Endometriosis Diagnostic Delay and Its Correlates: Results from the ComPaRe-Endometriosis Cohort.

BACKGROUND

An average time to diagnosis of 7 years is commonly described for endometriosis; diagnostic delay for adenomyosis is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe diagnostic delay for endometriosis and adenomyosis and to investigate the factors associated with this delay.

METHODS

Community of Patients for Research (ComPaRe)-Endometriosis is a prospective e-cohort of women with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis in France. About 6,949 participants were included. We used linear regression modeling to assess factors associated with diagnostic delay, after adjustment for age, education level, body mass index, number of comorbidities, and family history of the disease or of chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

RESULTS

The average diagnostic delay was 10 years for endometriosis and 11 years for adenomyosis. Factors associated with a significantly longer diagnostic delay were year of diagnosis (+0.34 years, p < 0.0001), unemployment (+0.7 years, p = 0.01), number of comorbidities (+0.3 years, p < 0.0001), family history of the disease or of CPP (+1.1 years, p < 0.0001), severe dysmenorrhea before diagnosis (numeric-rating scale: +0.8 years, p < 0.0001), number of health professionals consulted before diagnosis (+0.3 years, p < 0.0001), and presence of multiple symptoms leading to first consultation (+1.6 years, p < 0.0001). In contrast, factors associated with a shorter delay were a financial position perceived as comfortable (-1.4 years, p < 0.0001), age at menarche (-0.6 years, p < 0.0001), and age at first symptoms (-0.8 years, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights several factors associated with diagnostic delay among women with self-reported endometriosis and/or adenomyosis and provides new insights to improve care by informing both clinicians and patients. Attention to these profiles may improve disease management.