title: Does a history of bullying and abuse predict lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic pain, and sexual dysfunction?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate associations of bullying and abuse with pelvic floor symptoms, urogenital pain, and sexual health characteristics of women presenting to a multidisciplinary women's urology center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of a prospective database. Patients completed questions about bullying, abuse, sexual health and validated questionnaires including the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Inventory (PFDI-20), Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), and visual analog scale (VAS 0-10) for genitourinary pain. Statistical analyses included Chi-squared and t tests, which compared victims of bullying and/or abuse to non-victims.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and eighty patients were reviewed. Three hundred and thirty-eight had data on bullying and abuse history. Out of 380, 94 (24.7 %) reported that they were victims of bullying. Out of 380, 104 (27.4 %) reported that they were victims of abuse. Women with a history of bullying and abuse had increased overall pain scores compared to those without a history of either. Women with a history of abuse and bullying had increased PFDI-20, POPDI, and UDI-6 scores compared to women who were not bullied or abused. There was no difference in being sexually active or in sexual satisfaction between the groups. Patients with a history of abuse and bullying had the greatest percentage of dyspareunia (p = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with a history of bullying, abuse, or both predict increased pelvic floor distress, urological symptoms, increased urogenital pain, and increased dyspareunia. Clinicians should screen for exposure to bullying or abuse in order to provide comprehensive resources to address these psychosocial issues.
authors: Oakland University, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Tori
authors: T
authors: Nault
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA. prigupta83@gmail.com.
authors: Priyanka
authors: P
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Ehlert
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Dove-Medows
authors: Oakland University, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Marlene
authors: M
authors: Seltzer
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Donna J
authors: DJ
authors: Carrico
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Gilleran
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Bartley
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.|Oakland University, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Kenneth M
authors: KM
authors: Peters
authors: Department of Urology, William Beaumont Health System, 3535 West 13 Mile Rd, Suite 438, Royal Oak, MI, USA.|Oakland University, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Sirls
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Abuse; Bullying; Female urogenital diseases; Pelvic pain; Urology