ENDOMETRIOSIS AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMAN OF CHILDBEARING AGE

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic, benign, estrogen-dependent inflammatory gynecological disease that acts progressively. It is characterized by the presence and growth of dysfunctional endometrial glands outside the uterine cavity, which can affect several organs, generally located in the pelvis. The epidemiology of this disease is still difficult to characterize, mainly due to diagnostic deficiency, but it is estimated that around 2 to 10% of women of childbearing age may be affected and that 50% of women with chronic pelvic pain are diagnosed with endometriosis. As a consequence of the inflammatory process, the woman may present one or more of the following symptoms: dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, infertility and urinary or intestinal changes. Such symptoms, especially chronic pelvic pain, can have negative consequences on the sufferer's quality of life, limiting routine and interfering in the biological, psychological, social and family spheres. In view of this, the present work aims to carry out a systematic review of the current literature on endometriosis and its impacts on the lives of its carriers, encouraging and guiding the medical community to identify the typical clinical condition early, carry out diagnosis and early control of the disease. disease, so that progression does not culminate in the patient's psychosocial impairment.