Neuropathic-like pain affects pain perception in patients with deep endometriosis: an observational study

Carolina Dolci, Estelle Jean Dit Gautier, Lucie Lannez, Gilles Lebuffe, Jean Michel Wattier, Chrystèle Rubod, Chrystele Rubod
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2025 · vol. 312(5) , pp. 1789–1797 · doi:10.1007/s00404-025-08178-1 · PMID:40928523 · PMC12589292 · W4414084990
article OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 2 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

Neuropathic-like pain was present in 36% of women with deep endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, correlating with increased pain intensity, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Endometriosis is a chronic, hormone-dependent disease affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age, often associated with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Neuropathic pain has been increasingly recognized as a significant component in a subset of patients with CPP related to endometriosis. The study objective was to assess the prevalence of neuropathic-like pain in women with deep endometriosis (DE) and CPP, and to analyze its influence on pain perception and quality of life. METHODS: Retrospective monocentric cohort study included 149 women with DE and CPP treated at a tertiary pain center between 2013 and 2017. Pain characteristics were assessed using validated tools, including the DN4 questionnaire for neuropathic pain, the abridged Saint-Antoine Pain Questionnaire (QDSA) for sensory and emotional dimensions of pain, and the EQ-VAS for quality of life. Psychological factors, including anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Neuropathic-like pain was identified in 36% of patients. These patients reported significantly higher global and minimum pain intensity (p < 0.01, p < 0.01), greater emotional (QDSA affective subscore, p < 0.05) and sensory (QDSA sensory subscore, p < 0.001) pain impact, and higher catastrophizing scores (p < 0.001). Quality of life was notably impaired (p < 0.05). Neuropathic-like pain was not associated with the stage of endometriosis or surgical complexity. Anxiety and depression scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.47 and p = 0.52, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Neuropathic-like pain was retrieved in over one-third of patients with DE and CPP, contributing to greater pain intensity, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Systematic screening for neuropathic-like pain and tailored multidisciplinary care are essential to optimize pain management.

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Outcome instruments

VAS-pain NRS-pain

Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Neuralgia Neuralgia Neuralgia Neuralgia

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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