Quality of life of women with chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the quality of life and socioeconomic characteristics of women with and without pelvic pain and investigate clinical and surgical findings about women with chronic pelvic pain. Data were collected in a public hospital in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analogical scale, whereas quality of life was assessed through the SF-36. Most women classified pain as intensive (52%) and lived with pain for 8.8 (±7.7) years. Women belonging to the group of chronic pelvic pain scored less in all dimensions evaluated by the SF-36 (p< 0.05), except for the mental health dimension, when compared to the painless group. Correlation was negative (p=0,017) between pain intensity and the SF-36 bodily pain dimension. Pelvic pain presented significant negative impact on quality of life with losses to the physical and mental health of women.