The association of endometriosis on body size, pain perception, comorbidity and work abilityin the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

Henna-Riikka Rossi, LL, will defend her doctoral dissertation on Friday 3 September at University of Oulu on the long-term consequences of endometriosis on women's overall health. The aim of the doctoral thesis was to investigate the association between endometriosis and body composition from birth to late fertile age, as well as the association between endometriosis and perceived pain, non-gynecological diseases and work ability at a late fertile age. The study population consisted of women in Northern Finland's Birth Cohort 1966.

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disorder, which affects 6-10% of women of reproductive age. The multiple symptoms associated with endometriosis, such as pain, infertility and fatigue, reduce the quality of life of affected women.

The study showed that women with endometriosis were leaner than women without endometriosis at fertile age, but differences in body size were not observed during childhood or at late fertile age. At late fertile age, women with endometriosis had about a 5% lower pain threshold and pain tolerance than women without endometriosis. In addition, women with endometriosis had an increased risk of non-gynecological diseases, in particular allergies, autoimmune symptoms, pain disorders and mood disorders. Women with endometriosis also felt their work ability poor more often, and they had more sickness absenteeism than women without disease still at middle age.

Based on the study, endometriosis affects women's overall health even at late fertile age and this should be taken into account in the treatment of women with endometriosis.