Safety and Efficiency Outcomes of Ambulatory Gynaecologic Procedures in Canadian Surgical Centres Adopting a Common Model.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to compare the safety and efficiency outcomes of ambulatory gynaecologic procedures performed under conscious sedation and/or local anaesthetic at 2 Canadian institutions. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was completed over 1-year on patients presenting to the ambulatory care centres at 2 Canadian institutions that shared a common care model. Outcomes of interest were lead time (registration to discharge), procedural time, and intraoperative complications. Surgical data was derived from a retrospective chart review and outcomes were compared using the independent t test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 1495 and 1098 patients presented to the 2 sites. The average age of patients was 35.5 ± 12.3 years and 41.7 ± 10.2 years. The most commonly performed procedures were dilatation and curettages at the first centre and operative hysteroscopies at the second centre. Average lead times were similar: 170.3 ± 35.8 minutes and 171.6 ± 45.4 minutes (P = 0.45). There was a significant difference in mean procedural time being 9.8 ± 5.5 minutes and 17.0 ± 10.0 minutes (P < 0.001). The rate of minor intraoperative complications was 3.8% and 6.6% (P = 0.002); whereas the rate of major complications was 2.7% and 3.3% (P = 0.43). CONCLUSION: In Canada, the majority of gynaecologic procedures are performed under general anesthesia. By comparing outcomes at 2 separate Canadian centres, we demonstrated the reproducibility of a common ambulatory model for minor gynaecologic procedures, supporting the implementation of similar care models across Canada.

Does menstrual health and endometriosis education affect knowledge among middle and secondary school students? A cluster randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether endometriosis and menstrual health education improves knowledge and attitudes among adolescents and is acceptable. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in a Canadian school district. Eligible classes were Grade 8-12, co-educational, and English. Classes were randomly assigned either to a 60-minute virtual menstrual health and endometriosis education program before (intervention) or after (waitlist control) primary data collection. The primary outcome was change in endometriosis knowledge from baseline to follow-up (∼4 weeks later, 6-item questionnaire). Secondary outcomes were changes in confidence in endometriosis knowledge, prioritization of menstrual health knowledge, and comfort discussing menstrual health, as well as intervention acceptability. The sexual health educator and statistician were masked. RESULTS: In April and May 2021, two intervention classes and two control classes completed the study. 71 students enrolled, and 48 were present on both baseline and follow-up days. Mean age was 15.7 ± 1.6 years, 55% identified as non-White ethnicities, and 53% female. The knowledge score increased by 32% in the intervention classes compared with 2% in the control classes, with an estimated mean difference of 1.56 (95% CI 1.12-2.00). The intervention classes showed increased confidence in endometriosis knowledge, prioritization of menstrual health knowledge, and comfort discussing menstrual health, compared to the control classes. The mean acceptability index was 80 (SD = 10) in the intervention classes and 70 (SD = 20) in the control classes. CONCLUSION: A brief menstrual health and endometriosis education program improved knowledge and attitudes among adolescents, who considered the program acceptable.

Outcomes After Surgery at an Interdisciplinary Centre of Expertise for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain in Canada: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate pain-related quality-of-life (Endometriosis Health Profile-30 [EHP-30] pain subscale) after surgery at an interdisciplinary centre of expertise for endometriosis and pelvic pain. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was completed of persons undergoing surgical management for pelvic pain between December 2013 and July 2016 at an interdisciplinary tertiary referral centre for pelvic pain and endometriosis. We compared the change in EHP-30 scores for the following scenarios: (1) type of surgery (conservative surgery vs. hysterectomy), (2) stage of endometriosis (stage I/II vs. III/IV), and (3) age (age <40 vs. age ≥40 years). We used mixed-effects models to evaluate changes in pain during follow-up after surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 595 individuals met our inclusion criteria; the follow-up rate was 65.9% (392/595). In total, 436 (73.3%) underwent conservative surgery, while 159 (26.7%) underwent hysterectomy. Improvements in pain-related quality-of-life were seen for both conservative surgery and hysterectomy but greater improvements were seen with hysterectomy (P < 0.001). For conservative surgery, similar improvements in quality-of-life were observed regardless of endometriosis stage (I/II vs. III/IV) (P = 0.84) or age (<40 or ≥40 years old) (P = 0.87). We also observed similar improvements in quality-of-life regardless of stage (P = 0.24) or age (P = 0.71) after hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: At an interdisciplinary centre of expertise, there were significant improvements in quality-of-life after endometriosis surgery. These improvements were seen for both conservative surgery and hysterectomy (although greater improvement with the latter), for early and advanced stage disease, and younger and older patients.

