Towards a non-invasive endometriosis diagnosis: The conceptual framework of the Endometriosis Risk Calculator

摘要

Endometriosis is a gynecological disease with great impact on the female reproductive system. It is diagnosed by an invasive surgical procedure, such as laparoscopy or laparotomy. About 176 million women are affected by endometriosis worldwide. In average, the timeframe for a woman to get an endometriosis diagnosis has been reported to be 7-12 years, on average. Unfortunately, not all women have health insurance and/or the financial means to subsidize the costs associated with these surgical procedures. There is a need for an inexpensive alternative, available to all women that can provide further information on whether an invasive surgery is necessary. This work describes the conceptual framework behind an online database application called the Endometriosis Risk Calculator (ERC). It will translate the results from endometriosis prediction models into a simple, user-friendly and accessible online app intended to help women with endometriosis-related symptoms assess their risk of endometriosis.