Table 2.

Potential Factors Mediating the Impact of Endometriosis on Life Course at the Individual Level

Age at symptom onset and eventual diagnosis

Delay in diagnosis

Social/family/spouse support

Psychological considerations (eg, abuse/early traumatic exposures, stress, anxiety, depression)

Severity, frequency, and predictabilitya of pain

Opioid use

Infertility

Pregnancy/successful livebirth

Comorbidities and their symptoms

Response (or non-response) to treatment

Number of surgeries

Geographic location

Financial status

Access to healthcare

Hysterectomy

Menopause

Patient resilience

Complementary and alternative medicine coping mechanisms, including mindfulness training or other mind-body interventions

Predisposition to pain/chronic pain syndromes

Note: ^aMany women report that although dysmenorrhea is their worst pain, non-menstrual pelvic pain is more problematic because of its lack of predictability, which leads to hesitancy in planning and engaging in activities (SKA, clinical observations).