Perceived Effects of Endometriosis on Married Women: A Qualitative Study
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The current study aimed to explore the perceived effects of endometriosis on the lives of diagnosed married Muslim women residing in Lahore, Pakistan. Three semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with gynecologists who had at least 10 years of experience. Moreover, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with women diagnosed with endometriosis, stratified into three distinct age groups: 18–24 years (Group 1), 25–34 years (Group 2), and 35 years and above (Group 3). For each age group, two FGDs were held, comprising four participants per session. Purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit participants for focus groups and interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) was conducted and four superordinate themes emerged. These included perceived physical effects, perceived psychological effects, perceived social effects, and perceived spiritual effects of endometriosis. Results were discussed in the light of previous literature and cultural background.
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