Guideline No. 445: Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of chronic pelvic pain in females. TARGET POPULATION: This guideline is specific to pelvic pain in adolescent and adult females and excluded literature that looked at pelvic pain in males. It also did not address genital pain. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: The intent is to benefit patients with chronic pelvic pain by providing an evidence-based approach to management. Access to certain interventions such as physiotherapy and psychological treatments, and to interdisciplinary care overall, may be limited by costs and service availability. EVIDENCE: Medline and the Cochrane Database from 1990 to 2020 were searched for articles in English on subjects related to chronic pelvic pain, including diagnosis, overlapping pain conditions, central sensitization, management, medications, surgery, physiotherapy, psychological therapies, alternative and complementary therapies, and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary care. The committee reviewed the literature and available data and used a consensus approach to develop recommendations. Only articles in English and pertaining to female subjects were included. VALIDATION METHODS: The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and conditional [weak] recommendations). INTENDED AUDIENCE: Family physicians, gynaecologists, urologists, pain specialists, physiotherapists, and mental health professionals. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Management of chronic pelvic pain should consider multifactorial contributors, including underlying central sensitization/nociplastic pain, and employ an interdisciplinary biopsychosocial approach that includes pain education, physiotherapy, and psychological & medical treatments. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS.

Guideline No. 449: Diagnosis and Impact of Endometriosis - A Canadian Guideline.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a contemporary approach to the understanding of the impact and methods for the diagnosis of endometriosis in Canada. TARGET POPULATION: Individuals, families, communities, health care providers, and health care administrators who are affected by, care for patients with, or manage delivery of services for endometriosis. OPTIONS: The diagnosis of endometriosis is facilitated by a detailed history, examination, and imaging tests with providers who are experienced in endometriosis care. Surgical evaluation with pathology confirms a diagnosis of endometriosis; however, it is not required for those whose diagnosis was confirmed with imaging. OUTCOMES: There is a need to address earlier recognition of endometriosis to facilitate timely access to care and support. Education directed at the public, affected individuals and families, health care providers, and health care administrators are essential to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: Increased awareness and education about the impact and approach to diagnosis may support timely access to care for patients and families affected by endometriosis. Earlier and appropriate care may support a reduced health care system burden; however, improved clinical evaluation may require initial investments. EVIDENCE: Each section was reviewed with a unique search strategy representative of the evidence available in the literature related to the area of focus. The literature searches for each section of this guideline are listed in Appendix A and include information from published systematic reviews described in the text. VALIDATION METHODS: The recommendations were developed following two rounds of review by a national expert panel through an iterative 2-year consensus process. Further details on the process are shared in Appendix B. The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See Appendix C (Table C1 for definitions and Table C2 for interpretations of strong and conditional recommendations). INTENDED AUDIENCE: This guideline is intended to support health care providers and policymakers involved in the care of those impacted by endometriosis and the systems required to support them. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Endometriosis impact and diagnosis updated guidelines for Canadian health care providers and policymakers. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS.

Reoperation and pain-related outcomes after hysterectomy for endometriosis by oophorectomy status.

