Page 55 - Diagnostic delay of endometriosis
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Results
All of the 60 GPs at the education meeting completed the questionnaire. A total of 233 GPs were addressed by email, of which 53 responded (22.7%). In total, 101 GPs completed 113 questionnaires. Twelve GPs returned the questionnaire on both occasions, so their second questionnaire was not taken into account. In total, 101 questionnaires remained for analysis. Of these, 87 GPs answered at least 26 knowledge questions, and their scores were included for analysis (see Table 1 for baseline characteristics). The GPs encounter on average 2.8 ± 2.5 (range 0–20) women per year who they suspect of having endometriosis and 2.1 ± 3.1 (range 0–20) women who think they have endometriosis themselves. According to the GPs, when women come up with endometriosis as a possible explanation for their symptoms, most of them base this presumption on information gained on the internet (Figure 1).
Table I. Baseline characteristics
Sex n (%)
Male Female Unknown
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Practice experience (years)
Results are indicated as mean ± SD
29 (28.7%) 57 (56.4%) 15 (14.9%)
0.70 ± 0.19 14.2 ± 9.7
        GPs estimated the time from start of symptoms to first presentation to the GP to be 39.1 months (±35.6), whereas time from first presentation at the GP until diagnosis is estimated at 26.6 months (±33.1). The GPs consider cyclic symptoms and severe dysmenorrhea as typical complaints to trigger their awareness of endometriosis, but abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding pattern, aspecific abdominal complaints, cyclic urinary or defecation symptoms, dyspareunia and subfertility were also mentioned (Figure 2). When the GP suspected endometriosis, 12 (12.4%) referred for diagnostic tests, 30 (30.9%) started treatment (analgesics, oral contraceptives or IUD), 43 (44.3%) referred to a gynaecologist, five (5.2%) awaited the natural course for some time, one (1.0 %) gave lifestyle advice and six (6.2%) had other medical strategies.
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