Open AccessPrevalence of Chronic Pelvic Pain Among Women: An Updated Review
Author(s) -
Alebtekin Ahangari
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pain physician
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2150-1149
pISSN - 1533-3159
DOI - 10.36076/ppj.2014/17/e141
Subject(s) - medicine , population , medline , family medicine , inclusion and exclusion criteria , neglect , pelvic pain , inclusion (mineral) , health care , chronic pain , systematic review , alternative medicine , physical therapy , psychiatry , environmental health , pathology , gender studies , sociology , political science , law , economics , radiology , economic growth
Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP), defined as a noncyclical pain lasting for more than 6months can lead to lower physical performance and quality of life in women. CPP is a worldwideproblem affecting women of all ages. However, health care professionals and researchers, due toits complex nature and the lack of knowledge surrounding the condition, frequently neglect CPP.Subsequently, basic data and knowledge regarding CPP remain incomplete.Objective: To update the review of the worldwide estimation of the CPP prevalence consideringthe World Health Organization systematic review by Latthe et al in 2006 as point of departure.Study Design: A systematic review of CPP prevalence studies.Method: Electronic search was performed to find related articles through PubMed between 2005and 2012 based on the PRISMA statement (2009).Results: From 140 studies, only 7 studies were about CPP prevalence. Their study design consistedof 3 cross sectional studies, one population based mailing questionnaire study, one survey study(computer assisted telephone interview), one data analysis by questionnaire, and one prospectivecommunity based study.Limitations: Paucity of population based studies in addition to probability of existence of studiesat the local level with limited access to worldwide databases, lack of consensus about definition ofCPP among researchers and therapists, and non-inclusion of CPP related key words in databasessuch as PubMed.Conclusion: Based on these articles, prevalence in general ranged between 5.7% and 26.6%.There were many countries and regions without basic data in the field of CPP. This review showsthe paucity of studies, especially multidisciplinary researches with multifactorial views on CPP.Multidisciplinary studies would provide more reliable data for estimating the prevalence of CPP andits psycho-socioeconomic burden, as well as finding its etiologies and characteristics. This would bethe first step towards better treatment and care for women with CPP.Key words: Chronic pelvic pain, women, epidemiology, prevalence, human, female