The unbearable burden of endometriosis: Results from a large cohort about anxiety reduction during the first outpatient evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of the first outpatient evaluation on anxiety levels in women with suspected endometriosis. Secondarily, we investigated which individual characteristics exerted the greatest influence on distress levels.

METHODS

Women referred to our academic center between January 2019 and March 2020 on the suspicion of endometriosis were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. Before the visit, participants answered questionnaires such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD) and the Spielberg State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Y6. After the visit, the STAI-Y6 was resubmitted to each woman, along with the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGII) questionnaire. Women's and physicians' satisfaction with the visit were also evaluated using a 5-point scale.

RESULTS

One hundred and four women were enrolled. Anxiety levels decreased after the evaluation (STAI-Y6 60.0 ± 15.0 vs 40.8 ± 14.2, P < .001). Higher reductions were noted in patients who had higher baseline anxiety levels (est. change -24.3; 95% CI -29.2, -19.5; P < .001), had previously sought information online (est. change -15.9; 95% CI -21.4, -10.5; P < .001), and when endometriosis was not confirmed, but not in those waitlisted for surgery (est. change 1.7; 95% CI -5.9, 9.2; P 0.659). Most patients' mood improved after the examination (67%) and were satisfied with the visit (98%).

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety levels are reduced after medical examination in women with higher baseline distress and who sought information online. To create a trustful relationship with women, providing them with tailored counselling, seems essential to improve their psychological wellbeing.