Abstract:

Introduction: Endometriosis is a disease related to pain and infertility which symptoms are pelvic chronic pain, dysmenorrheal, dyspauronia, pain during defecation and infertility. The signs of endometriosis on life's quality are multi-dimensional and most of them have a negative impact on psycho – social parameters. All women who suffer from endometriosis express pain. Since pain has negative impacts on quality of life, knowing the impact of this disease on QOL is important.

Objective: The goal of this study was to review literature related to endometriosis and its impact on QOL.

Methods: Searches were made via a number of electronic databases using defined search terms since 2002 to 2008.

Results: The conducted studies show that the signs of endometriosis especially pain, have impact on life dimensions such as physical activity, the ability of role playing and working, social activities, sexual relationship, mental and psychological health and energy. Infertility caused by endometriosis has also effects on mental health and people's personality. Endometriosis has negative effects on individual's self-image and the loss of feeling physical strength and fertility. The mental problems involved with endometriosis such as the feeling of guilt and distress at workplace that are caused by pain and sterility have impact on QOL. The other factors that can affect the quality of suffered women's   life include: The individual's physical appearance, feelings of social isolation, poor sleep, avoidance of sexual intercourse and so on.

Conclusion: This review study shows that symptomatic endometriosis significantly affects women's QOL. Most patients with endometriosis  seek treatment and remedy for disease and problems related to the gynecology such as sexual relationship problems, and  they less deal with other dimensions like psychological consultation that have important effect on life's quality. In addition, it is useful that doctors and health care workers have more knowledge to manage the disease and improve QOL of patients with endometriosis.

Key words: Endometriosis, Quality of Life, Psycho-social parameters