Psychosomatische Aspekte der Endometriose

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This paper discusses psychosomatic, psychosexual, social, and biographical factors related to endometriosis, emphasizing the controversy between objective findings and subjective feelings and the resulting psychosocial problems.

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The paper discusses endometriosis as a heterogeneous, often nonspecific disorder detectable through subtle diagnostics, ranging from minor incidental findings to severe, chronic pain with frequent downstream effects such as sterility and extensive therapies. It outlines multiple proposed etiologic frameworks, including retrograde menstruation associated with a hyperperistaltic-dystocic uterus, and frames unphysiological menstruation as potentially reflecting an unresolved conflict linked to gender-role and personal, family, and societal attitudes; it also mentions exogenous and endogenous hormonal exposures during times of more menstruation and fewer pregnancies, and the possibility of endometriosis as an autoimmune condition. The author emphasizes that clinical findings and subjective experience can be in sharp contradiction and highlights psychosomatic, psychosexual, social, and biographical aspects, noting that endometriosis has relatively few psychosomatic research projects. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses on psychosomatic aspects, including psychological and social interpretations of menstruation-related mechanisms and the mismatch between findings and well-being in endometriosis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a varied and unspecific disorder, which can be detected by way of subtle diagnostics in almost every woman. In one case it is a minor accidental finding, in another case it is a cancer-like, mostly incurable, chronic painful a disease, which often has sterility and aggressive therapies as subsequence. For the origin of endometriosis many causes are discussed. The theory of retrograde menstruation through an hyperperistaltic-dystocic uterus presents on one hand an organic explanation-concept. From the psychosomatic point of view this unphysiological menstruation could also be seen as the result of an unsolved conflict, which might be connected with the gender-role or personal, familiar and social attitudes about menstruation. The exo- and endogenic supply with hormones in a time with less pregnancies and therefore more menstruation is also a contributing factor to the origin and development of this disturbance. Beside the theory of endometriosis as an autoimmune disease also implicates psychosomatic thoughts. Though there is always a repeatedly talk the "cancer of the career-woman", there are however very few psychosomatic research projects regarding endometriosis. Therefore it is a characteristic of this disease, that finding and feeling are very often controversial. This emphasizes the importance of psychosomatic, psychosexual, social and biographical aspects in connection with endometriosis. This point of view makes a relative plausible and comfortable explanation for the CPPS and sterility uncertain. Without question diagnosis and therapy of endometriosis followed on one hand by stigmatization and on the other hand by often restriction of quality of life leads to a lot of subsequent psychosocial problems.
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Subscribe to RSS DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-42283 © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York Psychosomatische Aspekte der Endometriose Psychosomatic Aspects of EndometriosisPublication History Publication Date: 23 September 2003 (online) Zusammenfassung Die Endometriose ist eine vielfältige und unspezifische Störung, die bei subtiler Diagnostik bei immer mehr Frauen nachweisbar ist. In einem Fall stellt sie einen unbedeutenden Nebenbefund dar, im anderen Fall ist sie eine krebsartige, meist unheilbare, chronische Schmerzerkrankung, welche sehr häufig Sterilität und aggressive Therapien nach sich zieht. Für die Genese der Endometriose werden multifaktorielle Ursachen diskutiert. Die Theorie der retrograden Menstruation bei hyperperistaltisch-dystokem Uterus bietet zunächst ein organisches Erklärungskonzept. Aus psychosomatischer Sicht lassen sich diese unphysiologischen Menstruationsabläufe auch als Ausdruck eines unbewältigten Konfliktes deuten, der möglicherweise in Zusammenhang mit der Geschlechterrolle oder persönlichen, familiären und gesellschaftlichen Einstellungen zur Menstruation steht. Die exogene und endogene Hormonzufuhr in einer Zeit vermehrter Menstruationen bei weniger Schwangerschaften tut ihr Übriges zur Entstehung und Entwicklung dieser