Operative Findings and Demographic Characteristics of Chronic Pelvic Pain Patients in a Military Population

Abstract : Chronic pelvic pain is non-menstrual pelvic pain of six or more months duration that is severe enough to cause functional disability or require medical or surgical treatment. It is estimated to account for 10% of all referrals to gynecologists, and is the indication for 12% of all hysterectomies and over 40% of gynecologic diagnostic laparoscopies. Direct costs of health care for chronic pelvic pain in the United States are estimated at $880 million per year, and direct and indirect costs may total over two billion dollars per year. The impact of chronic pelvic pain on military operations is potentially very significant. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic characteristics and findings at laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain patients in a military population, and to compare those findings to an asymptomatic control group that underwent laparoscopic tubal ligation. The M2 data repository of standard inpatient data records was reviewed for all encounters associated with Diagnostic and Operative Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Tubal Ligation. Four hundred and fourteen subjects met inclusion criteria and there were 237 control subjects. The pelvic pain group was more likely to have a medical history of pelvic inflammatory disease, headaches, depression, acid reflux disease and physical or sexual abuse.