Patient preference for treatment of an endometrioma, a qualitative study

Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to identify considerations, objections, and preferences of women with symptomatic ovarian endometrioma in the shared decision-making process. Design: This study was conducted as a qualitative study, including twenty patients facing or faced therapeutic treatment options for an ovarian endometrioma. Setting: Four focus groups were held between February 2020 and June 2021 in the Netherlands. Two of them were held online due to COVID-19 pandemic. Population: A qualitative study was performed using semi-structured in-depth focus group methodology. All women, aged 27–44 years, suffered from pain. Methods: The focus groups were audio recorded and fully transcribed using ATLAS-ti. Grounded theory methodology was applied for data analysis. Main outcome measures: Outcome measure includes the most important aspects during decision-making process for patients facing or faced therapeutic treatment options for an ovarian endometrioma. Results: A total of twenty Dutch women with an ovarian endometrioma were included. Participants named “relief of pain”, “fertility”, “adverse effects or surgical complications”, “recurrence of pain and lesions”, and “time untill treatment effect occurs” as most important aspects during their decision-making process. In addition, women often felt “unheard”, so more attention should be paid to symptoms of endometriosis. Conclusion: Participants named “relief of pain”, “fertility”, “adverse effects or complications”, “recurrence of pain and lesions”, and “time untill treatment effect occurs” as most important aspects during their decision-making process.