Pelvic pain scores in women without pelvic pathology.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the presence of and quantify pelvic pain in a group of women without demonstrable pelvic pathology as confirmed by laparoscopy.


METHODS
Prospective observational study (Canadian Task force classification II-2).


METHODS
District general hospital.


METHODS
One hundred forty-three consecutive women undergoing laparoscopy for sterilization, infertility investigation, or assessment of pelvic pain.


METHODS
Laparoscopy.


RESULTS
Women were asked to complete a questionnaire including a visual analog score for four different types of pelvic pain (dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, dyspareunia, rectal pain) and three quality of life assessments. Forty-three women were excluded due to pelvic pathology. In the 100 remaining women, mean pain scores (maximum 10) were dysmenorrhea 3.77, pelvic pain 1.75, dyspareunia 1.54, and rectal pain 1.07. Quality of life assessment was no different from that in a healthy population in whom the instruments were validated.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic pain, principally dysmenorrhea, is common in women of reproductive age. Pain scores may be used to compare treatments for pelvic pain and provide useful information for preoperative counseling.
Abbott
Jason
J
Department of Endo-Gynaecology, Royal Hospital for Women, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia.
Hawe
Jed
J
Shaltoot
Nahed
N
Hunter
David
D
Vancaillie
Thierry
T
Garry
Ray
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007247:Infertility, Female; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010298:Parity; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric