[The impact of endometriosis on the quality of life in Hungary]

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological diseases affecting 70 million women worldwide. AIM: The aims of this study were to determinate the diagnostic delay of endometriosis, to assess the effectiveness of surgical and combined therapy and to analyse the quality of life of women suffering from this disease. METHOD: Of the 240 patients with endometriosis enrolled in the study, 84 patients filled in a prospective as well as a retrospective questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a 3.9 year delay from the onset of symptoms to the definitive diagnosis. Before therapy, 89% of the patients reported endometriosis related pain, while after therapy only 28% in the prospectively investigated months (p = 0.025). There was no significant difference between the outcome of surgical treatment alone and combined operative and medical therapy (p = 0.85). Reduced productivity at work was present in 47% of the patients and 40% of the patients reported impaired personal relationship, too. Endometriosis-associated symptoms generated 0.147 quality-adjusted life years per woman. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first ever prospective survey to investigate the impact of endometriosis on the quality of life in Hungary. The results indicated a long diagnostic delay. Both surgical and combined therapies proved to be efficient. Endometriosis impaired health-related quality of life, but adequate therapy attenuated the severity of symptoms.