Impact of Therapeutic Interventions on Fear of Progression in Patients with Endometriosis

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with pain, infertility, and increased risk of mental disorders (anxiety, depression). One of these manifestations is the fear of progression, recently documented in patients with endometriosis, which can affect their quality of life. Our study aims to evaluate the relationship between the fear of progression and the type of treatment in endometriosis. Methods: We conducted a prospective survey of 298 patients with endometriosis, divided into four treatment groups (hormonal therapy without or with surgical indication, surgical intervention, phytotherapy). Fear of progression (FoP) was evaluated through the Fear of Progression Questionnaire—Short Form (FoP-Q-SF). Scores were compared between groups using the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc analysis and adjusted for age (ANCOVA). Results: FoP was generally high. Significant differences between groups were observed (p = 0.021), with the highest FoP-Q-SF scores being in patients undergoing exclusive hormonal treatment, higher than in the surgical groups (p < 0.01). Younger age correlated with increased fear (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Treatment type influences anxiety regarding disease progression. Exclusive hormonal therapy was associated with the greatest fear of progression, while the differences observed between hormonal therapy with surgical indication and primary surgical treatment may partly be due to methodological or informational factors rather than purely clinical differences. A multidisciplinary approach, including psychological support, is essential to alleviate patient fears and improve their quality of life.

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