Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Volume 22, Issue 2, Pages 109-116Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2009.00475.x
Keywords
Endometriosis; infertility; pelvic pain; women's health; advanced practice nurse; primary care
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Purpose: To discuss the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis for the advanced practice nurse (APN) in primary care. Data sources: Selected research, clinical studies, clinical practice guidelines, and review articles. Conclusions: Commonly encountered by the APN in primary care, endometriosis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease characterized by endometrial lesions, cysts, fibrosis, or adhesions in the pelvic cavity, causing chronic pelvic pain and infertility in women of reproductive age. Because of its frequently normal physical examination findings, variable clinical presentations, and nonspecific, overlapping symptoms with other conditions, endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose. As there currently are no accurate noninvasive diagnostic tests specific for endometriosis, it is imperative for the APN to become knowledgeable about the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and current treatment options of this disease. Implications for practice: The APN in primary care plays an essential role in health promotion through disease management and infertility prevention by providing support and much needed information to the patient with endometriosis. APNs can also facilitate quality of care and manage treatments effectively to improve quality of life, reduce pain, and prevent further progression of disease. Practice recommendations include timely diagnosis, pain management, infertility counseling, patient education, and support for quality of life issues.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available