endometriosis-associated symptoms and diagnostic delay: an online survey

Background & objective: the aim of this study was to determine the endometriosis-associated symptoms and diagnostic delay through an online survey.materials & methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in australia using an online web-based survey. all data were entered into and analyzed using the stata software (version 14.1). a total of 903 respondents completed an online survey from september 2013 to october 2015.results: out of 903, 71.10% were australians and 28.90% were non-australian, with a self-reported diagnosis of endometriosis confirmed by surgery. out of the participants, 86.5% completed the online survey. delay in diagnosis was 8.1±6.2 years. there was no difference in the age range (p = 0.35), mean age of onset of the first symptoms (p = 0.93), and delay in diagnosis (p = 0.11) between both groups. most common endometriosis-related symptoms that all respondents had experienced in their lifetime were period pain (98.1%), fatigue (94%), bloating (90.7%), ovulation pain (88.7%), pelvic pain (87.3%), pain during and before/after sexual activity (82.7%), and heavy bleeding (82.2%) .treatments used by affected women included: pain killers (96%),hormonal medication (84.7%), surgical treatments (84.5%), and delayed fertility(37.1%).conclusion: vast similarities in demographics and endometriosis-associated symptoms among the australian and non-australian women with endometriosis support the universality of the disease characteristics. delay in diagnosis of endometriosis is a problem and the reasons for delayed diagnosis must be understood to try to shorten this delay. besides pain, patients with endometriosis suffer from a variety of other symptoms; hence, any treatment must take into account the most prominent symptoms.