Risk factors for chronic pelvic pain: hospital-based case-control study from Turkey

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a complicated condition that can have a large impact on life. The aetiology of CPP is often unclear and the origin appears to be multifactorial. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with CPP complaint in women. The study is a descriptive case–control study in nature. The study was conducted in one university and one state hospital. Women with CPP (n = 134) composed the case group while those who consulted to the polyclinics with other problems formed the control group (n = 383). The data were collected through a questionnaire which was prepared in light of the related literature and the ‘Pelvic Pain Assessment Form’ developed by the International Pelvic Pain Society. Women in the case and control groups were found to have similar socio-demographical features. This study has detected that CPP is associated with factors such as having a relative with recurrent pelvic pain complaint, having cancer or CPP history, having pain during menstruation, feeling of fullness in the abdominal region and stool consistency, recurrent urinary tract infections, having a diagnosed woman's disease (ovarian cyst, genital tract infection, prolapsus and menstrual irregularity), having had an abdominal operation, taking vaginal showers after sexual intercourse or for any other reason, falling down from height or having an accident that caused back damage, experiencing a sad event during childhood, being exposed to physical violence or forced to sexual intercourse. In Conclusion, this study has found that reproduction, urinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal systems and psychological factors affect women with chronic pelvic pain.