Background: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects 10% of women over the world. Endometriosis can lead to symptoms such as severe pain, diarrhea, nausea, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and reduced fertility.

Aim: Women´s experience of living with endometriosis.

Method: A literature based study which is a method to compile existing research available on the topic. The method enables that the base of literature is used to create new knowledge. The aim of evidence-based nursing with the foundation in the analysis of qualitative research is to highlight the experiences of endometriosis.

Results: The women were affected psychologically by the knowledge that the disease can not be cured nor the bothersome symptoms. The road to diagnosis was long and filled with misbelieve by the healthcare professionals but also the struggle for their rights. After diagnosis, the women feel that they received inadequate help from health care and a lot of caring was put on women. The women had to both gather the information about their disease and also bear the financial burden that was added through alternative treatments all by herself.

Conclusion: Endometriosis affects women in several ways. The women experienced several limitations in their daily life. Furthermore, women stated that they feel inadequate when they could not engage in sexual intercourse with their partners.