Chronic pelvic pain. Laparoscopic and cystoscopic findings

To study the laparoscopic and cystoscopic findings in women with chronic pelvic pain referred to the Gynecology Clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

Women referred to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultanate of Oman from October 1998-September 2000 with pelvic pain of more than 6 months duration were clinically evaluated. Laparoscopic examination was always combined with cystoscopy. Bladder biopsy was performed only if there were doubts regarding the nature of pathology that was found.

The mean age of the patients was 31 years and mean parity was 3.0. The minimum duration of symptoms was 6 months, but one 3rd of the patients had pain for more than 2 years. Bladder symptoms were present in 50% and bowel symptoms in 25% of patients. Laparoscopic examination revealed pathological findings in 80% of the cases. Adhesions of the omentum to the uterus or to the laparotomy or laparoscopy scar were the most common pathology (50%). Cystoscopy revealed one case of trigonitis and one case of cystitis.

Pelvic adhesions were the most common cause of pelvic pain in our study group. Cystoscopy was normal in most of the patients.