title: Chronic pelvic pain in women in New Zealand: comparative well-being, comorbidity, and impact on work and other activities.
abstract: This article reports the findings of a population-based study in New Zealand that investigated comparative well-being, comorbidity, and the impact of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) on activities. Chronic pelvic pain was defined as lower abdominal pain that is associated with neither the menstrual cycle nor sexual activity. A postal questionnaire was administered to a random sample resulting in a study group of 1,160. The negative impact of CPP on women's general well-being is significant. They were more likely than women without CPP to have other long-standing illnesses, other unspecified conditions involving pain or fatigue, and sleep patterns were more seriously disturbed. Pain restricted their activities. Comparisons with the limited data available from other studies are made.
authors.affiliation: Social Sciences, College of Arts, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. victoria.grace@canterbury.ac.nz
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: Krina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zondervan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health