Long-term results of bilateral oophorectomy for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain: relief of pain and special hormone replacement therapy requirements

Abstract

SummaryA study was carried out to determine the efficacy of total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in relieving intractable chronic pelvic pain up to 5 years postoperatively. The hormone replacement therapy requirements and its efficacy in alleviating postmenopausal symptoms and maintaining bone mineral density in these women was also assessed. This was a retrospective survey of a highly selected group of women attending a tertiary referral clinic for chronic pelvic pain. The subjects were 84 women who had previously undergone abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for intractable chronic pelvic pain. The main outcome measures were: pain scores; coital frequency: bone mineral densitometry and post-menopausal symptoms recorded at the most recent clinic visit. Pain relief was well maintained in 85 per cent of the subjects who reported no pain or occasional pain with minimal influence on their lives up to 5 years after surgery. More than half of the women on hormone replac...