Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the reproductive, gastrointestinal and urinary systems. We examined changes in labour force participation among women with endometriosis following diagnosis.
We analysed data from 4494 women born in 1973-78 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. We used multinomial logistic regression models with generalised estimating equations to examine changes in labour force participation among 468 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis, and 375 women with clinically suspected endometriosis, relative to a comparison group of 4151 women without endometriosis.
At diagnosis, women with surgically confirmed endometriosis were somewhat more likely to be working part-time (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.94-1.68) or unemployed (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.96-2.23) than before diagnosis. After diagnosis, women with surgically confirmed endometriosis remained somewhat more likely to be working part-time (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.88-1.80) but were significantly more likely to be unemployed (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.96) than before diagnosis. Labour force participation for women with clinically suspected endometriosis did not differ from women without endometriosis at diagnosis and did not change over time.
Women with surgically confirmed endometriosis transitioned out the labour force following diagnosis. Supportive workplace practices may help women remain in the labour force.

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