Impact of endometriosis on women's health: comparative historical data show that the earlier the onset, the more severe the disease

Ballweg ML, Mary Lou Ballweg
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2004 · vol. 18(2) , pp. 201–218 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2004.01.003 · PMID:15157638 · W2087989193
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This study analyzed historical data to demonstrate a correlation between earlier onset of endometriosis and increased disease severity in women.

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Abstract

Looking at endometriosis from the bigger picture -- as a systemic endocrine, immunological, and gastrointestinal disease -- opens the door to broader treatments. The bigger-picture understanding of the disease also makes clear a variety of patterns of presenting symptoms, again clarifying the diagnosis. Data from over 7000 confirmed cases clearly show that delay in diagnosis (the average time to diagnosis is >9 years) is a major problem and that current treatments are far from satisfactory. In conclusion, the impact of endometriosis, a disease that already produces intense symptoms, is worsened by a current lack of understanding of the disease beyond its pelvic definition.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Adolescent Adult Age of Onset Diagnostic Errors Diagnostic Errors Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity Middle Aged Quality of Life Treatment Outcome

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.

References (12)

Cited by (50)

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