How painful are amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the levels of pain and anxiety associated with amniocentesis (AC), transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS), and transcervical chorionic villus sampling (TC-CVS).


METHODS
We prospectively administered a questionnaire about pain and anxiety to 124 women undergoing AC, 40 undergoing TA-CVS, and 24 undergoing TC-CVS for singleton pregnancies. The level of pain was quantified with numerical and pictorial scales and the degree of anxiety was quantified with a numerical scale (0-100 in increments of 10).


RESULTS
The mean pain score for TA-CVS, 41.4 +/- 18.1, was significantly higher than that for TC-CVS, 26.4 +/- 25.3, p = 0.008. The mean pain score for AC, 35.1 +/- 27.6, was intermediate. A higher degree of anxiety was associated with younger maternal age and nulliparity. A higher degree of anxiety was associated with a higher level of pain.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, each procedure is associated with a tolerable amount of pain. TA-CVS appears to be the most painful procedure while TC-CVS appears to be the least painful procedure. In certain groups of patients, the procedures may be associated with higher levels of pain and/or anxiety.
Csaba
Akos
A
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, H-1088, Hungary.
Bush
Melissa C
MC
Saphier
Carl
C
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015193:Chorionic Villi Sampling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires