Sexual behavior and findings on laparoscopy or laparotomy in women with severe chronic pelvic pain.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To identify features of sexual behavior in women with and without chronic pelvic pain.

STUDY DESIGN:

A group of 41 women with chronic pelvic pain of more than 6 months' duration and scheduled to undergo laparoscopy or laparotomy were surveyed to obtain information on their sexual activity. The results were compared with a control group of 86 women of similar age and socioeconomic status who underwent planned tubal ligation for permanent contraception.

RESULTS:

Women with pelvic pain initiated sexual relations at a later age and had a higher rate of dyspareunia than women in the control group. There were no significant differences between groups in any other characteristics of sexual behavior.

CONCLUSION:

Dyspareunia, the only feature of sexual relations that differed significantly between women with and without chronic pelvic pain, should be accorded greater attention as a painful symptom and not be dismissed as simply a type of sexual dysfunction.

• Authors: Jesús Florido, Raquel Pérez-Lucas, Luis Navarrete
• Journal: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology (Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol) Vol. 139 Issue 2 Pg. 233-6 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 0301-2115 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 18403089 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Case-Control Studies
• Chronic Disease
• Dyspareunia (epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Laparoscopy
• Laparotomy
• Pelvic Pain (physiopathology, surgery)
• Sexual Behavior (physiology)