Comparing Surgical, Acupuncture, and Exercise Interventions for Improving the Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 7; p. e65257
• Main Authors: Afreen, Sumayya, Perthiani, Arvin, Sangster, Elizabeth, Lanka, Nidhi, Acharya, Prakash, Virani, Shikha, Malasevskaia, Iana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 24.07.2024
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Bias; Case reports; Clinical trials; Endometriosis; Infertility; Intervention; Laparoscopy; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Observational studies; Quality of life; Subject heading schemes; Surgery; Systematic review; Well being; endometriosis; acupuncture; exercise; quality of life; systematic review; surgical interventions
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65257

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that significantly impacts the quality of life (QoL) of affected women. This systematic review aimed to compare the effects of surgical interventions, acupuncture, and exercise programs on the QoL in women with endometriosis. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating the impact of these interventions on the QoL were included. The review identified 10 studies (six RCTs and four observational studies) involving a total of 493 participants. Surgical interventions, particularly the laparoscopic excision of endometriotic lesions, demonstrated substantial reductions in pain and improvements in the QoL. Acupuncture effectively alleviated pain and enhanced overall well-being. Exercise programs improved the QoL, physical function, and pain reduction. The findings suggest that surgical-, acupuncture-, and exercise-based approaches can significantly improve the QoL for women with endometriosis. However, more personalized treatment approaches and further research are needed to understand the long-term benefits, optimal protocols, and underlying mechanisms of these interventions.