Women with endometriosis are up to six times more likely to report difficulty passing urine or pain when the bladder is full than those without the disorder, a cohort study shows.

The results suggest a need to address lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) during the diagnosis and management of endometriosis, the US researchers say.

Clinicians at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston analysed data from nearly 1200 young women, half of whom had surgically confirmed endometriosis, to determine differences in LUTS prevalence.

The overall prevalence was 44%; however, more than half of those with the condition experienced symptoms compared to just over one-third of women without the condition.