(080) The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on the Experience of Endometriosis
Authors: O'donnell S , Abarbanell L 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Endometriosis affects an estimated one in ten people assigned female at birth (AFABs) worldwide (WHO, 2021), yet it remains understudied. In the present study, I examine the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the experience of living with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by tissue similar to the lining of the uterus growing outside of the uterus. Symptoms can include severe pelvic pain especially during menstruation, pain with intercourse and bowel movements/urination, nausea, fatigue, and infertility, and can have a profound effect on quality of life (Gao et al., 2006). There is presently no cure, with surgical excision being the gold standard for treatment; however, this is costly, often ineffective for long-term relief, and largely inaccessible (WHO, 2021). Although endometriosis is not classified as a sexual health disorder, it can have an enormous impact on sufferers' sexual function, including, but not limited to, painful sex, desire/libido, and satisfaction (Yang et al., 2021). There is limited research on the impact of ACEs on the experience of living with endometriosis. The existing literature, however, suggests that there is a link between trauma, the development of endometriosis, and the associated symptoms. One longitudinal study (1989-2013) found that out of a sample of 60,595 premenopausal women, there were 3,394 cases of confirmed endometriosis (5.6%); However, there was a 79% increased risk of confirmed endometriosis for women reporting severe-chronic abuse of multiple types. This suggests a potential link between childhood abuse and the development of endometriosis (Harris et al., 2018). Furthermore, the connections between abuse and endometriosis were stronger among women presenting without known infertility, who are more likely to be symptomatic with respect to pain, illustrating that patients who have experienced abuse could be more likely to experience more pain (Harris et al., 2018). Thus, studying the relationship between ACEs and the experience of endometriosis is an important step in unraveling these possible causal connections.

Objective

The goal of the present study was to determine how a history of adverse childhood experiences affects AFABs’ experience of living with endometriosis.

Methods

Ten participants between the ages of 18-50 who have a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis and reside in southern California were invited to take an online Qualtrics survey. Participants' adverse childhood experiences were measured using the ACEs Questionnaire (Felitti el al., 1998). The impact of endometriosis on participants’ lives was measured using the Endometriosis Impact Questionnaire (EIQ; Moradi et al., 2019).

Results

Preliminary results suggest that the greater the number of adverse childhood experiences, the more severe the impact of endometriosis on participants' lives. I am presently collecting a larger sample that will allow for regression analysis.

Conclusions

This study will make a valuable contribution to the psychological, public health, and women’s sexual health literatures that will help practitioners better understand, interact with, and treat patients with a history of ACEs.

Disclosure

No