BACKGROUND: More research is needed that compares the outcomes between those who underwent a hysterectomy for endometriosis with conservation of one or both ovaries and those who underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the rate and types of reoperations (primary outcome) and use of other pain-related health services (secondary outcomes) among people who underwent a hysterectomy with conservation of both ovaries, those who underwent a hysterectomy with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and those who underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study of 4489 patients aged 19 to 50 years in British Columbia, Canada, who underwent a hysterectomy for endometriosis between 2001 and 2016. Index surgeries were classified as hysterectomy alone (conservation of both ovaries), hysterectomy with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, or hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Reoperation rate was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes (measured at 3-12 months and 1-5 years after hysterectomy) included physician visits for endometriosis and pelvic pain, prescriptions filled for opioids, and use of hormonal suppression medications and hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: Reoperation rates were low across all groups, with 89.5% of all patients remaining reoperation free by the end of follow-up (median of 10 years; interquartile range, 6.1-14.3 years). Patients who underwent a hysterectomy alone were more likely to undergo at least 1 reoperation when compared with those who underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (13% vs 5%; P<.0001), most commonly an oophorectomy or adhesiolysis. When oophorectomy as reoperation was removed in a sensitivity analysis, this difference was partially attenuated (6% of hysterectomy alone group vs 3% of hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy group undergoing at least 1 reoperation). All groups were very similar in terms of rates of physician visits for endometriosis or pelvic pain and the number of days of opioid prescriptions filled. Furthermore, the rate of hormonal suppression medication use was similar among the groups, whereas the rate of prescriptions filled for hormone replacement therapy after hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was 60.6% of patients who filled at least 1 prescription at 3 to 12 months after index surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy had a lower reoperation rate than those who underwent a hysterectomy with conservation of one or both ovaries. However, there was little difference between the groups for the secondary outcomes measured, including physician visits for endometriosis and pelvic pain, opioid use, and use of hormonal suppression medications, suggesting that persistent pelvic pain after hysterectomy for endometriosis may not differ substantively based on ovarian conservation status. One limitation was the inability to stratify patients by stage of endometriosis or to determine the impact of endometriosis stage or the presence of adnexal disease or deep endometriosis on the outcomes. Moreover, hormone replacement therapy prescriptions was not filled by about 40% of patients after hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which may have significant health consequences for these individuals undergoing premature surgical menopause. Therefore, strong consideration should be given to ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for endometriosis.

Pelvic pain comorbidities associated with quality of life after endometriosis surgery.

BACKGROUND: After endometriosis surgery, pain can persist or recur in a subset of patients. A possible reason for persistent pain after surgery is central nervous system sensitization and associated pelvic pain comorbidities. Surgery addresses the peripheral component of endometriosis pain pathophysiology (by lesion removal) but may not treat this centralized pain. Therefore, endometriosis patients with pelvic pain comorbidities related to central sensitization may experience worse pain-related outcomes after surgery, such as lower pain-related quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether baseline (preoperative) pelvic pain comorbidities are associated with pain-related quality of life at follow-up after endometriosis surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This study used longitudinal prospective registry data from the Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Cohort at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. Participants were aged ≤50 years with confirmed or clinically suspected endometriosis, and underwent surgery (fertility-sparing or hysterectomy) for endometriosis pain. Participants completed the pain subscale of the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 quality of life questionnaire preoperatively and at follow-up (1-2 years). Linear regression was performed to measure the individual relationships between 7 pelvic pain comorbidities at baseline and follow-up Endometriosis Health Profile-30 score, controlling for baseline Endometriosis Health Profile-30 and type of surgery received. These baseline (preoperative) pelvic pain comorbidities included abdominal wall pain, pelvic floor myalgia, painful bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, Patient Health Questionnaire 9 depression score, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 score, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale score. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was then performed to select the most important variables associated with follow-up Endometriosis Health Profile-30 from 17 covariates (including the 7 pelvic pain comorbidities, baseline Endometriosis Health Profile-30 score, type of surgery, and other endometriosis-related factors such as stage and histologic confirmation of endometriosis). Using 1000 bootstrap samples, we estimated the coefficients and confidence intervals of the selected variables and generated a covariate importance rank. RESULTS: The study included 444 participants. The median follow-up time was 18 months. Pain-related quality of life (Endometriosis Health Profile-30) of the study population significantly improved at follow-up after surgery (P<.001). The following pelvic pain comorbidities were associated with lower quality of life (higher Endometriosis Health Profile-30 score) after surgery, controlling for baseline Endometriosis Health Profile-30 score and type of surgery (fertility-sparing vs hysterectomy): abdominal wall pain (P=.013), pelvic floor myalgia (P=.036), painful bladder syndrome (P=.022), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 score (P<.001), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 score (P<.001), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale score (P=.007). Irritable bowel syndrome was not significant (P=.70). Of the 17 covariates included for least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, 6 remained in the final model (lambda=3.136). These included 3 pelvic pain comorbidities that were associated with higher follow-up Endometriosis Health Profile-30 scores or worse quality of life: abdominal wall pain (ß=3.19), pelvic floor myalgia (ß=2.44), and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 depression score (ß=0.49). The other 3 variables in the final model were baseline Endometriosis Health Profile-30 score, type of surgery, and histologic confirmation of endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Pelvic pain comorbidities present at baseline before surgery, which may reflect underlying central nervous system sensitization, are associated with lower pain-related quality of life after endometriosis surgery. Particularly important were depression and musculoskeletal/myofascial pain (abdominal wall pain and pelvic floor myalgia). Therefore, these pelvic pain comorbidities should be candidates for a formal prediction model of pain outcomes after endometriosis surgery.

