The participants find it supportive when the spouse or partner is knowledgeable. Commitment is a source of support for the participants. Participants do not expect spouses or partners to solve the problems of endometriosis. Even though they can't fix it, don't give up - just being there, listening and being supportive is a big help. Participants want spouses or partners to recognize the impact on the sexual relationship.
Partners have to understand and be VERY careful.
The third relationship category is friends and extended family. The participants related their experiences of receiving support from friends and extended family. From friends and extended family they want to be listened to and believed, they want others to be knowledgeable about endometriosis, they in general want some sympathy and empathy, they want support with their disease struggles and they want to not be blamed, their experiences minimized or they do not want to be worried over. The participants want friends and extended family to listen. That is the best gift my friends have given me.