(103) Partner Responses, Communication, and Sexual Well-Being in Women with Endometriosis

Abstract Introduction Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease with a prevalence of around 10% in the general female population, associated with high levels of inflammation. It manifests as endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which can be found in areas such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterine ligaments, intestines, or bladder. This condition causes symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, irregular menstrual bleeding, and infertility. Given the significant impact of endometriosis on women’s sexuality, quality of life (QoL), and marital satisfaction (MS), it is essential to understand more deeply how this condition affects not only physical health but also these variables. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of women with endometriosis regarding their partners’ responses to their condition, as well as relationship communication, sexual satisfaction (SS), and MS. It also sought to assess women’s perceptions of their partners’ understanding and support concerning the disease, their partners’ communication and expression patterns, and the perceived impact of endometriosis on their relationships, the MS, and the women’s QoL. Methods The sample consisted of 180 Portuguese women aged between 19 and 55 years who reported being diagnosed with endometriosis. Most participants reported an increase in symptoms over time, with average pain and discomfort scores of 5.06 and 5.45, respectively, on a 0–9 scale. Most had undergone treatment for the condition, and 42.2% had already undergone gynecological surgery. The self-report instruments used were: General Introductory Questionnaire, Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30; higher scores indicate poorer QoL), New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS), Significant Other’s Response to Pain Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Global Measure of Relationship Satisfaction (GMREL), and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire-Short Form (CPQ-SF). Results The results revealed that facilitative partner responses positively predicted SS (β=.461, p<.001), MS (β=.384, p<.001) and sexual functioning (β=.339, p<.001), whereas negative responses predicted poorer outcomes, in SS (β=-.343, p<.001), MS (β= -.304, p<.001) and sexual functioning (β=-.448, p<.001), including lower QoL (β=.569, p<.001). Solicitous and distracting responses were not significantly associated with the analyzed variables. Furthermore, Positive Symmetric Patterns were positively associated with SS (β=.441, p<.001), MS (β=.566, p<.001), sexual functioning (β=.495, p<.001), and QoL (β=-.379, p<.001), whereas Negative Alternating Patterns were negatively associated with SS (β=-.286, p<.001), sexual functioning (β=-.198, p=.006), QoL (β=-.209, p=.007), and MS (β=-.139, p=.045), with the association for MS being marginally significant. Negative Complementary Patterns were not significantly associated with any of these variables. SS (β=-.271, p=.003) and sexual functioning (β=-.483, p<.001) were positively related to QoL, whereas MS was not significant. Conclusions Partner support and the quality of marital communication play a central role in the experience of women with endometriosis, directly influencing SS, MS, sexual functioning, and QoL. Supportive responses and positive communication promote greater well-being and adjustment, while negative responses and dysfunctional communication are associated with poorer outcomes. To improve QoL and sexuality, it is essential to adopt an approach that recognizes the relational dimension and provides support that considers the couple as the central focus of intervention. Disclosure No