Impact of endometriosis on quality of life

Introduction: Endometriosis is a disease related to pain and infertility which symptoms are pelvic ‎chronic pain, dysmenorrheal, dyspauronia, pain during defecation and infertility. The signs of ‎endometriosis on life's quality are multi-dimensional and most of them have a negative impact on ‎psycho – social parameters. All women who suffer from endometriosis express pain. Since pain has ‎negative impacts on quality of life, knowing the impact of this disease on QOL is important.‎ Objective: The goal of this study was to review literature related to endometriosis and its impact on ‎QOL. ‎ Methods: Searches were made via a number of electronic databases using defined search terms ‎since ‎‏2002‏‎ to ‎‏2008‏‎. ‎ Results: The conducted studies show that the signs of endometriosis especially pain, have impact ‎on life dimensions such as physical activity, the ability of role playing and working, social activities, ‎sexual relationship, mental and psychological health and energy. Infertility caused by endometriosis ‎has also effects on mental health and people's personality. Endometriosis has negative effects on ‎individual's self-image and the loss of feeling physical strength and fertility. The mental problems ‎involved with endometriosis such as the feeling of guilt and distress at workplace that are caused by ‎pain and sterility have impact on QOL. The other factors that can affect the quality of suffered ‎women's life include: The individual's physical appearance, feelings of social isolation, poor sleep, ‎avoidance of sexual intercourse and so on.‎ Conclusion: This review study shows that symptomatic endometriosis significantly affects women's ‎QOL. Most patients with endometriosis seek treatment and remedy for disease and problems ‎related to the gynecology such as sexual relationship problems, and they less deal with other ‎dimensions like psychological consultation that have important effect on life's quality. In addition, it ‎is useful that doctors and health care workers have more knowledge to manage the disease and ‎improve QOL of patients with endometriosis.‎