Menstrual symptoms in women with pelvic endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate menstrual symptoms in relation to pelvic pathology.


METHODS
A prospective questionnaire-based study.


METHODS
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland.


METHODS
1250 questionnaires were sent out prior to planned admission and 1200 women (96%) brought the completed questionnaires. They comprised 598 women undergoing laparoscopic sterilization, 312 having laparoscopy because of infertility, 156 having laparoscopy because of chronic pelvic pain and 134 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.


METHODS
The occurrence of dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, menstrual regularity, premenstrual spotting, deep dyspareunia and pelvic pain in women with either endometriosis and post infective pelvic adhesions or a normal pelvis.


RESULTS
Menorrhagia, menstrual irregularity and premenstrual spotting occurred with equal frequency in all groups. Deep dyspareunia, pain after intercourse and recurrent pain unrelated to menstruation or coitus was more common in women with endometriosis and those with post infective pelvic adhesions than in those with a normal pelvis. Dysmenorrhoea appears to be more prevalent among women having endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Menstrual symptoms, while raising a high index of suspicion for endometriosis, are not entirely reliable as indicators of disease. Dysmenorrhoea is the most common reported symptom in endometriosis sufferers. Diagnostic laparoscopy should be considered before institution of treatment in women complaining of pelvic pain and menstrual symptoms.
Mahmood
T A
TA
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Foresterhill, Scotland.
Templeton
A A
AA
Thomson
L
L
Fraser
C
C
D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000150:complications; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000150:complications