Chronic Pelvic Pain (chronic + pelvic_pain)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Terms modified by Chronic Pelvic Pain

  • chronic pelvic pain syndrome

  • Selected Abstracts


    Importance of Pelvic Muscle Tenderness Evaluation in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain

    PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2010
    Mary Lourdes Lima De Souza Montenegro MD
    Abstract Objective., To determine the prevalence of pelvic muscle tenderness in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to assess the importance of evaluating muscle tenderness in such women. Design., Observational study of 48 healthy female volunteers and 108 women with CPP, who were clinically evaluated for pelvic muscle tenderness by two researchers blinded to all clinical data. Results., The frequency of clinically detected pelvic muscle tenderness was significantly higher in women with CPP than in healthy volunteers (58.3% vs 4.2%, P < 0.001). Among women with CPP, those with pelvic muscle tenderness had higher Beck Depression Index scores (22 [6,42] vs 13 [3,39], P = 0.02) and higher rates of dyspareunia (63.5% [40/63] vs 28.9% [13/45], P < 0.004) and constipation (46.0% [29/63] vs 26.7% [12/45], P = 0.05) than those without pelvic muscle tenderness. Conclusion., Tenderness of pelvic muscles was highly prevalent among women with CPP and was associated with higher BDI scores and higher rates of dyspareunia and constipation. Determination of pelvic muscle tenderness may help in identifying women who require more intense treatment for CPP. [source]


    High levels of anxiety and depression have a negative effect on quality of life of women with chronic pelvic pain

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2009
    A. P. M. S. Romão
    Summary Background:, Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common and complex disease whose cause is often clinically inexplicable, with consequent difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Patients with CPP have high levels of anxiety and depression, with a consequent impairment of their quality of life. Aims:, The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their impact on the quality of life of women with CPP. Materials and methods:, A cross-sectional controlled study was conducted on 52 patients with CPP and 54 women without pain. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and quality of life was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of life Whoqol-bref questionnaire. Data were analysed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U -test, the Fisher exact test, chi-square test and Spearman correlation test. Results:, The prevalence of anxiety was 73% and 37% in the CPP and control groups, respectively, and the prevalence of depression was 40% and 30% respectively. Significant differences between groups were observed in the physical, psychological and social domains. Patients with higher anxiety and depression scores present lower quality of life scores. Discussion:, The fact that DPC is a syndromic complex, many patients enter a chronic cycle of search for improvement of medical symptoms. The constant presence of pain may be responsible for affective changes in dynamics, family, social and sexual. Initially the person is facing the loss of a healthy body and active, to a state of dependence and limitations. In this study, patients with higher scores of anxiety and depression scores had lower quality of life and patients with lower scores of anxiety and depression had scores of quality of life. These results show that perhaps the depression and anxiety may be related to the negative impact on quality of life of these patients. Conclusion:, In view of this association, we emphasise the importance of a specific approach to the treatment of anxiety and depression together with clinical treatment to improve the quality of life of these patients. [source]


    Chronic pelvic pain in women: still a challenge

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2008
    Orietta Dalpiaz
    Chronic pelvic pain (CPP), a common condition particularly in reproductive-aged women, causes disability and distress, and significantly compromises quality of life and affects healthcare costs. The pathogenesis of CPP is still poorly understood and consequently poorly managed. Furthermore, the lack of a consensus on the definition of CPP greatly hinders epidemiological studies. Patients present with various associated problems, including bladder or bowel dysfunction, gynaecological pathologies or sexual dysfunction, and other systemic or constitutional symptoms. Other conditions, e.g. depression, anxiety and drug addiction, can also coexist. Effective management presupposes an integrated knowledge of all pelvic organs and other systems, including musculoskeletal, neurological and psychiatric systems. The key to treating CPP is to treat it as the complex disease it is. Treatment options range from conservative medical therapy to surgical intervention, and are primarily directed towards symptom relief. Unsatisfactory results of treatment render this condition a frustrating problem for both patients and physicians. [source]


    High levels of anxiety and depression have a negative effect on quality of life of women with chronic pelvic pain

