[Correlation between pelvic adhesions and pain symptoms of endometriosis]

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of pelvic adhesions in endometriosis (EM) and the relationship between pelvic adhesions and pain symptoms. METHODS: The incidence of pelvic adhesions, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dyschizia in 480 patients with EM were studied retrospectively to evaluate the correlation between pelvic adhesions and the degree of pain symptoms. In accordance with the revised American Fertility Society classification (r-AFS), it was observed that 155 cases were in Stage I, 33 cases were in stage II, 108 cases were in stage III and 184 were cases in stage IV. RESULTS: (1) Among 480 cases with EM, 72.3% (347/480) of patients have pelvic adhesions simultaneously, of which 25.2% (39/155) patients were in Stage I, 78.8% (26/33) patients were in Stage II, 90.7% (98/108) patients were in Stage III and 100.0% (184/184) patients were in Stage IV. It was found that positive correlation existed between the degree of pelvic adhesions and clinical staging of EM (r(s) = 0.870, P < 0.01). (2) 61.0% (293/480) of patients presented dysmenorrhoea, of which the percentages of mild, moderate and severe dysmenorrhea were 52.2% (153/293), 26.6% (78/293), 21.2% (62/293), respectively. The rate of patients presenting chronic pelvic pain (CPP), dyspareunia and dyschezia were 23.8% (114/480), 15.4% (74/480) and 7.1% (34/480), respectively. (3) Ovarian adhesions was positively correlated with dysmenorrhea and CPP (r(s) = 0.367 and 0.267, P < 0.01). Adhesion of the bottom and posterior wall of uterus was positively correlated with dysmenorrhea and CPP (r(s) = 0.336, 0.164, P < 0.01); adhesions of fallopian tubes were positively correlated with dysmenorrhea, CPP and dyschezia (r(s) = 0.283, 0.225 and 0.159, P < 0.01). Adhesions of rectum was positively correlated with dysmenorrhea (r(s) = 0.101, P < 0.05). In addition to dyspareunia, the degree of pelvic adhesions was positively correlated with dysmenorrhea, CPP and dyschezia (r(s) = 0.470, 0.273, 0.132, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Pelvic adhesions are characteristic lesions of endometriosis, the site and degree pelvic adhesions are closely correlated with pain symptoms.