Van Niekerk, Leesa

BACKGROUND: People living with endometriosis commonly experience sexual difficulties and associated distress, yet these concerns are frequently overlooked in primary care. Consequently, sexual wellbeing remains under-addressed, despite its …

PURPOSE: To assess whether pain, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differ in individuals diagnosed with endometriosis and those suspected to have endometriosis. METHODS: Cross-sectional online survey of ind…

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 …

Existing research on endometriosis and fertility-related care has highlighted an emphasis on fertility preservation above other healthcare outcomes, leading to a loss of reproductive autonomy. Guided by a critical realist lens, we sought to…

OBJECTIVE: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause (EM) can have life-altering physical and psychological impacts, with potential consequences for an individual's sense of self. However, understanding of these potential co…

STUDY QUESTION: Is telehealth cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or yoga effective in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and secondary outcomes for endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: Endometriosis-tailored CBT is superior to edu…

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…

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Persistent pelvic pain affects one in four women, with international guidelines recommending interdisciplinary care. However, much of the literature describing treatments for pelvic pain focus on the perspective of…

AIMS: To explore the influence of endometriosis on an individual's self-concept and the potential applicability of self-compassion in addressing alterations to self-concept. DESIGN: Qualitative deductive template analysis study. METHODS: …

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…

Illness perception has been identified as a protective factor in managing chronic conditions and lowering negative emotional responses to illness, leading to improved HRQoL, enhanced psychological wellbeing, and reduced distress. Moreover, …

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…

A cross-sectional survey study examining the relationships between endometriosis-related factors, illness acceptance, body compassion, self-compassion, and psychological wellbeing.

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…

People living with endometriosis (PLWE) commonly feel inadequately informed and overwhelmed about the available endometriosis treatment options and are often forced to adopt a trail-and-error approach to treatment. This project aims to util…

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…

BACKGROUND: Sexual health communication between general practitioners (GPs) and individuals with chronic diseases is well documented as an important component of sexual well-being. However, a notable gap exists in understanding factors that…