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2009
    A. P. M. S. Romão
    Summary Background:, Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common and complex disease whose cause is often clinically inexplicable, with consequent difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Patients with CPP have high levels of anxiety and depression, with a consequent impairment of their quality of life. Aims:, The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their impact on the quality of life of women with CPP. Materials and methods:, A cross-sectional controlled study was conducted on 52 patients with CPP and 54 women without pain. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and quality of life was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of life Whoqol-bref questionnaire. Data were analysed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U -test, the Fisher exact test, chi-square test and Spearman correlation test. Results:, The prevalence of anxiety was 73% and 37% in the CPP and control groups, respectively, and the prevalence of depression was 40% and 30% respectively. Significant differences between groups were observed in the physical, psychological and social domains. Patients with higher anxiety and depression scores present lower quality of life scores. Discussion:, The fact that DPC is a syndromic complex, many patients enter a chronic cycle of search for improvement of medical symptoms. The constant presence of pain may be responsible for affective changes in dynamics, family, social and sexual. Initially the person is facing the loss of a healthy body and active, to a state of dependence and limitations. In this study, patients with higher scores of anxiety and depression scores had lower quality of life and patients with lower scores of anxiety and depression had scores of quality of life. These results show that perhaps the depression and anxiety may be related to the negative impact on quality of life of these patients. Conclusion:, In view of this association, we emphasise the importance of a specific approach to the treatment of anxiety and depression together with clinical treatment to improve the quality of life of these patients. [source]


    Should physiotherapy be part of a multidisciplinary treatment for women with chronic pelvic pain?

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008
    C.D. Petersen
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Interstitial cystitis, gynecologic pelvic pain, prostatitis, and their epidemiology

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2003
    ANANIAS C. DIOKNO
    Abstract Aim: To determine a uniform definition of interstitial cystitis (IC) and to develop a strategy on how to study its epidemiology. Methods: Initially, the committee reviewed the literature regarding the definition of IC currently being used and information regarding its epidemiology. The committee held three 1-hour hearings and discussions on the opinions of invited IC specialists. The issues were presented and discussed. Consensus was sought when possible. The committee members met and summarized the gist of the three sessions. Results: A consensus emerged as to what constitutes IC. Interstitial cystitis must have the elements of chronic pelvic pain and urinary frequency and/or urgency. It was also the recommendation that the term IC be retained followed by chronic pelvic pain syndrome represented by the acronym IC/CPPS. A strategy on the epidemiologic study of IC/CPPS was also recommended. Conclusions: A consensus from this workshop has emerged in terms of defining the component of IC, the preferred terminology, and the strategy to study its epidemiology. [source]


    McGill Pain Questionnaire: A multi-dimensional verbal scale assessing postoperative changes in pain symptoms associated with severe endometriosis

    JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2009
    Elena Fabbri
    Abstract Background:, Objective evaluation of pelvic pain symptoms using a standard pain questionnaire is essential to assessing the treatment of endometriosis and related pain. Aim:, To evaluate the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) as a multi-dimensional verbal scale in providing information about chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis, before and after laparoscopic surgery. Methods:, Fifty-five women undergoing laparoscopy for severe endometriosis were asked to complete the MPQ before surgery and at the 6-month follow up. All patients presented with preoperative pain symptoms of variable severity. We obtained the pain indexes and studied their relation with: patients' characteristics (age, body mass index, parity, qualification, occupation); operative findings (number, site and size of endometriotic lesions and presence of pelvic adhesions); and postoperative evolution of variable MPQ pain indexes at the 6-month follow up. Results:, Median present pain index (PPI) (index of pain intensity), before surgical treatment was 3 (2,4): preoperative PPI was <2 in 25% of patients while 25% of patients had PPI > 4. Overall median PPI after surgical treatment was 1 (0,2): postoperative index of pain intensity was <1 in 50% of patients, >2 in 25% of patients while 25% of patients did not experience postoperative pain. Overall pain intensity significantly decreased after laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis (Wilcoxon test P < 0.0005). None of the patients' characteristics were found to be significantly correlated with the severity or improvement of preoperative pain at postoperative follow up (P > 0.05), and the intensity of preoperative pain was not correlated to any of the operative variables. There was a significant reduction in all individual MPQ pain indexes; however 18.2% of women did not show improvement of pain symptoms after laparoscopic surgery. An increasing endometrioma diameter was associated with a significant decrease in the difference in evaluative rank score of pain rating index between pain indexes at the 6-month follow up and preoperatively (P = 0.04, Spearman's rank correlation Rho = ,0.277). Conclusions:, MPQ appears to be useful as a multi-dimensional scale in describing patients' pain semiology and evaluating pain evolution after surgical treatment. However, due to the extreme variability of pain experience, MPQ results don't clarify the relationship between pain intensity and the severity of endometriosis. [source]


    Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain in men: aetiology, diagnosis and management,

    JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
    GA Luzzi
    ABSTRACT Patients with chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome typically report genital or pelvic pain (in or around the penis, perineum, scrotum) lasting >3 months. Whereas true chronic bacterial prostatitis is an uncommon condition characterised by recurrent prostatic and urinary infection, chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a common condition in which no infection is found. Recent surveys suggest a prevalence of 2.5,3% for CPPS. The four-glass test, traditionally used to distinguish inflammatory and inflammatory forms of CPPS, has not been adequately validated; whether the distinction is clinically meaningful is increasingly questioned. The aetiology of CPPS is not known; urodynamic studies imply a neuromuscular origin. More recent work supports a role for proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis. In the management of chronic bacterial prostatitis, trials support the use of quinolone antibiotics as first-line treatment. In contrast, the management of CPPS is generally unsatisfactory, as no reliable treatment has been identified. Treatments commonly tried include antibiotics (notably tetracyclines, quinolones and macrolides), anti-inflammatory agents, and alpha blockers. Newer approaches include trials of finasteride, quercetin and rofecoxib. A recent systematic review demonstrated that none of the current diagnostic and treatment methods for CPPS is supported by a robust evidence base. [source]


    Levator ani trigger point injections: An underutilized treatment for chronic pelvic pain,

    NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 1 2007
    Carolyn F. Langford
    Abstract Aims We conducted this study to examine the role of trigger point injections in females with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) of at least 6 months duration and specific levator ani trigger points. Methods This prospective study included 18 consecutive female patients with CPP and specific palpable levator ani trigger points. Pain was evaluated before and after trigger point injection on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patient global satisfaction (PGS) and cure rates (PGC) were also measured by a VAS on a scale of 0,100%. The trigger points were identified manually by intravaginal palpation of the levator ani bilaterally. A mixture of 10 cc of 0.25% bupivacaine, 10 cc of 2% lidocaine and 1 cc (40 mg) of triamcinolone was used for injection of 5 cc per trigger point. A 5.5, Iowa trumpet pudendal needle guide was used for injection. All but one injection were performed in the office setting without sedation. Pelvic floor muscle exercises were taught for use after injection. Success was defined as a decrease in pain as measured by a VAS of 50% or more, as well as PGS and PGC scores of 60% or greater. There was a mean follow up of 3 months after trigger point injection. Results Thirteen of 18 women improved with the first trigger point injection resulting in a comprehensive success rate of 72%. Six (33%) of 18 women were completely pain free. Conclusion In the management of CPP, a non-surgical office-based therapy such as trigger point injections can be effective in selected patients. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:59,62, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Importance of Pelvic Muscle Tenderness Evaluation in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain

    PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2010
    Mary Lourdes Lima De Souza Montenegro MD
    Abstract Objective., To determine the prevalence of pelvic muscle tenderness in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to assess the importance of evaluating muscle tenderness in such women. Design., Observational study of 48 healthy female volunteers and 108 women with CPP, who were clinically evaluated for pelvic muscle tenderness by two researchers blinded to all clinical data. Results., The frequency of clinically detected pelvic muscle tenderness was significantly higher in women with CPP than in healthy volunteers (58.3% vs 4.2%, P < 0.001). Among women with CPP, those with pelvic muscle tenderness had higher Beck Depression Index scores (22 [6,42] vs 13 [3,39], P = 0.02) and higher rates of dyspareunia (63.5% [40/63] vs 28.9% [13/45], P < 0.004) and constipation (46.0% [29/63] vs 26.7% [12/45], P = 0.05) than those without pelvic muscle tenderness. Conclusion., Tenderness of pelvic muscles was highly prevalent among women with CPP and was associated with higher BDI scores and higher rates of dyspareunia and constipation. Determination of pelvic muscle tenderness may help in identifying women who require more intense treatment for CPP. [source]


