Experiences of male partners of women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to assess the experiences of male partners of women with endometriosis-associated pain after medical treatment in their everyday lives.

Methods

We conducted a phenomenological study based on semi-structured interviews with 11 male partners of women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas Medical School, Brazil. A thematic analysis of manifest content was performed, a coding frame was drafted, and the main analysis categories were elaborated.

Results

The interviewed men had been in stable relationships for a median length of 14 years. They reported that they did not have information about endometriosis before their partners’ diagnosis and that the endometriosis-associated pelvic pain suffered by their partners affected their personal everyday life, marital relationship, sexual relationship, and intimacy.

Conclusion

Male partners of women with endometriosis-associated pain reported that the disease has both a profound impact on their lives and on their relationship. Our study contributed to an increased understanding of the life experience of men living with women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain and may contribute to encourage healthcare professionals to incorporate strategies for guidance of the couple during treatment.

摘要

目的：本研究的目的是评估患有子宫内膜异位症相关疼痛的女性接受药物治疗后其男性伴侣在日常生活中的体验。

方法：我们在巴西坎皮纳斯大学医学院妇产科对11名患有子宫内膜异位症相关盆腔疼痛的女性的男性伴侣进行了一项现象学研究。对清单内容进行了专题分析, 起草了编码框架, 并阐述了主要分析类别。

结果：受访男性保持稳定关系的中位时间为14年。他们报告说, 在他们的伴侣确诊之前, 他们不知道关于子宫内膜异位症的信息, 他们的伴侣遭受的与子宫内膜异位症相关的盆腔疼痛影响了他们的个人日常生活、婚姻关系、性关系和亲密关系。

结论：患有子宫内膜异位症相关疼痛的女性其男性伴侣报告说, 这种疾病对他们的生活和他们的关系都有很大的影响。我们的研究有助于加深对子宫内膜异位症相关盆腔疼痛的女性其男性伴侣生活体验的了解, 并可能有助于鼓励医疗保健专业人员在治疗期间纳入指导夫妇的策略。

Keywords:

• Endometriosis
• chronic pelvic pain
• men partners
• quality of life
• qualitative research

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the public health facilities at the UNICAMP for their support and assistance. The authors also express our gratitude to interviewees for their time for the interviews and participation in the study and their wives.

Author contributions

All authors, DM, MYM, LB, contribute to the study design, data analysis, interpretation of findings and critical review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

LB receives honoraria as an advisory board member and has been an invited speaker at scientific meetings for Bayer HealthCare and MSD. The other authors report no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The interviews were recording, and they are in Portuguese. The material is available on request.

Additional information

Funding

The study received partial financial support from the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [awards 2015/20504-9 and 2015/10021] and from CNPq, (the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) [grant 573747/2008-3]. ENG-implants and partial financial support for the primary study were provided by MSD. The LNG-IUS used in the study were donated by the International Access Foundation, Turku, Finland. The donors did not participate in the protocol design, conduct of the study, analysis of the data or drafting of the manuscript.