Endometriosis symptoms and productivity at work and at home

Results of an online survey show that the type and severity of a woman’s endometriosis symptoms has a significant relationship with her productivity both at work and at home. The findings, published in The Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, reflect data from nearly US women with the condition.

A total of 1318 women aged 18 to 49 completed the Health-related Productivity Questionnaire, which was designed to assess presenteeism and absenteeism for employed and household work. (Absenteeism was defined as work time missed, including household work, and presenteeism was defined as reduced effectiveness of work.) Patients were asked to rate the severity of their endometriosis symptoms in the past month as mild, moderate, or severe. They also self-rated by answering questions such as “Did endometriosis or its treatment keep you from working any of your scheduled hours in the past 7 days?” 

The researchers found that as symptom severity increased, hourly losses in employment and household chore productivity became significantly greater (mild vs severe: 1.9 vs 15.8 total employment hours lost and 2.5 vs 10.1 total household hours lost; P < 0.0001). Women with 3 concurrent endometriosis symptoms lost significantly more employment hours because of absenteeism and presenteeism compared with those who had 1 or 2 symptoms (P < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that a range of endometriosis symptoms predicted employment and household losses because of presenteeism and absenteeism.

The authors said their findings indicate “a need for guidance strategies to help women and employers manage endometriosis so as to reduce productivity loss.”