Acceptability, reliability, and validity of a vaginal insert for the self-assessment of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately half of people with endometriosis experience deep dyspareunia; however, there is no means of objective self-testing of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, test-retest reliability, and validity of a vaginal insert for a self-assessment of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a tertiary endometriosis center. Inclusion criteria were: 19 to 49 years of age, self-reported deep dyspareunia of ≥4 of 10, and surgically confirmed endometriosis. Participants completed 2 self-assessments using the vaginal insert to self-assess tenderness at the right and left pelvic floor, bladder, cervix-uterus, and posterior cul-de-sac (vaginal fornix). The participants recorded tenderness at each pelvic site and completed a questionnaire regarding the acceptability of the vaginal insert to assess deep dyspareunia. Test-retest reliability was assessed by correlating the tenderness scores between the 2 assessment dates. Over a 4-week period, the participants also recorded deep dyspareunia severity at each penetrative vaginal sex encounter. Validity was assessed by correlating vaginal insert tenderness to deep dyspareunia severity, and also to tenderness reported on a prior gynecologic pelvic examination. OUTCOMES: The main outcome measures were the acceptability index score, tenderness (0-10) at each pelvic site, and prospective deep dyspareunia scores (0-10) over 4 weeks. RESULTS: There were 19 participants (mean age 34 ± 7 years) who completed the study. The majority identified as female (94.7%), heterosexual (89.5%), and white (89.5%). The median acceptability index score was 0.72 (interquartile range, 0.66-0.81). For test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.79 (P = .001) for the left pelvic floor, 0.82 (P < .001) for the right pelvic floor, 0.54 (P = .07) for the bladder, 0.89 (P < .001) for the cervix-uterus, and 0.77 (P = .003) for the cul-de-sac. The correlation between the highest self-assessed mean tenderness in each participant and self-reported deep dyspareunia over 4 weeks was r = 0.32, but correlations for each pelvic site varied significantly. Tenderness at each site on prior gynecologist pelvic exam was associated with higher self-assessed mean tenderness with the vaginal insert in each participant (effect sizes = 0.42-0.88). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The vaginal insert is acceptable and reliable for the objective self-assessment of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia, with initial evidence of validity. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: A strength was the inclusion of participants who were avoiding sexual activity and a limitation was the small sample size. CONCLUSION: Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to further establish the validity of the vaginal insert for the self-assessment of endometriosis-associated deep dyspareunia.

Negative Sliding Sign during Dynamic Ultrasonography Predicts Low Endometriosis Fertility Index at Laparoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis fertility index (EFI) is a robust tool to predict the pregnancy rate in patients with endometriosis who are attempting non-in vitro fertilization conception. However, EFI calculation requires laparoscopy. Newly established imaging techniques such as sliding sign, which is used to diagnose pouch of Douglas obliteration, could provide a promising alternative. The objective of this study was to investigate the practicality of using ultrasound data to predict a low EFI (score ≤6). DESIGN: Observational study from a prospective registry (Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Cohort, clinicaltrials.gov #NCT02911090). Analyzed data were captured from December 2013 to June 2017. SETTING: Tertiary referral center at British Columbia Women's Hospital. PATIENTS: We analyzed data for 2583 participants from the Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Cohort. In this cross-sectional study, we included 86 women aged <40 years. INTERVENTIONS: Dynamic ultrasonography for the sliding sign testing and EFI calculation during laparoscopic surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Logistic regression was used to obtain receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction models. Significance was p <.05. Patients with a negative sliding sign were older and had severe endometriosis and longer duration of infertility. Patients with a negative sliding sign had significantly lower total EFI scores and lower surgical factors scores than patients with a positive sliding sign. Logistic regression showed that a negative sliding sign and EFI historic factors score can predict an EFI score ≤6 (sensitivity = 87.9%, specificity = 81.1%, AUC = 0.93 [95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.98]). Adding the diagnosis of endometrioma to the previous prediction model resulted in AUC = 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.995), sensitivity = 84.8%, and specificity = 92.5%. CONCLUSION: The sliding sign could be a potential alternative to the EFI surgical factors, and it could be used in combination with EFI historic factors and the diagnosis of endometrioma to predict an EFI score ≤6 for patients who are not scheduled for immediate surgery.