    ORIGINAL RESEARCH,SEXUAL PAIN DISORDERS: Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome as a Cause of Sexual Pain in Women: A Diagnosis to Consider

    THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2007
    Kristene Whitmore MD
    ABSTRACT Introduction., Sexual pain, or dyspareunia, is a common symptom among women. Dyspareunia presents in many ways, and arises from a range of causes. Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is one potential cause that may frequently be overlooked by clinicians. Interstitial cystitis is increasingly recognized as more common than was once thought. However, it can be difficult to identify, as the symptoms of IC/PBS (urinary urgency and frequency, dyspareunia, nocturia, and pelvic pain) overlap with other urogynecologic conditions. Aim., This article will review the association between dyspareunia and IC/PBS, and will provide an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of IC/PBS in women with sexual pain. Methods and Main Outcome Measures., Review of the medical literature and expert medical opinion. Results., Many women with IC/PBS experience dyspareunia, often in conjunction with chronic pelvic pain. When IC/PBS is suspected, there are simple measures to aid in the diagnosis of this condition, and treatments are readily available. Conclusions., When a woman presents with the symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency, dyspareunia, nocturia, and/or pelvic pain, IC/PBS should be part of the diagnostic evaluation. Whitmore K, Siegel JF, and Kellogg-Spadt S. Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome as a cause of sexual pain in women: A diagnosis to consider. J Sex Med 2007;4:720,727. [source]


    REVIEW ARTICLE: Immunopathogenesis of Pelvic Endometriosis: Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor, Macrophages and Ovarian Steroids

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
    Khaleque Newaz Khan
    Endometriosis, a chronic disease characterized by endometrial tissue located outside the uterine cavity is associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. However, an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of endometriosis is still elusive. It is generally believed that besides ovarian steroid hormones, the growth of endometriosis can be regulated by innate immune system in pelvic microenvironment by their interaction with endometrial cells and immune cells. We conducted a series of studies in perspectives of pelvic inflammation that is triggered primarily by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysacccharide) and is mediated by toll-like receptor 4 and showed their involvement in the development of pelvic endometriosis. As a cellular component of innate immune system, macrophages were found to play a central role in inducing pelvic inflammatory reaction. We further report here that peritoneal macrophages retain receptors encoding for estrogen and progesterone and ovarian steroids also participate in producing an inflammatory response in pelvic cavity and are involved in the growth of endometriosis either alone or in combination with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). As a pleiotropic growth factor, HGF retains multifunctional role in endometriosis. We describe here the individual and step-wise role of HGF, macrophages and ovarian steroid hormones and their orchestrated involvement in the immunopathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis. [source]


    Physician's practice patterns for chronic prostatitis

    ANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2009
    L. Liu
    Summary Chronic prostatitis (CP) is one of the most prevalent conditions in urology, yet the most poorly understood. Although there is little controversy regarding the therapy for documented acute bacterial infections, most symptomatic men do not have bacterial prostatitis, for which treatment and management are usually successful. Throughout the past century, the diagnostic entity of CP has been recognised and its clinical characteristics have been well described. However, no hard and fast guidelines have been developed. To date, several surveys of physicians have been undertaken in order to examine their practice characteristics, attitude, diagnostics and treatment modalities applied in patients with CP. These surveys demonstrate that physicians show large deficits in familiarity with and knowledge of CP along with significant uniformity in the medical approach to this condition and confirm the frustration experienced by physicians in the management of this disease. The results of these studies also suggest an important role for continuing education on the diagnosis and treatment of CP. Further study is needed to identify the aetiology and pathogenesis of male chronic pelvic pain and to establish guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment. [source]


