Depression in women with endometriosis with and without chronic pelvic pain

Aim. The aim of the study is to compare the prevalence of depression in women surgically diagnosed with endometriosis according to the presence or absence of pelvic pain. Methods. This cross-sectional prospective study evaluated 100 women receiving care at the Outpatients' Clinic for Endometriosis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil, equally divided into two groups: one suffering from chronic pelvic pain and the other pain-free. The Beck Depression Inventory was used in order to measure depression. Results. Depression was detected in 86 and 38% of the women with and without chronic pelvic pain, respectively. Complaints of depression, such as somatic concerns, work inhibition, dissatisfaction, and sadness, were observed at a significantly higher rate in the group with pain. A sensation of failure was the only variable observed more frequently in the pain-free group. Conclusions. Depression is highly prevalent in women with endometriosis, especially those with pelvic pain. Careful evaluation can identify women with depression who may benefit from treatment.