The Impact of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a prevalent condition with a significant impact on the personal, social, professional and marital life of women. It is a complex condition that may have no specific causal diagnosis or may be associated with multiple diagnoses, frequently involving treatment failure. The definition of health care strategies fundamentally depends on the way women live with this condition. Thus, the objective of the present study is to learn how women with CPP experience their diagnosis and the meaning they attribute to it. A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing a focus group of 11 women. The content of the interviews was recorded and fully transcribed, and the speeches were interpreted by Bardin's content analysis. The topics most frequently dealt with in the interview were diagnosis, beginning of pain, worsening and improving factors, marital and interpersonal relationships, interference with daily activities, association with emotional aspects, and perspectives for the future. It could be perceived how much these women need to be better heard and how much the association between psychic and physical questions must be visualized by the professionals who provide care for them. The approach used by professionals from different areas, when properly structured, can minimize the problem of the division of a sick person into separate parts. Psychological care is very important, especially in relation to the discovery of more effective strategies for living with pain.

Effects of Patient-Provider Interactions on Diagnosis and Care for Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Qualitative Study

“…Several themes from the current analysis are consistent with previous research describing negative effects of lack of empathy, such as increasing the patient's emotional burden and delaying diagnosis and care 6,7,21–23. Similar to descriptions from previous studies investigating CPP,6,7,19,22,24,38,39 participants in the study described negative PPIs as contributing to, if not the source of, the emotional toll. This emotional toll affected their quality of life, relationships, sense of self, and outlook on HCPs and the health care process.…”

“…These findings are supported by the study of McGowan et al, 22 which also found women with CPP disengaged from the health care process. The persistence of similar findings across decades of research for women with CPP 6,7,19,22,24,38,39 suggests that evidence is not being translated into health care practice for treatment of these individuals. Until we integrate the best available evidence into health care practice for these patients, they will continue to experience negative consequences of PPIs and have poor outcomes.…”

“…Almost all participants stressed the importance of having a diagnosis for their CPP, similar to previous studies involving individuals with chronic pain. 6,7,19,[22][23][24]38,39,41 With a diagnosis, participants felt their CPP could finally be addressed through appropriate and directed treatments. However, participants indicated they could have arrived at diagnosis and treatment sooner if only HCPs had listened to them or taken them seriously.…”

“…2,[6][7][8][9]12,[19][20][21][22][23] Studies have investigated patient perspectives of PPIs from women with CPP, but many were conducted 25 years ago. 7,[21][22][23][24] Since then, the benefits of patientcentered care and the influence of PPIs on patient experiences and health outcomes have been investigated for other conditions, such as chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 12,16,17,[25][26][27] Despite these additional studies, the overall literature in this area is sparse for all patient populations, and this lack of current literature specific to PPIs for women with CPP requires current investigations that include an updated understanding of patient-centered care and the influence of PPIs on patient experiences.…”

“…Studies have investigated patient perspectives of PPIs from women with CPP, but many were conducted 25 years ago 7,21–24. Since then, the benefits of patient-centered care and the influence of PPIs on patient experiences and health outcomes have been investigated for other conditions, such as chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 12,16,17,25–27.…”