Dados do Trabalho

Title

Impacts of the diagnosis of endometriosis and the importance of the multidisciplinary team in Fertilization Clinics

Objective

To reflect on the impacts of the diagnosis of endometriosis and the importance of the multidisciplinary team in Fertilization Clinics;

Methods

A search was carried out on a digital platform (Virtual Health Library – VHL), through Health Descriptors (DECS) entitled Endometriosis; Stress, Psychological; Fertility Clinics. After crossing data, 04 articles of the type observational cross-sectional study, descriptive research, randomized clinical trial and quantitative and qualitative research were obtained.

Results

Endometriosis is defined as the development and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. According to Ribeiro et al (2021), the general incidence of endometriosis affects between 6 and 10% of women of reproductive age and was found in pre-menarcheal and post-menopausal women. The average age at diagnosis is approximately 28 years. Deep endometriosis as the only form of disease in the absence of other endometriotic lesions was present in only 6.5% of patients. Intestinal infiltration occurs at an incidence ranging from 5 to 12%. In addition to the physical aspects, ranging from dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea to inability to perform work activities, mental aspects are also present, such as, for example, anxiety and depression. Silva et al. (2021) report that the experience of patients until the diagnosis of the disease goes through a series of issues: the alleviation of symptoms through the bond of friends, the difficulty in carrying out the diagnosis and pilgrimage by several professionals until they receive the proper assistance (in addition to the financial strain of the journey). Another aspect that permeates the life of a woman with endometriosis is infertility. Most of the time, due to the reduction of signs and symptoms, women only discover the diagnosis when they try to get pregnant and fail. Pretzel et al. (2021) brought as a result of their research that, of 6,354 women of eligible age with a diagnosis of endometriosis, 421 had a diagnosis of concomitant infertility. Therefore, Fertilization Clinics are, in most cases, the patient's first contact with the frightening diagnosis of endometriosis and infertility. Associated with this, there is an urgency to act, many times, in relation to the treatments/procedures available for pregnancy or preservation of fertility. Many need IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or egg freezing for social preservation, and therefore undergo the stages of the process as they “digest” such a diagnosis. Lorençatto et al. (2007) concluded in their study that the multidisciplinary intervention was effective in reducing pain and depression in women with endometriosis, and could be incorporated into the conventional treatment offered to women with this disease. The patient assisted by a multidisciplinary team, especially a specialist physician, nurse, nutritionist and psychologist, enjoys different perceptions and, therefore, specialized assistance throughout the treatment.

Conclusion

The impacts of the diagnosis of endometriosis range from physical, to mental and social consequences, directly impacting the patient's quality of life. The multidisciplinary team provides specialized care centered on the needs of patients arriving at the Fertilization Clinics. Thus, becoming a necessary strategy.

Keywords

Endometriosis; Stress, Psychological; Patient Care Team; Fertility Clinics.