Technicity in Canada: A Nationwide Whole-Population Analysis of Temporal Trends and Variation in Minimally Invasive Hysterectomies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to provide a contemporary description of hysterectomy practice and temporal trends in Canada. DESIGN: A national whole-population retrospective analysis of data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. SETTING: Canada. PATIENTS: All women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indication from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2017, in Canada. INTERVENTIONS: Hysterectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 369 520 hysterectomies were performed in Canada during the 10-year period, during which the hysterectomy rate decreased from 313 to 243 per 100 000 women. The proportion of abdominal hysterectomies decreased (59.5% to 36.9%), laparoscopic hysterectomies increased (10.8% to 38.6%), and vaginal hysterectomies decreased (29.7% to 24.5%), whereas the national technicity index increased from 40.5% to 63.1% (p <.001, all trends). The median length of stay decreased from 3 (interquartile range 2-4) days to 2 (interquartile range 1-3), and the proportion of patients discharged within 24 hours increased from 2.1% to 7.2%. In year 2016-17, women aged 40 to 49 years had significantly increased risk of abdominal hysterectomy compared with women undergoing hysterectomy in other age categories (p <.001). Comparing women with menstrual bleeding disorders, women undergoing hysterectomy for endometriosis (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.44) and myomas (aRR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.94-2.08) were at increased risk of abdominal hysterectomy, whereas women undergoing hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain (aRR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.41-1.53) were at decreased risk. Using Ontario as the comparator, Nova Scotia (aRR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.27-1.43), New Brunswick (aRR 1.25; 95% CI, 1.18-1.32]), Manitoba (aRR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28-1.43), and Newfoundland and Labrador (aRR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10-1.27) had significantly higher risks of abdominal hysterectomy. In contrast, Saskatchewan (aRR 0.75; 95% CI, 0.74-0.77) and British Columbia (aRR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.85-0.88) had significantly lower risks, whereas Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Alberta were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The proportion of minimally invasive hysterectomies for benign indication has increased significantly in Canada. The declining use of vaginal approaches and the variation among provinces are of concern and necessitate further study.

Endometriosis in Canada: It Is Time for Collaboration to Advance Patient-Oriented, Evidence-Based Policy, Care, and Research.

Endometriosis is an enigmatic, painful, complex disease that affects approximately 1 million people in Canada. The disease can involve multiple organ systems, often resulting in debilitating chronic pain and infertility. Social, medical, geographic, and other factors are implicated in years-long diagnostic delays and may limit access to care. An integrated approach from bench to bedside to community is urgently required. A pan-Canadian collaboration among patients, clinicians and researchers will improve endometriosis awareness, provide best practices, and link research across Canada.

Understanding Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery Fellowship Training in Canada: A National Survey of Recent Graduates.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize fellowship training experiences in the 11 Canadian minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery (MIGS) programs and compare the surgical exposure of fellows in these programs to that of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) accredited fellowship in MIGS (FMIGS). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2017 and 2018 MIGS fellowship graduates across Canada were given a web-based survey via SurveyMonkey software to evaluate 5 key components of postgraduate fellowship curricula: 1) surgical exposure; 2) teaching and evaluation methods; 3) research experience; 4) clinical responsibilities; and 5) pursuit of other academic endeavours. Interest in creating a national standardized curriculum and seeking accreditation for MIGS fellowships were also examined. RESULTS: The survey attained a 91% (20/22) response rate of the target population. All Canadian MIGS programs met the minimum standards for at least 62% (8/13) of the surgical competencies listed by the AAGL, with office hysteroscopy being the procedure with the largest discordance. Half of respondents (10/20) attended a program with an established curriculum, and 75% (15/20) believed there would be a benefit to standardizing training nationwide. Seventy percent (14/20) had published at least one manuscript during their fellowship and 60% (12/20) pursued postgraduate degrees. The majority (55%; 11/20) felt certain that MIGS should become a credentialed fellowship in Canada. CONCLUSION: Canada has made meaningful progress in MIGS training over the past decade with 11 well-established fellowship programs. Although this survey identifies a general interest in standardized training and accreditation for Canadian MIGS programs, more research is needed on how best to accomplish this.

Intricate Connections between the Microbiota and Endometriosis.

