EFFICACY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY IN DYSPAREUNIA AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS: CASE SERIES

Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects about 5% to 15% of women in Brazil during the reproductive period; The etiology of the disease has no concrete evidence, but studies indicate that immunological, hormonal, and genetic factors are associated. Dyspareunia is one of the symptoms, being a painful sexual dysfunction, being present before, during or after intercourse. Objective: To analyze the efficacy of physical therapy and its impact on the symptomatology of dyspareunia and quality of life in women with endometriosis. Methods: This is a case series study with a quantitative approach. The study was carried out in a Physical Therapy Clinic, and included women aged eighteen years or older, diagnosed with endometriosis, complaining of dyspareunia and active sexual life. The data were divided into three stages, as follows: evaluation, intervention and reevaluation; the tools used were an evaluation form, three questionnaires, namely the Short Form Health Survey 36-item (SF-36), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sexual Quotient – Female Version (QS-F), physiotherapeutic protocol composed of 10 sessions, twice a week lasting 60 minutes each, including physiotherapeutic exercises, manual therapy and pelvic instruments. Results: The study interviewed six women, but the sample consisted of two participants, who had endometriosis and dyspareunia. After performing the physical therapy exercise protocol, it was possible to observe a global discrepancy in all the questionnaires applied. In case 01, a score of (42.8) in the evaluation and (50.4) in the reevaluation; in case 02, the evaluation score (62.1) to (72.4) in the reassessment in the domains of the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36), while in the sexual function questionnaire (FSFI) case 01 had (3.8) in the evaluation and (27.5) in the reevaluation; and case 02 obtained (30.9) in the evaluation and (33.4) in the reevaluation, finally in the sexual activity questionnaire (QS-F) case 01 presented (44) points in the evaluation and (68) in the reevaluation; Case 02 obtained (82) points in the evaluation and (90) in the reevaluation. Conclusion: In the present study, the two women with endometriosis and symptoms of dyspareunia, with the presence of pain during sexual intercourse, reported a significant improvement in the symptoms mentioned above, and we can conclude that physical therapy improved dyspareunia and the quality of life of these women.