by A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, and EndoActive, a not-for-profit charity focused on endometriosis awareness, has shed light on concerning advice given to patients with endometriosis. The study, which involved over 3,000 medically diagnosed patients globally, revealed that more than half of them were advised to plan a pregnancy to manage or treat the condition, despite a lack of evidence supporting this approach.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, causing symptoms such as severe pelvic pain and infertility. However, pregnancy or having a baby is not a proven treatment for this condition, and providing such advice can have negative impacts on patients. The research revealed that almost 90% of the patients who received this recommendation were advised by healthcare professionals, including gynecologists and general practitioners, with 36% of them being told that it would cure their condition.
Co-author Professor Louise Hull, a fertility expert from the University of Adelaide, emphasized that while the advice may be well-meaning, there are now better ways of discussing fertility concerns and options with patients with endometriosis. The study found that a third of the respondents felt that the advice was appropriate given their situation at the time. However, many other women reported feeling too young to have a baby and experienced stress and pressure as a result of this inappropriate recommendation.
The impact of such advice extended beyond the physical aspects of endometriosis, affecting patients’ mental health, relationships, major life decisions, and their trust in the healthcare system. One respondent shared that the advice had negatively affected their relationship, as they felt pressured to have children at a young age, which their partner couldn’t understand.
The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Guidelines for Management of Endometriosis explicitly state that patients should not be advised to become pregnant solely to treat the condition, as pregnancy does not always lead to symptom improvement or disease progression reduction. Therefore, the pregnancy advice given to endometriosis patients is inappropriate as it is not evidence-based.
EndoActive, in support of health professionals providing fertility advice when appropriate, emphasized that the advice of using pregnancy as a treatment option is inappropriate. Sylvia Freedman, Co-founder of EndoActive and co-author of the study, highlighted that babies are not treatment options and that the advice lacks evidence.
In light of these findings, the researchers are calling for improved medical education about endometriosis treatment among healthcare professionals. Endometriosis affects one in seven women and assigned female at birth individuals. It is crucial to ask patients about their fertility preferences and provide evidence-based advice for the treatment and management of endometriosis to enhance patient experiences and outcomes, according to Professor Hull.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
