Modulation of pain and hyperalgesia from the urinary tract by algogenic conditions of the reproductive organs in women

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of algogenic conditions of the reproductive organs upon urinary pain perception in women. A 5-year survey was conducted among 69 fertile women with calculosis of one upper urinary tract via an ad-hoc questionnaire. At both retrospective (3 years) and prospective (2 years) investigation, dysmenorrheic women (D) reported more colics than non-dysmenorrheic women (ND) ( P<0.001) and women with previous dysmenorrhea treated with estroprogestins (DH)( P<0.05). Pain thresholds (electrical stimulation) of the oblique musculature ipsilateral to the stone (L1, site of referred hyperalgesia from upper urinary tract) were lower in D than in ND ( P<0.01) and DH ( P<0.05). Calculosis women with asymptomatic endometriosis / ovarian cysts also reported more colics (6-month prospective study) and greater threshold lowering ( P<0.05) than women with calculosis alone. The results show enhancement of urinary pain / hyperalgesia by both manifest and latent algogenic conditions of the female reproductive organs. This enhancement could derive from neuronal sensitization in spinal segments of common projection of the two visceral districts (T10-L1).