TABLE II.
Comparison of pain symptoms, gynecologic, obstetric, and other clinical characteristics between women with endometriosis from the United States (EA) and Puerto Rico (ERP)
| Characteristics | EA N = 4,358a n (%) | ERP N = 878a n (%) | p-valueb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvic pain symptoms | |||
| Dysmenorrhea | 4,020 (98.2) | 726 (83.9) | <0.001 |
| Dyspareunia | 2,810 (74.4) | 418 (53.7) | <0.001 |
| Chronic pelvic pain | 4,171 (98.4) | 421 (48.0) | <0.001 |
| Pain throughout the month | 2,809 (78.3) | 148 (28.5) | <0.001 |
| Incapacitating pain | 3,512 (80.1) | 534 (66.1) | <0.001 |
| Gynecologic and obstetric history | |||
| Problems getting pregnant | 1,800 (69.4) | 346 (53.3) | <0.001 |
| Miscarriages | 618 (14.2) | 171 (20.8) | <0.001 |
| Irregular bleeding | 1,912 (49.1) | 106 (20.4) | <0.001 |
| Profuse bleeding | 2,833 (70.1) | 90 (17.3) | <0.001 |
| Hysterectomy | 722 (16.8) | 87 (11.7) | <0.001c |
| Uterine fibroids | 866 (20.0) | 149 (17.0) | 0.040d |
| Other co-existing symptoms | |||
| Back/leg pain | 3,496 (91.9) | 239 (46.0) | <0.001 |
| Abdominal pain | 3,112 (85.7) | 140 (26.9) | <0.001 |
| Nausea/upset stomach | 2,768 (68.8) | 197 (37.9) | <0.001 |
| Diarrhea | 1,677 (56.1) | 134 (25.8) | <0.001 |
| Painful urination | 1,329 (34.6) | 61 (11.7) | <0.001 |
| Low resistance to infections | 1,886 (49.1) | 62 (11.9) | <0.001 |
| Low grade fever | 1,404 (37.6) | 13 (2.5) | <0.001 |
| Fatigue/low energy | 3,810 (91.0) | 97 (18.7) | <0.001 |
| Dizziness | 2,749 (69.1) | 116 (22.4) | <0.001 |
| Chest pain | 563 (21.4) | 29 (4.4) | <0.001 |
Percents are based on total number of women per group who responded to each question (excludes blank or non-applicable responses) and may not equal the listed denominator per group.
P-values are from crude comparisons using contingency tables; in addition, all comparisons were further adjusted for pertinent covariates, such as each of age at surgical diagnosis, time to diagnosis from onset of symptoms, duration of living with endometriosis, and calendar timing of diagnosis as they were statistically significantly different between groups and may impact findings. Problems getting pregnant was also adjusted for age at time of first delivery, and hysterectomy and uterine fibroids were also adjusted for current age. Any changes in conclusions as a result of the adjustments are indicated.
Not statistically significant when adjusted for time to diagnosis or duration of endometriosis. As applicable due to the impact of current age, this was also not statistically significant when adjusted for age at time of completing the questionnaire.
Not statistically significant when adjusted for any of the covariates. As applicable due to the impact of current age, this was also not statistically significant when adjusted for age at time of completing the questionnaire.