Headache impact and quality of life following endometriosis surgery in women: a single-center observational study

Endometriosis and migraine are common chronic conditions in women of reproductive age that impair quality of life and frequently co-occur as comorbid conditions. Evidence regarding the effects of treatments targeting one of these conditions on the course of the other remains limited. In particular, the association between endometriosis surgery and headache burden and quality of life has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to examine changes in headache burden and quality of life following endometriosis surgery in women with and without migraine. This single-center observational study included 88 women who had undergone endometriosis surgery between 3 months and 5 years prior to enrollment. Participants completed the Headache Impact Test–6 and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey by retrospectively recalling their preoperative status, as prospective preoperative questionnaire records were not available, and reporting their current postoperative status. Changes over time, group differences, and time-by-group interactions were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance. Additional sensitivity analyses stratified by follow-up duration were performed to explore the potential influence of postoperative interval on change scores. In both women with and without migraine, headache burden scores were lower and physical and mental quality of life component scores were higher at the postoperative assessment than in the retrospectively recalled preoperative period ( p < 0.001). These differences were more pronounced among women with migraine. Women reported lower headache burden and better quality of life at the postoperative assessment than in the retrospectively recalled preoperative period in both groups, with greater changes observed among women with migraine. Given the retrospective assessment of preoperative status, prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings, optimize multidisciplinary management of endometriosis and migraine and to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from surgical intervention.