School of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, The Gateway, De Montfort University, Hawthorn Building, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK.
Hum Reprod. 2017 Aug 1;32(8):1667-1673. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex221.
What is the impact of endometriosis on male partners of women with the condition?
Endometriosis significantly impacts men across several life domains and can negatively impact emotional well-being.
Endometriosis has been shown to negatively impact women's quality of life and may strain intimate relationships. Little is known about the impact on male partners.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The ENDOPART study was a cross-sectional, qualitative study of 22 women with endometriosis and their male partners (n = 44) in the UK (2012-2013).
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Inclusion criteria: laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis; the presence of symptoms for at least a year; partners living together. Data were collected via face to face, semi structured interviews with partners interviewed separately. Data were analysed thematically, assisted by NVivo 10.
Men reported that endometriosis affected many life domains including sex and intimacy, planning for and having children, working lives and household income. It also required them to take on additional support tasks and roles. Endometriosis also had an impact on men's emotions, with responses including helplessness, frustration, worry and anger. The absence of professional or wider societal recognition of the impact on male partners, and a lack of support available to men, results in male partners having a marginalized status in endometriosis care.
Self-selection of participants may have resulted in a sample representing those with more severe symptoms. Couples included are in effect 'survivors' in relationship terms, therefore, findings may underestimate the contribution of endometriosis to relationship breakdown.
The study extends knowledge about the impact of endometriosis on relationships, which thus far has been drawn largely from studies with women, by providing new insights about how this condition affects male partners. Healthcare practitioners need to take a more couple-centred, biopsychosocial approach toward the treatment of endometriosis, inclusive of partners and relationship issues. The findings demonstrate a need for information and support resources aimed at partners and couples.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (reference ES/J003662/1). The authors have no conflicts of interest.
子宫内膜异位症对女性患者的男性伴侣有何影响？
子宫内膜异位症会对男性伴侣的多个生活领域产生重大影响，并可能对其情绪健康产生负面影响。
子宫内膜异位症已被证明会降低女性的生活质量，并可能影响亲密关系。但对于男性伴侣的影响知之甚少。
研究设计、规模、持续时间：ENDOPART 研究是一项在英国进行的横断面、定性研究，纳入了 22 名患有子宫内膜异位症的女性及其男性伴侣（n = 44）（2012-2013 年）。
参与者/材料、地点、方法：纳入标准：腹腔镜诊断为子宫内膜异位症；至少有一年的症状；伴侣共同居住。通过与伴侣进行面对面、半结构化访谈收集数据，对伴侣进行单独访谈。使用 NVivo 10 软件对数据进行主题分析。
男性报告称，子宫内膜异位症影响了许多生活领域，包括性生活和亲密关系、生育和育儿计划、工作生活和家庭收入。这也要求他们承担额外的支持任务和角色。子宫内膜异位症还对男性的情绪产生影响，他们的反应包括无助、沮丧、担忧和愤怒。由于专业人士或更广泛的社会对男性伴侣的影响缺乏认可，以及男性缺乏可用的支持，导致男性伴侣在子宫内膜异位症护理中的地位边缘化。
参与者的自我选择可能导致样本代表那些症状更严重的患者。所纳入的夫妇实际上是在关系方面的“幸存者”，因此，研究结果可能低估了子宫内膜异位症对关系破裂的影响。
该研究通过提供关于这种疾病如何影响男性伴侣的新见解，扩展了关于子宫内膜异位症对关系影响的知识，而迄今为止，这些知识主要来自对女性的研究。医疗保健从业者需要采取更以夫妻为中心、身心社会的方法来治疗子宫内膜异位症，包括伴侣和关系问题。研究结果表明，需要为伴侣和夫妇提供信息和支持资源。
研究资金/利益冲突：本研究由经济和社会研究委员会（参考 ES/J003662/1）资助。作者没有利益冲突。
