Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Oct 2024)
Investigation of the Relative Frequency of Endometriosis Symptoms and Related Factors in Women Referring to Yasuj Health and Treatment Centers in 2023
Abstract
Background & aim: Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women and girls of reproductive age. The present study was designed and implemented with the aim of determining the relative frequency of endometriosis symptoms and related factors in women referring to health and treatment centers in Yasuj, Iran, in 2023. Methods: In the present descriptive-analytical study conducted in 2023, the studied population were non-pregnant women of reproductive age of 15-50 years who were referred to health centers of Yasuj, Iran, and 865 of them were selected by convenient sampling method. The participants were interviewed with the self-assessment questionnaire included in the educational booklet of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, including 12 symptoms of endometriosis, in order to identify suspected cases of the disease, if they have five or more symptoms. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 27 statistical software and using descriptive statistics indicators such as mean, standard deviation, frequency distribution tables and inferential statistics of Chi square test. Results: The findings indicated that the highest frequency of endometriosis symptoms related to irregular menstrual periods in the last 6 months was 413 (47.7%) and the lowest was infertility in 91 (10.5%). In 209 (24.2%) they were suspected to have the disease and 94 (10.9%) had a history of endometriosis. The frequency of endometriosis symptoms in women aged 21-30, married, housewives, with a family history of endometriosis, history of using tobacco in the last 6 months, exposure to tobacco smoke, daily use of caffeinated substances were significantly higher(p<0.001). Conclusion: In the present study, approximately a quarter of women of reproductive age needed to be referred to a specialist physician and follow-up due to the possibility of contracting this disease, which indicated the importance of screening women of reproductive age and timely diagnosis of this disease in order to prevent its complications and consequences, including infertility.
