Endometriosis Symptoms and Their Impacts on the Daily Lives of US Women: Results from an Interview Study

Elke Hunsche; Martha Gauthier; Brooke Witherspoon; Viatcheslav Rakov; Sanjay K Agarwal

doi:10.2147/IJWH.S409733

Endometriosis Symptoms and Their Impacts on the Daily Lives of US Women: Results from an Interview Study

Int J Womens Health. 2023 Jun 1:15:893-904. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S409733. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Elke Hunsche¹, Martha Gauthier², Brooke Witherspoon², Viatcheslav Rakov¹, Sanjay K Agarwal³

Affiliations

¹ Myovant Sciences GmbH, Basel, Switzerland.
² Endpoint Outcomes, A Lumanity Company, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Center for Endometriosis Research and Treatment, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Abstract

Objective: This interview study sought to capture patients' experiences and perceptions of endometriosis symptoms and their impacts on daily life, as described by women in their own words. Using open-ended questions and a concept-elicitation approach, this study assessed the signs and symptoms of endometriosis and their impacts on different aspects of quality of life, including daily activities, functioning, and well-being.

Materials and methods: This interview study included US women with moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain who completed one of two Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (SPIRIT 1 or SPIRIT 2; ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03204318, NCT03204331). Interviews were conducted via a web/Internet-based video platform or telephone by trained interviewers, using open-ended questions in a concept-elicitation approach, and probes as needed to obtain additional feedback on the burden of endometriosis. Qualitative data from the interviews were analyzed, and emerging concepts were coded by independent coders. Concept saturation was evaluated to determine if all endometriosis-related symptoms and impacts had been described by the sample of women interviewed.

Results: Forty women participated in this study. In total, 18 unique symptoms of endometriosis emerged from the interviews; pelvic pain (92.5%), dyspareunia (80.0%), and heavy bleeding (75.0%) were the most commonly reported endometriosis symptoms. A total of 33 unique impacts of endometriosis symptoms were identified across 11 concepts: physical impacts, impacts on activities of daily living, social impacts, sleep impacts, emotional impacts, appearance impacts, financial impacts, sex-related impacts, work/school-related impacts, fertility impacts, and cognitive impacts. Concept saturation was achieved for both symptoms and impacts of endometriosis.

Conclusion: This interview study provides substantive qualitative data on the burden of endometriosis, from the perspective of affected women in the US. The findings demonstrate the debilitating effect of endometriosis symptoms, which limit and adversely impact women's daily lives.

Keywords: concept-elicitation; endometriosis; gynecology; interview; pain; patient perspective.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03204331
ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03204318

Grants and funding

This article was funded by Myovant Sciences GmbH, in collaboration with Pfizer, with research completed by Endpoint Outcomes (a Lumanity company) who were compensated by Myovant Sciences GmbH.