Endometriosis and Workplace Inequities: Exploring the Factors Influencing Workplace Absenteeism and Presenteeism

Danielle Howe, Michelle O’Shea, Sarah Duffy, Allie Eathorne, Mike Armour
In: Women's Reproductive Health · 2026 · pp. 1–16 · doi:10.1080/23293691.2026.2684993 · W7165764175
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This study surveyed 389 Australians with endometriosis and found that older age was the strongest predictor of reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, despite workplace flexibility and supportive managers showing some benefit.

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Abstract

Endometriosis affects ∼5–14% of women/those presumed female at birth, with debilitating symptoms profoundly affecting workforce participation. This cross-sectional survey of 389 employed Australians with self-reported endometriosis examined associations between symptoms, workplace supports, absenteeism, and presenteeism, using the EndoCost-adapted WPAI tool. Chronic pelvic pain, nausea, fatigue, and opioid use were associated with increased work impairment. Workplace flexibility and supportive managers showed univariate associations with improved outcomes; however, older age was the strongest independent predictor of reduced absenteeism and presenteeism in multiple regression analyses. Despite Safe Work Australia Guidelines (2019), endometriosis continues to substantially impact workplace participation, particularly among younger employees.

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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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