Imbalances in gut and reproductive tract microbiota composition, known as dysbiosis, disrupt normal immune function, leading to the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines, compromised immunosurveillance and altered immune cell profiles, all of which may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Over time, this immune dysregulation can progress into a chronic state of inflammation, creating an environment conducive to increased adhesion and angiogenesis, which may drive the vicious cycle of endometriosis onset and progression. Recent studies have demonstrated both the ability of endometriosis to induce microbiota changes, and the ability of antibiotics to treat endometriosis. Endometriotic microbiotas have been consistently associated with diminished Lactobacillus dominance, as well as the elevated abundance of bacterial vaginosis-related bacteria and other opportunistic pathogens. Possible explanations for the implications of dysbiosis in endometriosis include the Bacterial Contamination Theory and immune activation, cytokine-impaired gut function, altered estrogen metabolism and signaling, and aberrant progenitor and stem-cell homeostasis. Although preliminary, antibiotic and probiotic treatments have demonstrated efficacy in treating endometriosis, and female reproductive tract (FRT) microbiota sampling has successfully predicted disease risk and stage. Future research should aim to characterize the "core" upper FRT microbiota and elucidate mechanisms behind the relationship between the microbiota and endometriosis.

Cancer-Associated Mutations in Endometriosis without Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial stroma and epithelium, affects approximately 10% of reproductive-age women and can cause pelvic pain and infertility. Endometriotic lesions are considered to be benign inflammatory lesions but have cancerlike features such as local invasion and resistance to apoptosis. METHODS: We analyzed deeply infiltrating endometriotic lesions from 27 patients by means of exomewide sequencing (24 patients) or cancer-driver targeted sequencing (3 patients). Mutations were validated with the use of digital genomic methods in microdissected epithelium and stroma. Epithelial and stromal components of lesions from an additional 12 patients were analyzed by means of a droplet digital polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay for recurrent activating KRAS mutations. RESULTS: Exome sequencing revealed somatic mutations in 19 of 24 patients (79%). Five patients harbored known cancer driver mutations in ARID1A, PIK3CA, KRAS, or PPP2R1A, which were validated by Safe-Sequencing System or immunohistochemical analysis. The likelihood of driver genes being affected at this rate in the absence of selection was estimated at P=0.001 (binomial test). Targeted sequencing and a droplet digital PCR assay identified KRAS mutations in 2 of 3 patients and 3 of 12 patients, respectively, with mutations in the epithelium but not the stroma. One patient harbored two different KRAS mutations, c.35G→T and c.35G→C, and another carried identical KRAS c.35G→A mutations in three distinct lesions. CONCLUSIONS: We found that lesions in deep infiltrating endometriosis, which are associated with virtually no risk of malignant transformation, harbor somatic cancer driver mutations. Ten of 39 deep infiltrating lesions (26%) carried driver mutations; all the tested somatic mutations appeared to be confined to the epithelial compartment of endometriotic lesions.

Phenotyping Sexual Pain in Endometriosis Using the Central Sensitization Inventory.

INTRODUCTION: Deep dyspareunia, a common symptom in endometriosis, has previously been associated with bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness (BPFT), which suggests a role for central nervous system sensitization. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI, 0-100) is a validated self-reported scale for patients with central sensitization. AIM: The objective of this study was to phenotype deep dyspareunia using BPFT and the CSI. METHODS: The methods included cross-sectional analysis from a prospective registry from January 2018 to June 2018 at a tertiary center for endometriosis (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02911090). Included were women aged 18-50 years with endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, current visualized endometrioma on ultrasound, or current palpable or visualized nodule on ultrasound), who were newly or re-referred to the center. Severity of deep dyspareunia was self-reported using an 11-point numeric rating scale (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable), categorized as no or low deep dyspareunia (0-4) and high deep dyspareunia (5-10). We identified the subgroup with high deep dyspareunia and presence of BPFT, where we hypothesized a central component of the sexual pain. This subgroup was compared with 2 other subgroups: no or low deep dyspareunia and high deep dyspareunia but no BPFT. The CSI was compared between the groups using analysis of variance, followed by post hoc testing (P < .05). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was the CSI score ranging from 0 to 100. RESULTS: Data from 163 women with endometriosis were analyzed. The mean age of this cohort was 36.4 ± 6.8 years, and the mean CSI score was 41.0 ± 18.6. 37 percent (61/163) had high deep dyspareunia and BPFT; 29% (47/163) had high deep dyspareunia and no BPFT; and 34% (55/163) had no or low deep dyspareunia. The CSI significantly differed between the 3 groups (analysis of variance: F = 22.4, P < .001). In post hoc testing, the CSI was higher in women with high deep dyspareunia and BPFT (51.3 ± 16.9), compared with women with no or low deep dyspareunia (30.9 ± 15.4, P < .001) and compared with women with high deep dyspareunia but no BPFT (39.4 ± 17.2, P = .001). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The CSI could be used to classify and phenotype patients with endometriosis-associated sexual pain. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS: Strengths include a prospective registry with integrated pain scores, validated questionnaires, and physical examination findings. Limitations include the lack of quantitative sensory testing for central sensitization. CONCLUSIONS: In women with endometriosis, the subgroup with high deep dyspareunia and bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness had a significantly higher score on the CSI than other subgroups, suggesting that this group may have a central component to their sexual pain. Orr NL, Wahl KJ,Noga H, et al. Phenotyping Sexual Pain in Endometriosis Using the Central Sensitization Inventory. J Sex Med 2020;17:761-770.

