Prognosis and variability

Although this can be a distressing and painful condition, there is usually no significant associated long-term disability, or functional impairment. Women may be temporarily disabled and require some help with certain activities of daily living for short periods of time with e.g., acute infective episodes, and following diagnostic and therapeutic surgical procedures, but there should be no prolonged and/or chronic functional impairment.

Many women live with this condition, and successfully have children and full-time occupations, with only intermittent short periods of disability, during acute exacerbations of their disease.

Amended June 2008