidate the relationships between body compassion, body image, and endometriosis-related …

Although pain, poor quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in people with endometriosis, consumer views regarding supportive care needs are limited. Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, three focus group…

Diagnostic delay is a significant issue facing people with endometriosis; however, the Australian perspective and participant voice is missing for why delay occurs. The current study aimed to assess the length of diagnostic delay, whether t…

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting up to 11% of people presumed female at birth by the age of 44 years, characterised by the growth of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus on other organs. Endometriosis signi…

Abstract Purpose: To assess whether pain, psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differ in people diagnosed with endometriosis and those suspected to have endometriosis. Methods: This study was a cross-secti…

OBJECTIVE: To date there has been limited exploration of the impact of endometriosis with co-occurring irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) type symptoms on biopsychosocial health outcomes and wellbeing. This study aimed to prospectively investig…

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current study aimed to determine the prospective associations between menstrual pain, physical health functioning and loneliness. METHOD: We collected three waves of data from a community cohort of women reporting …

BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic pain, defined as persistent pain in the structures of the pelvis, is a condition that significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of up to one-third of people worldwide, with substantial assoc…

The current study explored whether "pain catastrophizing" in a sample of women experiencing menstrual pain can change over time as a function of perceived social support. All participants were cisgender women aged between 18 and 50 years of…

Sharing stories, building connections, and regaining control: a qualitative study of cognitive behavioural therapy for endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain

STUDY QUESTION: What is the relationship between sexual function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and laparoscopic surgery in individuals living with endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: A higher number of laparoscopic surgeries is signi…

Abstract Endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share common pathophysiological and risk factors, often leading to misdiagnosis, diagnostic delays, and treatment implications. Further, both conditions are associated with biopsych…

OBJECTIVES: Despite the need and uptake of mental health support by women with endometriosis, no research to date has explored their experience of psychological therapy. We aimed to understand the factors that predict engagement in psycholo…

This mixed-methods study used an online cross-sectional survey to explore perspectives of 533 adult Australian women living with endometriosis pain, and their relationship with biopsychosocial factors. Four themes were constructed: The prim…

BACKGROUND: Pain, poor quality of life (QOL) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are commonly experienced by individuals with endometriosis. Although diet and nutrition supplements are frequently used to manage endometriosis-related symptoms…

Social media platforms are used for support and as resources by people from the endometriosis community who are seeking advice about diagnosis, education, and disease management. However, little is known about the scientific accuracy of inf…

Previous quantitative research has shown that cannabis use, mostly illicit, is used for symptom management amongst those with endometriosis living in Australia or New Zealand, but the drivers and barriers for use of legal, medicinal cannabi…

AIMS: To understand the experience of loss in Australian women with endometriosis. DESIGN: A total of 532 participants completed an online survey containing three open-ended questions relating to pelvic pain and activity loss due to endome…

Abstract Previous quantitative research has shown that cannabis use, mostly illicit, is used for symptom management amongst those with endometriosis living in Australia or New Zealand, but the drivers and barriers for use of legal, medicin…

ABSTRACT: Endometriosis is a common yet under-recognised chronic disease with one in nine (more than 830,000) women and those assigned female at birth diagnosed with endometriosis by the age of 44 years in Australia. In 2018, Australia was …

Psychological factors of emotional distress and cognition have an important role in the understanding and management of endometriosis; however, their temporal relationship with key pain variables is not fully understood. This exploratory st…