SUFU 2021: Predictors of Pelvic Pain in a General Urology Clinic Population

(UroToday.com) A prospective, cross-sectional survey-based study of female patients presenting to a general urology clinic over a 10-month period assessed the prevalence of pelvic pain in a general urology population presenting for evaluation of unrelated non-painful complaints. The focus was on assessing for clinical predictors of pelvic pain.


Patients presenting specifically for a painful complaint were excluded (i.e. flank pain, interstitial cystitis). Patients completed a 32-item survey with questions pertaining to demographics, comorbidities, and pelvic pain characteristics, medical and surgical history was collected. A total of 181 women (mean age 56 yrs) completed the survey. Overall, 75 (41%) women reported pelvic pain. These women were younger compared to those without pelvic pain (52 vs 59 years, p=0.001), but there were no differences in the chief complaint, race, education, income, or activity level (p>0.05). BMI, depression, fibromyalgia, overactive bladder, and any bowel symptoms were identified as possible positive predictors of pelvic pain. The conclusion was that female pelvic pain is prevalent in a general urology population and there are significant associations with overactive bladder, fibromyalgia, and bowel symptoms. 

Presented by: Clinton Yeaman, Jacqueline Zillioux, Kimberly Boatman, Sarah Krzastek, David Rapp, The University of Virginia, 2 University of Virginia, Department of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Urology

Written by: Diane K. Newman, DNP, CRNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD, Nurse Practioner and Co-Director, Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery during the 2021 Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Winter Meeting.