Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40253561›Full record

ArticleArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2025

The role of self-management in endometriosis pain: insights from a cross-sectional survey in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Franziska Werner, Victoria Jasinski, Renata Voltolini Velho, Jalid Sehouli, Sylvia Mechsner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Superficial heat therapy in women's health.Frontiers in medicine · 2026
    Review
  3. Observational
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Franziska WernerDepartment of Gynaecology Charité With Centre of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Centre Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.ORCID 0009-0007-1088-1349
Victoria JasinskiDepartment of Gynaecology Charité With Centre of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Centre Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Renata Voltolini VelhoDepartment of Gynaecology Charité With Centre of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Centre Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0788-1640
Jalid SehouliDepartment of Gynaecology Charité With Centre of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Centre Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Sylvia MechsnerDepartment of Gynaecology Charité With Centre of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Centre Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany. sylvia.mechsner@charite.de.ORCID 0000-0002-1095-0048

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEndometriosis has a significant negative impact on women's lives. Unfortunately, current medical treatments often fail to provide adequate pain relief and may cause intolerable side effects. Although many women experiencing primary dysmenorrhoea employ self-management strategies to help alleviate period-related symptoms, there is a paucity of knowledge about how women with endometriosis manage their symptoms through self-management.

methodsA cross-sectional online survey was distributed in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, between August and December 2022, targeting women aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of endometriosis. The survey gathered information on (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) self-management strategies employed by the respondents in the previous six months, including their frequency, reasons for non-use, self-rated effectiveness, and impact on reducing endometriosis-related medication. Furthermore, the survey collected data on demographics, medical history, current symptomatology, and medication usage. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted.

resultsOf the 912 valid responses, 75.4% reported using self-management strategies, with the most prevalent being rest (91.6%), heat (91.1%), and exercise (63.3%). The most highly rated techniques in terms of effectiveness in pain reduction were cannabis, osteopathy, heat, and alcohol, with mean effectiveness ratings of 8.0, 7.3, 7.1, and 6.8, respectively, on the Numerical Rating Scale. Interventions, such as Tai Chi/Qi Gong, yoga/Pilates, herbal medicine, stretching, and meditation/breathing, were rated as being less effective. The lack of information and costs were identified as the primary reasons for not utilising self-management approaches.

conclusionThe findings of this study may provide evidence for the reimbursement of self-management techniques by health insurance companies for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain.

Indexed as

EndometriosisPain ManagementPelvic PainSelf-ManagementAdultAustriaCross-Sectional StudiesDysmenorrheaFemaleGermanyHumansMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesSwitzerlandYoung AdultEndometriosisNon-pharmacological treatmentPain managementSelf-management

Identifiers

PMID40253561
PMCPMC12334507

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.