Measuring Resilience in Women with Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with pathophysiological factors not yet well known; it also presents a wide symptomatic range that makes us think about the need for multidisciplinary management. It is a chronic disease in which there is no definitive treatment, and is associated in a large majority of cases with psychological pathology. Connecting comorbidities and multimorbidities on a neurobiological, neuropsychological, and pathophysiological level could significantly contribute to their more successful prevention and treatment. In our study, resilience is analyzed as an adjunctive measure in the management of endometriosis. Methods: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was performed to analyse resilience levels in a sample of Spanish women suffering from endometriosis. CDRIS-25, CDRIS-10, BDI, the STAI, and the SF-36 Health Questionnaire were used for assessments. A representative group of 202 women with endometriosis was recruited by consecutive sampling. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for both resilience scales. Results: Mean CDRIS-25 and CDRIS-10 scores were 69.58 (SD 15.1) and 29.37 (SD 7.2), respectively. Women with adenomyosis and without signs of deep endometriosis showed the lowest scores. The best predictive model included women's age, years of endometriosis evolution, number of pregnancies, and history of fertility problems as the best predictive factors. Conclusions: Women build resilience as the number of years of evolution of the disease increases. Symptoms such as dyspareunia and continued abdominal pain were more prevalent among less resilient women.

Correlates of Sexual Function in a Sample of Spanish Women with Endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we aim to report on the sexual function of women experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, analysing the clinical and psychosocial factors that may be associated. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was performed to analyse the sexual function in a sample of 196 Spanish women with endometriosis, using the Female Sexual Function Inventory. RESULTS: The Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) was validated in our endometriosis study group. The mean FSFI score for the sample was 22.5 (SD 6.6), with 20.9 and 26.9 being in the 25th and 75th percentiles, respectively. Although physical sexual pain and dyspareunia were factors that influenced the sexual function of women with endometriosis, our results show that the impairment was multifactorial. CONCLUSIONS: We found impaired sexual function in women diagnosed with endometriosis. The final model included deep endometriosis, depression, age, and unemployment as strongest predictive factors for poor (deteriorated) sexual function.

Diagnostic challenges: low-grade adenosarcoma on deep endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Müllerian adenosarcoma is a rare malignancy. These tumors occur mainly in the uterus, but also in extrauterine locations, usually related to endometriosis. Because of their rarity, there is limited data on optimal management strategies. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 44-year-old woman with a history of endometriosis who consults for chronic pelvic pain. In the imaging tests, a heterogeneous mass is observed that impresses endometriosis, encompassing the uterus and left appendage. Surgery is performed by finding an extrauterine adenosarcoma that affected the uterus, ovary and bladder wall. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case but should be considered in a patient with atypical clinical characteristics or preoperative pathology, so we show the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies carried out for the resolution of the case.

Endometriosis: alternative methods of medical treatment.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory estrogen-dependent disease defined by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma at extrauterine sites. The main purpose of endometriosis management is alleviating pain associated to the disease. This can be achieved surgically or medically, although in most women a combination of both treatments is required. Long-term medical treatment is usually needed in most women. Unfortunately, in most cases, pain symptoms recur between 6 months and 12 months once treatment is stopped. The authors conducted a literature search for English original articles, related to new medical treatments of endometriosis in humans, including articles published in PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. Keywords included "endometriosis" matched with "medical treatment", "new treatment", "GnRH antagonists", "Aromatase inhibitors", "selective progesterone receptor modulators", "anti-TNF α", and "anti-angiogenic factors". Hormonal treatments currently available are effective in the relief of pain associated to endometriosis. Among new hormonal drugs, association to aromatase inhibitors could be effective in the treatment of women who do not respond to conventional therapies. GnRH antagonists are expected to be as effective as GnRH agonists, but with easier administration (oral). There is a need to find effective treatments that do not block the ovarian function. For this purpose, antiangiogenic factors could be important components of endometriosis therapy in the future. Upcoming researches and controlled clinical trials should focus on these drugs.