Hospital-Associated Cost of Endometriosis in Canada: A Population-Based Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the hospital-associated cost of endometriosis in Canada from April 2008 to March 2013. DESIGN: Population-based descriptive study. SETTING: Canada, with the exception of the province of Quebec. PATIENTS: All women aged 15 to 59 years discharged with endometriosis between April 2008 and March 2013. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Over 5 years, 47 021 women were admitted for endometriosis, resulting in a total hospital cost of Canadian dollars (CaD) $152.21 million (US dollars [US $] 147.79 million) and per-case cost of CaD $3237 (US $3143). Uterine endometriosis accounted for 28.29% of cases, ovarian endometriosis 27.44%, and other endometriosis 44.27%. Cost for uterine endometriosis was the highest at CaD $4137 (US $4017) per case, followed by ovarian endometriosis (CaD $3506; US $3404) and other endometriosis (CaD $2495; US $2422). The highest number of cases were in the groups aged 35 to 39 years (20.77%) and 40 to 44 years (20.44%). Hysterectomy accounted for 29.57% of surgical procedures. Encounters with hysterectomy were the costliest at CaD $5062 (US $4915) per case, followed by the ones with other surgical procedures at CaD $2477 (US $2405) per case, and admissions with no surgical procedure at CaD $2164 (US $2101) per case. CONCLUSION: The hospital cost associated with endometriosis was approximately CaD $30 million (US $29.56 million) per year, whereas uterine endometriosis, hysterectomy, and older age were found to have a higher average cost per case. Although this study focuses specifically on hospital admission and does not account for outpatient costs or indirect costs, it nonetheless highlights the economic burden of this debilitating disease on Canadian society during the study period.

Endometriosis and Ectopic Pregnancy: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of the risk of ectopic pregnancy in endometriosis. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Cochrane Library to April 1, 2019. Inclusion criteria were cohort or case-control studies from 1990 onward. Exclusion criteria were cohort studies without controls, case reports or series, or no English full-text. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: A total of 1361 titles/abstracts were screened after removal of duplicates, 39 full-texts were requested, and, after 24 studies were excluded, there were 15 studies in the meta-analysis. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Data were extracted using standardized spreadsheets with 2 independent reviewers, and conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. We performed random effects calculation of weighted estimated average odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed with the I2 metric and funnel plots/Egger's test, respectively. The Ottawa-Newcastle Quality Assessment Scale was used with a cutoff of ≥7 for higher quality. There were 10 case-control studies (17 972 ectopic pregnancy cases and 485 266 nonectopic pregnancy controls) and 5 cohort studies (30 609 women with endometriosis and 107 321 women without endometriosis). For case-control studies, endometriosis was associated with increased risk of ectopic pregnancy with an OR of 2.66 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-6.21, p = .02). For cohort studies, the OR was 0.95 (95% CI = 0.29-3.11, p = .94), but after post hoc analysis of the studies with a Ottawa-Newcastle score ≥7, the OR was 2.16 (95% CI = 1.67-2.79, p <.001). For both case-control and cohort studies, there was high heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 93.9% and I2 = 96.6%, Q test p <.001) but no obvious evidence of systematic bias in the funnel plot, and Egger's test results were not significant (p = .35, p = .70), suggesting no strong publication bias. There were insufficient data to make any conclusions with respect to anatomic characteristics of endometriosis (e.g., stage) or mode of conception (e.g., assisted reproductive technology vs spontaneous). CONCLUSION: Possible evidence of an association between endometriosis and ectopic pregnancy was observed (OR = 2.16-2.66). However, these results should be considered with caution, owing to high heterogeneity among studies. Continued research is needed to delineate the pregnancy implications of endometriosis.

