title: Impact of endometriosis on women's health: comparative historical data show that the earlier the onset, the more severe the disease.
abstract: Looking at endometriosis from the bigger picture -- as a systemic endocrine, immunological, and gastrointestinal disease -- opens the door to broader treatments. The bigger-picture understanding of the disease also makes clear a variety of patterns of presenting symptoms, again clarifying the diagnosis. Data from over 7000 confirmed cases clearly show that delay in diagnosis (the average time to diagnosis is >9 years) is a major problem and that current treatments are far from satisfactory. In conclusion, the impact of endometriosis, a disease that already produces intense symptoms, is worsened by a current lack of understanding of the disease beyond its pelvic definition.
authors.affiliation: Endometriosis Association, International Headquarters, 8585 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223, USA. endo@endometriosisassn.org
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ballweg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome