Endometriosis diagnosis linked to long-lasting mental health burden

Women who are later diagnosed with endometriosis have a markedly higher use of antidepressant and anxiety medication and are far more often in contact with psychiatric hospital departments than other women. This is not only the case after the diagnosis has been made. The pattern is already apparent 10 years earlier.

That is the finding of a large new Danish registry-based study from Aarhus University, published in the journal Human Reproduction, based on data from 136,842 women.

“What surprised us was how clear and persistent the pattern was, and that the difference did not diminish over time. On the contrary, women with endometriosis consistently redeemed more prescriptions for antidepressant medication than women without the disease throughout the entire period, from 10 years before to 10 years after diagnosis,” says Marie Josiasen, Ph.D. student at the Department of Public Health and one of the researchers behind the study.

The difference appears 10 years earlier

Specifically, women with endometriosis redeemed 29% more prescriptions for antidepressant medication and 16% more for anxiety medication in the years before diagnosis.

After diagnosis, the difference rose to 40% and 46%.

The study does not provide an answer as to what causes the mental strain, but Josiasen points to a couple of likely explanations:

“It’s possible that prolonged pain, uncertainty about the cause of the symptoms and frustration over not being able to live the life one wants may be among the reasons. For some women, fertility problems can also be a major psychological burden,” she says.

A hard realization

One of the study’s most interesting findings, according to Josiasen, is that the strain does not ease after the women receive their diagnosis.

On the contrary, the difference compared with women without endometriosis becomes even more pronounced in the years that follow.

“A diagnosis can be a relief, but it also involves coming to terms with having a chronic illness,” says Josiasen.

The study does not indicate whether an earlier diagnosis could reduce the psychological strain.

As part of her Ph.D. project, Josiasen will investigate the role that hormonal contraception plays in the mental health of women with endometriosis.

“We can see that many receive medication and are in contact with psychiatric services. But we still lack an understanding of what actually helps these women. That’s what I want to help find out,” says Josiasen.

Who’s behind this story?

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries.

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Andrew Zinin

Master’s in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X’s editorial success.

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