Lower abdominal and pelvic pain with advanced pelvic organ prolapse: a case-control study.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the relative frequencies of pain in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). STUDY DESIGN: This was an ancillary analysis of a case-control study investigating functional bowel disorders in women with and without POP. Cases were defined as subjects with stage 3 or 4 POP and controls were subjects with normal pelvic support. RESULTS: Women with POP were more likely to experience lower abdominal or pelvic pain that was significantly bothersome and interfered with daily activities (odds ratio [OR], 9.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7-20.4). After controlling for confounders, women with prolapse were more likely to report pressure in the lower abdomen (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.2), heaviness in the pelvic region (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.3-4.3), and pain in the lower abdomen (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.8-4.1). CONCLUSION: Women with prolapse are more likely to report pain, pressure, or heaviness in the lower abdomen or pelvis compared with women with normal support.