A clinical overview of endometriosis: a misunderstood disease

Elaine Denny, Christopher H Mann, M Mann
British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) · 2007 · vol. 16(18) , pp. 1112–1116 · doi:10.12968/bjon.2007.16.18.27503 · PMID:18073680 · W1966679480
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This article reviews the unknown etiology, common symptoms, diagnostic methods, and negative life impacts of endometriosis, aiming to inform nurses about this prevalent condition.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the endometrial cavity and is the most common known cause of pelvic pain. The number of women being diagnosed with the disease is increasing, but this may be reflective of improved diagnostic techniques. The aetiology is unknown, although the theory of retrograde menstruation remains dominant. Although pain around menstruation is the most frequently experienced symptom, dyspareunia, dyschezia, cyclical dysuria and extreme fatigue are all common. The 'gold standard' diagnostic technique is laparoscopic visualization, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2006) recommends that surgical removal of all endometriotic lesions is the ideal. The experience of endometriosis can negatively affect all aspects of a woman's life and relationships, and this is consistently reported in research studies. This article discusses the aetiology and clinical aspects of endometriosis as well as giving an overview of empirical literature surrounding the experience of the disease. It provides nurses with the knowledge to be alert to the possibility of endometriosis as a diagnosis in women with a certain set of symptoms, in whatever healthcare setting they work.

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Condition tags

dyspareuniaendometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Adaptation, Psychological Attitude to Health Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Danazol Danazol Dyspareunia Dyspareunia Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Estrogen Antagonists Estrogen Antagonists Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Humans Hysterectomy

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 (21)

Cited by (50)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK