Endometriosis is a chronic and inflammatory gynecological disease characterized by the presence of tissue outside the uterine cavity. The most common symptoms are chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, fatigue, and infertility. The disease can affect up to 10% of women in reproductive age, leading to negative physical and psychological impacts on their lives. Epidemiological studies point to possible risk factors for the disease, including stress, triggered by physical or psychological stimuli. In recent years, studies have suggested the presence of an association between high levels of stress and endometriosis and have revealed that women with the disease report higher levels of depression and emotional stress, and psychological factors appear to contribute to the intensification of the symptoms of the disease.

To describe the profile of women with endometriosis and the prevalence of emotional stress as a factor in worsening the disease.

Cross-sectional study involving 135 women with a medical diagnosis of endometriosis, treated by the Physiotherapy service of a Comprehensive Women's Health Care Center, between 2011-2019. Sociodemographic and clinical data of these women were collected from medical and physiotherapy records. The data were presented descriptively.

Most women (74.81%) were in reproductive age, with average age of 37.50 ± 8.77 years, 80 (59.26%) were married, 101 (74.82%) had already undergone at least one surgery due to symptoms and only 6 (4.44%) were undergoing hormonal treatment to control endometriosis symptoms. In this sample, we identified that 53 (39.26%) reported physical or emotional stress as a factor in worsening symptoms, 37 (27.41%) reported physical stress, 41 (30.37%) reported emotional stress, 7 (5.18%) had a history of depression and 17 (12.59%) undergoing drug treatment with antidepressants. Of the women included in the study, 116 of them had pain at the time of evaluation and the average pelvic pain according to the visual analog scale was 7,44 ± 1,94.

This study presented relevant information about the profile of women with endometriosis, highlighting the prevalence of emotional stress as a factor associated with worsening symptoms. The findings underscore the need for integrated approaches that consider the impact of emotional well-being on disease management, highlighting the fundamental role of multidisciplinary teams in providing comprehensive and personalized care. With these insights, it is expected to foster more effective therapeutic strategies, promoting a better quality of life for women affected by endometriosis.

Knowing the epidemiological profile of women with endometriosis helps in better understanding and therapeutic approach, thus allowing a more effective treatment, considering the influence of the emotional factors of this condition.