Is Pregnancy-Related Lumbopelvic Pain Reported to Health Care Providers?

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PLPP) is a common ailment during pregnancy with physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences. Despite being common, prior literature has found that this symptom is widely underreported and therefore undertreated, especially in the United States. The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of pregnant women who report PLPP during pregnancy to their health care providers (HCPs) and to determine what contributing factors for reporting exist. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey design and was conducted at an academic medical center. All pregnant women attending a prenatal visit in obstetrical offices from July 2018 through March 2020 were asked to complete a questionnaire compiling demographic and socioeconomic information, answer validated survey instruments measuring physical and urinary function, and describe any pain, including intensity, frequency, and whether they told their HCPs about these symptoms and received any treatments. Results: Of the 538 respondents who had PLPP, only 43% (n = 233) reported PLPP to their provider. Of those who reported PLPP, 22% (n = 51) received treatment, of which 80% (n = 41) noted that treatment was effective. Factors that increased the likelihood of informing HCPs about PLPP were difficulty with daily mobility and a greater week of gestation. Conclusions: HCPs should inquire about PLPP throughout pregnancy. Any level of PLPP should be reported and monitored by a patient's HCP, and if it is interfering with activities of daily living, sleeping, or quality of life, it should be treated.