Endometriosis and Negative Perception of the Medical Profession.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to identify factors independently associated with a negative impression of the medical profession in patients with endometriosis who were presenting to a tertiary referral centre. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on a prospective data registry between December 2013 and June 2017 at a tertiary referral centre for pelvic pain and endometriosis. The main outcome variable, negative impression about the medical profession, was measured with the four-item subscale of the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 and divided into three groups: no (0), some (1-8), and many (9-16) negative impressions. Patients with a surgical and histological diagnosis of endometriosis were included. Postmenopausal women were excluded. Bivariate analyses determined significant associations (P < 0.05) between variables from the registry and the main outcome. Variables with a significant association were put into ordinal logistic regression with sequential backwards elimination. RESULTS: Negative impression of the medical profession was independently associated with previous surgery that did not help symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.87; P = 0.021), presentation to an emergency room in the past 3 months (aOR 1.90; 95% CI 1.17-3.07; P = 0.009), and previous visits to a complementary health care provider (aOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.42-3.29; P < 0.0005), while controlling for an endometriosis pain-related morbidity composite variable. CONCLUSION: Negative perception of the medical profession in women with endometriosis was associated with surgical treatment failure, emergency room use, and accessing complementary health care. Each identified factor offers an opportunity for intervention to improve the perception of the medical profession among women with endometriosis.

Interventional Uterine-Sparing Therapies for Leiomyomas: A Commentary on Myolysis.

Uterine leiomyomas (myomas, fibroids) are very common in premenopausal women and frequently are associated with abnormal uterine bleeding, bulk effects, and reproductive issues. In women who wish to retain their uterus and/or to enhance or retain fertility, interventional therapies have been introduced, including radiofrequency, laser (chromo), cryotherapy, and magnetic resonance (MR)-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) myolysis. In formulating this commentary, all modalities of myolysis from systematic reviews, randomized controlled clinical trials, and observational studies through December 2018 were reviewed. There are only two treatment modalities available in Canada: the laparoscopic radiofrequency volumetric thermal ablation of fibroids (RFVTA) and MRgHIFU systems. In women who wish to enhance or retain their fertility, the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency and HIFU myolysis have not been clearly established, and these treatments should be offered only after extensive counselling and informed consent. Given the recent concerns regarding the incidence of undiagnosed malignant tumours, the lack of histological confirmation before or after these therapies for symptomatic fibroids mandates a thorough process of informed patient consent before any such interventions.

Prediction of Pouch of Douglas Obliteration: Point-of-care Ultrasound Versus Pelvic Examination.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the point-of-care preoperative transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) sliding sign in comparison with palpation of a nodule on digital pelvic examination for the prediction of pouch of Douglas (POD) obliteration. DESIGN: Analysis of data from a prospective data registry (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Women with suspected endometriosis who had preoperative pelvic examination and point-of-care TVUS followed by laparoscopic surgery between August 2015 and December 2016. INTERVENTIONS: Women were preoperatively assessed for the prediction of POD obliteration with pelvic examination for a nodule and point-of-care TVUS uterine/cervix sliding sign. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study included 269 women, 15.2% (41/269) of whom had POD obliteration at the time of surgery. A preoperative negative sliding sign had a sensitivity of 73.2% (95% confidence interval, 57.1%-85.8%) and a specificity of 93.9% (95% CI, 89.9%-96.6%) in the prediction of POD obliteration compared with preoperative palpation of a nodule on pelvic examination, which had a sensitivity of 24.4% (95% CI, 12.4%-40.3%) and a specificity of 93.4% (95% CI, 89.4%-96.3%). The difference in sensitivity was statistically significant (McNemar test, p <.001). A negative sliding sign was also associated with longer operating times and more difficult surgery including the need for ureterolysis. CONCLUSION: The point-of-care TVUS sliding sign showed significantly improved sensitivity compared with palpation of a nodule on pelvic examination for the prediction of POD obliteration. Therefore, the point-of-care TVUS sliding sign improves the preoperative assessment of POD disease and thus may lead to more optimal surgical planning in women with suspected endometriosis.