The endometriosis usually begins at a young age, and the time between symptom onset and endometriosis investigation can be of numerous years.
Symptoms of endometriosis usually begin during
adolescence. But the prevalence rate is unknown due to misdiagnoses or delay in
diagnosis. It is also unclear that whether the symptoms that are experienced by
adolescents differ from adults. For better understanding, the present study
showed that symptoms of endometriosis did not vary between women surgically
diagnosed during adolescence compared with those diagnosed as adults.
The endometriosis usually begins at a young age, and the
time between symptom onset and endometriosis investigation can be of numerous
years. Whether the signs felt by adolescents vary from adults is unknown. This
analysis aimed to identify symptom in adolescents as compared with adults to
assess whether differences existed, based on age at the surgical examination
that could influence time to diagnosis.
Two tertiary care centres and the surrounding communities
selected the population-based cohort. A total of 295 adolescents and 107 adults
with verified endometriosis and were registered in The Women’s Health Study:
From Adolescence to Adulthood were selected for the analysis. All the
participants accomplished the Biobanking Harmonization Project standard
clinical questionnaire involved pain, menstrual history, associated symptoms
and an extended version of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation
Endometriosis Phenome. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for continuous data
and Fisher’s exact or Chi-square tests for categoric data.
Maximum of the participants exhibited moderate-to-severe
menstrual pain. On average, three doctors were consulted before the
examination, despite age at presentation. Time from symptoms to diagnosis
averaged five years for adults and two years for adolescents. Fewer adults than
adolescents recorded with pain beginning at menarche and nausea following pain.
Noncyclic, general pelvic pain was frequent. One-half of the subjects exhibited
relief of their widespread pelvic pain following a bowel movement. Pain impeded
with daily activities, exercise, work/school, and sleep to a moderate-extreme
degree; complications were related by age at diagnosis.
Pelvic pain was noncyclic, severe and negatively affected
the quality of life. Endometriosis
symptoms did not vary between women surgically diagnosed during adolescence
than those diagnosed as adults. More cases of nausea and symptom onset at
menarche were noticed among adolescents. Multi-year delays in diagnosis were
common. Doctors should be aware of these substitute symptom patterns and
introduce endometriosis in their differential diagnosis for both young adult
and adolescent women who encounter with noncyclic pelvic pain and nausea.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2018; 218(3):324.e1-324.e11
Spectrum of symptoms in women diagnosed with endometriosis during adolescence vs adulthood
Amy D et al.
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