    Using botulinum toxin for pelvic indications in women

    AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
    Archana RAO
    Background: Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is a potent neurotoxin. Its ability to cause muscle paralysis is increasingly being utilised for the management of a number of conditions of interest to the gynaecologist. Aims: This review aims to give the reader an overview of the use of BoNT for conditions presenting a management challenge for the gynaecologist, such as chronic pelvic pain and idiopathic detrusor overactivity. Methods: The literature was reviewed regarding the use, side-effects and complications of BoNT in the pelvis, focussing on chronic pelvic pain, provoked vestibulodynia, conditions involving the lower gastrointestinal tract and detrusor overactivity. Results: In terms of pain caused by pelvic floor spasm, daily pelvic pain and dyspareunia are the symptoms most likely to be improved by BoNT. Limited data regarding use for provoked vestibulodynia indicate an improvement in pain scores. In the lower gastrointestinal tract, injection into puborectalis has been showed to objectively improve intravaginal pressures, though there are no randomised controlled trials (class I studies) validating its use in this setting. Class I studies demonstrate a role for BoNT in the management of idiopathic detrusor overactivity, though long-term follow-up data are lacking. Potential problems with BoNT injection include toxin reactions, urinary and faecal incontinence, urinary retention and secondary treatment failure due to antibody production. Conclusions: A single class I study supports the use of BoNT for refractory pelvic floor spasm; however, further adequately powered class I studies for this indication and for provoked vestibulodynia are warranted. [source]


    Meta-analysis using individual patient data from randomised trials to assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain: a proposed protocol

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
    T Xiong
    Background, Currently, there are a number of clinical trials, but no international collaboration for collating research on effectiveness of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation (LUNA) for alleviating chronic pelvic pain. Objective, Meta-analysis was used by collecting individual patient data (IPD) from the existing trials, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of LUNA that will be generalisable in various clinical contexts. Methods, IPD will be sought and collected from all relevant (both already finished and continuing) randomised trials identified through previous systematic reviews. After obtaining raw data and cleaning the database, analysis will be of all patients ever randomised based on the intention-to-treat principle using endpoints measured at 12 months following randomisation. Proposal, We will update searches, contact all authors, obtain data in whatever form it can be provided, build a single database, produce results for individual studies, have them verified by original authors, explore of any heterogeneity and reasons behind it and finally pool all raw data in to a meta-analysis using appropriate statistical methods. The project will test the effectiveness of LUNA for women with chronic pelvic pain. It will also motivate collaborating primary investigators to undertake new primary studies to corroborate or improve upon the conclusions derived from the retrospective analysis. [source]


    A history of sexual abuse and health: a Nordic multicentre study

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 10 2004
    Malene Hilden
    Objectives To determine if a history of sexual abuse is associated with objective and subjective indicators of health and if certain abusive incidents had a stronger impact on health than others. Design A cross-sectional, multicentre study. Setting Five gynaecological departments in the five Nordic countries. Sample Three thousand five hundred and thirty-nine gynaecology patients. Methods The NorVold Abuse Questionnaire (NorAQ) on abuse history and current health was mailed to all patients who consented to participate. Main outcome measures Reason for index visit at the gynaeocological clinic as well as several questions on health were recorded. General health status was measured as self-estimated health, psychosomatic symptoms (headache, abdominal pain, muscle, weakness, dizziness), number of health care visits and number of periods on sick leave. Result A history of sexual abuse was reported by 20.7% of respondents. A history of sexual abuse was significantly associated with chronic pelvic pain as reason for index visit (P < 0.01), laparoscopic surgery (P < 0.01), psychosomatic symptoms (P < 0.01), self-estimated poor health (P < 0.01), many health care visits (P < 0.01) and high incidence of sick leave (P < 0.01). Several subgroups within the group of sexually abused women were more likely to report poor health: women abused as both children and adults, women who experienced additional emotional and/or physical abuse and women abused by a person they knew. Conclusion Sexual abuse has a profound impact on women's health. Taking a history of sexual abuse seems particularly warranted when the patient presents with chronic pelvic pain or symptoms of a vague and diffuse nature. [source]