The symptoms of endometriosis, such as chronic pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, have a strong impact on the quality of life of women affected.
According to a study from the Catholic University of Milan, up to one in four women with endometriosis experience at least partial disruption to education and employment, especially when symptoms begin in adolescence and the diagnosis is delayed.
The impact of the disease
Often diagnosed late (from 5 to 12 years on average), it is estimated that endometriosis affects between 5% and 10% of the female population of reproductive age, but it can involve 30-50% of women with infertility, 50% of those with chronic pelvic pain, and 65-75% of adolescents with pelvic pain symptoms.
The disease, for which March is dedicated, can persist beyond 40 years of age and the symptoms can continue after menopause.
The research
The study published in the journal BMC Psychology is coordinated by Federica Facchin, in collaboration with experts from the University of Milan and the Ca’ Granda Policlinico IRCCS Foundation of Milan, with the support of the Progetto Endometriosi Association (APE-Odv).
The study involved 971 Italian women with endometriosis and found that in Italy around 306,000 could encounter difficulties in educational trajectories and 396,000 face limitations in working life due to the disease.
The survey shows that endometriosis affects the educational path in about one in six patients, a share that rises to almost one in four among those who have suffered from adolescence and received a late diagnosis: 55% report frequent school absences, 38% a reduction in performance, and 34% difficulty in preparing for exams or tests due to pain. In working life, about one in five (22%) report an impact on their career path, a share that rises to over one in four (28%) among women with early onset of symptoms and delayed diagnosis.
«Projecting the study results onto the numbers from the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), which reports that 1.8 million women in Italy live with endometriosis, it is estimated that about 306,000 face challenges in educational pathways and 396,000 encounter somewhat significant work-related difficulties associated with the disease», concludes Facchin.
Study
Facchin, F., Vercellini, P. & Somigliana, E. The impact of endometriosis on educational and professional pathways: a cross-sectional online study. BMC Psychol 14, 303 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04112-5
Abbonati a Karla Miller