Störung. Daneben impliziert die Überlegung, dass es sich bei der Endometriose um eine Autoimmunerkrankung handelt, ebenfalls psychosomatische Fragestellungen. Obwohl immer wieder vom „Krebs der Karrierefrau” die Rede ist, gibt es zum Thema Endometriose nur wenige psychosomatische Forschungprojekte. Dabei ist es eines der Charakteristika dieser Erkrankung, dass Befund und Befindlichkeit oft in krassem Widerspruch stehen. Allein diese klinische Beobachtung macht die Bedeutung psychosomatischer, psychosexueller, sozialer und biografischer Aspekte in Zusammenhang mit der Endometriose klar. Diese Sichtweise stellt natürlich ein für Arzt und Patient plausibles, organisches Erklärungskonzeptes für chronischen Unterbauchschmerz und Sterilität infrage. Völlig unabhängig von der Ursächlichkeit ziehen Diagnose und Therapie der Endometriose mit einerseits unnötiger Stigmatisierung, andererseits häufig schwerer Beeinträchtigung der Lebensqualität psychosoziale Folgeprobleme nach sich. Abstract Endometriosis is a varied and unspecific disorder, which can be detected by way of subtle diagnostics in almost every woman. In one case it is a minor accidental finding, in another case it is a cancerlike, mostly uncurable, chronic painful a disease, which often has sterility and aggressive therapies as subsequence. For the origin of endometriosis many causes are discussed. The theory of retrograde menstruation through an hyperperistaltic-dystocic uterus presents on one hand an organic explanation-concept .From the psychosomatic point of view this unphysiological menstruation could also be seen as the result of an unsolved conflict, which might be connected with the gender-role or personal, familiar and social attitudes about menstruation. The exo- and endogenic supply with hormons in a time with less pregnancies and therefore more menstruation is also a contributing factor to the origin and development of this disturbance. Beside the theory of endometriosis as an autoimmun-disease also implicates psychosomatic thoughts. Though there is always a repeatedly talk the “cancer of the career-woman”, there are however very few psychosomatic researchprojects regarding endometriosis. Therefore it is a characteristic of this disease, that finding and feeling are very often contraversal. This emphasizes the importance of psychosomatic, psychosexual, social and biografical aspects in connection with endometriosis. This point of view makes a relative plausible and comfortable explanation for the CPPS and sterility uncertain. Without question diagnosis and therapy of endometriosis followed on one hand by stigmatisation and on the other hand by often restriction of quality of life leads to a lot of subsequent psychosocial problems. Schlüsselwörter Endometriose - Psychosomatik - Menstruation Key words Endometriosis - psychosomatics - menstruation Literatur - 1 Bodden-Heidrich R, Anastasiadis G, Hucke J, Rechenberger I. Endometriose: Gibt es eine Beziehung zwischen psychosomatischer Prädisposition und somatopsychischem Krankheitserleben?. Arch Gynäkol Obstet. 1994; 255 172 - 2 Collins M L. Personality correlates of endometriosis. Doctoral Thesis. Western Michigan University 1979 - 3 Jürgensen O. Das PMS im Grenzbereich zwischen Psychatrie und Gynäkologie. In: Hawighorst-Knapstein S, Schönefuß G, Knapstein PG, Kentenich H. Psychosomatische Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe Psychosozial-Verlag, Gießen 1998 - 4 Klentze M. Die Endometriose - Ein brennendes Schwert?. In: Kentenich H, Rauchfuß M, Diederichs P (Hrsg). Psychosomatische Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1993; 221-224 - 5 Low W Y, Edelmann R J. Psychological aspects of endometriosis. J Psychos Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 12 3-12 - 6 Roth H. Psychosomatische Aspekte der Endometriose. Dissertation. Universität Kiel 1996 - 7 Knieknecht K, Siedentopf F, Kentenich H. Chronischer Unterbauchschmerz: Auch der psychosomatische Ansatz hilft nicht immer. In: Brandenburg U, Leeners B, Petermann-Meyer A, Schwarte A, Dohmen C, Neises M (Hrsg). Psychosomatische Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe. Psychosozial-Verlag, Gießen 2002; 223-225 - 8 Strauß B, Didzus A, Speidel H. Eine Untersuchung zur Psychosomatik der Endometriose. PPmP. 1992; 42 242-252 - 9 Wingfield M B, Wood C. Treatment of endometriosis involving a self-help group. J Psychos Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 18 (issue 4) Wolf Lütje Hoserkirchweg 63 41747 Viersen Phone: 0 21 62/1 04 23 45 Fax: 0 21 62/1 04 23 76 Email: [email protected]

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Psychophysiologic Disorders Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female

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