Relational Patterns of Couples Living With Chronic Pelvic Pain From Endometriosis

Frances Strzempko Butt, Catherine A. Chesla, Catherine Chesla
Qualitative health research · 2007 · vol. 17(5) , pp. 571–585 · doi:10.1177/1049732307299907 · PMID:17478641 · W2118201522
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This qualitative study explored the experiences of 13 couples coping with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis, identifying five relational patterns that describe their closeness, caregiving, shared experience, and disease impact.

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Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a disabling condition affecting 15 to 20% of U.S. women of reproductive age. Endometriosis, one of the most common causes of CPP, is associated with symptoms of pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse, and infertility. In this qualitative study, the authors examined the relational impact of CPP from endometriosis on 13 couples through narrative interviews conducted individually and jointly. They describe five relational patterns that vary on degree of closeness, how care responsibilities are enacted, the degree to which couples are conjoined in their experiences, and how much their lives are overtaken with the disease. These patterns articulate couples' relational concerns as well as daily management of illness.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715mesh:D017699endometriosischronic_pelvic_paininfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Family Characteristics Family Relations Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Adult Chronic Disease Endometriosis Female Fertility Grief Humans Male Middle Aged Pelvic Pain Qualitative Research Sexuality Sexuality

Citation neighborhood

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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Cited by (50)

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