Abstract

CRIOLLO, Claudia Patricia et al. Psychological, social and gynecologic characteristics of chronic pelvic pain. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2004, vol.55, n.2, pp.129-135. ISSN 0034-7434.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is one of the chronic pain syndromes where controversy exists in its definition, accompanying pelvic pathology, psychosocial and cultural associated factors, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches. Objective: To describe the socio-demographic profile of women with CPP, pelvic pathology by laparoscopy, and the association with anxiety or depressive symptoms in the woman. Methods: A descriptive study was performed in thirty women with CPP and diagnostic laparoscopy. Results: The mean age was of 34,2 + 6,2 years old. Long duration of the CPP (range 1-10 years) was observed. The most of the women 40% were of middle socioeconomic status (level 3, range 1-6), mixed ethnic backgrounds 53%, university education 50%, and stable marital state (married 53%, common marriage in law 23%. All women had pelvic pathology by laparoscopy. The most frequent were adherences 36,6%, adenomyosis 20%, endometriosis 10%, polycystic ovary (10%), and the remaining 43.4% were mixed pelvic pathologies. A high proportion of dense adherences with the intestine 30% was observed. Anxiety, characterized by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), was observed in high proportion (30%) as well, in contrast with a low proportion of depression 3,3%. Conclusion: The studied women had a high frequency of anxiety and low frequency of depression. All cases were associated with pelvic pathology with a high proportion (30%) of dense adherences with the intestine. This gynecologic and psychosocial characteristics were different in relation to others populations.

Keywords : chronic pelvic pain; depression; anxiety.

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