Conclusion
The aim of the present study was to gain insight in preferences for a conservative or surgical treatment approach of patients suffering from DE. This is the first DCE on treatment preferences from a nationally representative cohort of patients with deep endometriosis. These findings make several contributions to the current literature in DE. The risk of permanent intestinal symptoms (from the treatment) is almost equally important for patients as the chance of reduction in pain symptoms. The results of this study can be used in the decision-making process between doctor and patient, where it is important that symptoms arising from the endometriosis are treated such as pain reduction and improvement of fatigue. However, it is also important to pay attention, when choosing a treatment to consider the short and long term risks. In which the risk of getting LARS during surgery needs attention, as well as a long term risk such as osteoporosis when choosing certain conservative treatment (GnRH analogues). Women with previous surgery showed less surgical anxiety, this information could help to inform anxious women without a surgical history, but who need surgery in their decision process. The current results can be used to assist SDM, e.g. by developing a decision aid aimed at providing relevant information and assisting patients in difficult treatment choices in DE care. Further studies regarding the role of decision making in non-DE would be worthwhile.