Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP), a common health problem in women, characterized by lower abdominal pain that has lasted at least for six months. Although, it's annual prevalence estimated 3.8 to 49%, there is no data in Iranian society. This study was aimed at gathering comprehensive and reliable data regarding the prevalence of CPP in female employees at two university hospitals in Tehran in 2006-2007.

Methods: A cross-Sectional study was conducted to determine the CPP prevalence on 303 volunteer females aged 19-63(34.7±9.2) years, working in two university hospitals, Tehran. A designed questionnaire with four parts containing questions regarding demographic information, gynecological, urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms was used. The ethical committee of the Shaheed Beheshti Medical University approved the study.

Results: The prevalence of present pelvic pain unrelated to menstrual cycle was 22.3% and totally 10.2% subjects suffered from CPP during the last 6-12 months. Our data showed a significant difference in prevalence of CPP between women with and without vaginal delivery (37% VS. 24 P=0.036%). There was a significant relationship between incomplete and hard defecation and occurrence of CPP (p<0.001). The prevalence of LBP & PPD in women with CPP was higher than women with no CPP (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Regarding to the prevalence of CPP and its relationship with gynecological, urinary, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal factors, we emphasize on a multidisciplinary approach for management of CPP, also recommend performing further community-based epidemiological studies.