Factors predisposing women to chronic pelvic pain

• a systematic review has been undertaken to evaluate factors predisposing women to chronic and recurrent pelvic pain
• with respect to dysmenorrhoea - associated factors were:
  • age < 30 years
  • low body mass index
  • smoking
  • earlier menarche (< 12 years)
  • longer cycles
  • heavy menstrual flow
  • nulliparity
  • premenstrual syndrome
  • sterilisation
  • clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease
  • sexual abuse
  • psychological symptoms
  • factors that were negatively associated with dysmenorrhoea were:
    • younger age at first childbirth
    • exercise
    • oral contraceptives
• with respect to dyspareunia - associated factors were:
  • menopause
  • pelvic inflammatory disease
  • sexual abuse
  • anxiety
  • depression
• with respect to non-cyclical pelvic pain - associated factors were:
  • drug or alcohol abuse
  • miscarriage
  • heavy menstrual flow
  • pelvic inflammatory disease
  • previous caesarean section
  • pelvic pathology
  • abuse
  • psychological comorbidity

Reference:

1. Latthe P et al. Factors predisposing women to chronic pelvic pain: systematic review. BMJ. 2006 Apr 1;332(7544):749-55.