Evaluation of laparoscopic surgery effects on pain severity and quality of life in different subtypes of endometriosis: A follow-up study.

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that endometriosis significantly has a negative impact on women's mental health and quality of life (QoL), resulting in these participants experiencing a diminished QoL.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic surgery on the severity of pain and the QoL of women with different types of endometriosis.

Materials and methods: In this follow-up study 50 women with endometriosis, who underwent laparoscopic surgery, who met a high visual analog score ( $>$ 6) with impaired QoL, lack of response to analgesics, infertility with pain unresponsive to assisted reproductive therapy, and involvement of other organs such as the bowel or ureter at the Amir Al Momenin hospital, Zabol, Iran, from August 2022 to January 2023 were enrolled. The participants were categorized into 2 groups: those with stage IV endometriosis and those with lower stages (I-III). Groups according to the higher occurrence of grade 4 endometriosis, as 55.1% were affected by it. The pain score was measured using the visual analog score, and the participants' QoL score was measured using the endometriosis health profile questionnaire.

Results: The mean age of participants was 32 yr, with a standard deviation of 8.6 yr. Participants were divided into 2 groups: those with grade 4 endometriosis (55.1%) and those with a grade lower than 4, as classified by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Over 12 months, both groups experienced a significant decrease in pain severity and QoL scores (p $<$ 0.0001). However, the changes in pain and QoL scores between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.520 and p = 0.984, respectively).

Conclusion: Laparoscopic treatment can reduce pain and QoL scores (increase the QoL indices) in women with endometriosis, regardless of the disease's severity.