Deep Dyspareunia One Year After Nerve-Sparing Endometriosis Surgery: An Observational Study Highlighting Undesirable Outcomes.

Background/

Objectives

This study evaluates the 1-year follow-up outcomes after minimally invasive nerve-sparing surgery for the complete excision of deep endometriosis (DE), with a specific focus on deep dyspareunia. Cases with undesirable outcomes were explored in detail to better understand the evolution of this cornerstone endometriosis-related symptom. This approach supports personalized medicine initiatives by seeking to stratify patients into likely surgical responders and non-responders.

Methods

This is an interdisciplinary retrospective observational study assessing 195 consecutive cases. Inclusion criteria comprised women with an established diagnosis of DE who had been sexually active in the 6 months prior to surgery. Because pregnancy and postpartum can interfere with the longitudinal assessment of deep dyspareunia, women in these phases during follow-up were excluded. Additionally, individuals who had not been sexually active in the preceding 6 months for reasons unrelated to deep dyspareunia were excluded. Deep dyspareunia was measured using an 11-point (0-10) self-reported Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Hierarchical clusters were established based on preoperative scores: NONE (NRS = 0), MILD (1 ≤ NRS ≤ 3), MODERATE (4 ≤ NRS ≤ 6), and SEVERE (NRS ≥ 7).

Results

In the SEVERE cluster, 82.2% (95% CI: 72.4-92.0) of women improved by ≥3 points. In the NONE cluster, 70.1% (95% CI: 60.3-79.2) remained asymptomatic. Although improvements in deep dyspareunia were statistically significant across the total sample, individual trajectories were not uniform; the response was considered undesirable in 34 cases (17.4%; 95% CI: 12.1-22.8). The frequency of preoperatively asymptomatic women (NRS = 0) developing De Novo deep dyspareunia (NRS ≥ 3) at the 1-year follow-up was estimated at 14.9% (95% CI: 8.0-22.7). These results highlight the marked phenotypic and clinical heterogeneity in patient trajectories and the inherent unpredictability of adverse responses.

Conclusions

Postoperative pain outcomes likely result from a complex interplay among surgical, myofascial, neurological, psychological, inflammatory, and hormonal factors. While surgery remains an effective and safe approach for treating pain, our findings underscore that even preoperatively asymptomatic patients should receive targeted counseling regarding the unexpected risk of developing postoperative deep dyspareunia.