Results
Table 2 shows the baseline characteristics of all participants. The mean
age was 36.2 years. The median time to diagnosis was reported to be 9
years. The majority had a paid job (86.4%) and was currently in a
relationship (82.8%). Looking at the obstetric history, 51.5% of the
women had never been pregnant, and 34.9% of the participants had a
future child wish. The total spontaneous conception percentage was
76.9% (133/173). The majority of participants rarely had difficulty
with written medical information (39.6%), did not need help with
reading medical information (55.0%) and had extreme trust in filling in
medical forms (58.6%). Hormonal medication for the endometriosis was
used in 72.8% and 71.0% used painkillers. Looking at the surgical
history, 69.2% had previous abdominal surgery with a total complication
rate of 33% (ever experienced a surgical complication, ranging from
cystitis to anastomosis leakage). Regarding the surgical fear, the mean
(SD) score for the short-term consequences was 15.5 (±8.9) and for the
long-term consequences this was 18.1 (±10.0). The mean total score was
33.6 (±16.6).