Chronic pelvic pain improvement: impact on quality of life and mood

Women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) frequently suffer from mood disturbances and reduced quality of life. Whether pain improvement ameliorates mood and quality of life is still unclear, and it was investigated in an observational prospective study performed in a cohort of 117 of the outpatient services for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain at a University Hospital. Depending on disease, women were treated either by surgery or by the administration of an estrogen-progestin or a progestin alone. Pain during menses, between menses and at intercourse was evaluated by a 100 mm visual analog (VAS) scale. Quality of life was evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire, state of anxiety by the Y-1 form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y1) and depression the Self Evaluating Depression Scale (SDS). Women were 34.2 ± 8.1 years old. After a mean follow-up period of 10.0 ± 9.1 months, and independently on treatment (43.6% surgery), pain during menses (-28.2 ± 36.8; p<.0001), between menses (-11.3 ± 37.1; p<.002) and at intercourse (-8.3 ± 35.4; p<.02) decreased. SF-36 increased (3.3 ± 16.2; p<.03), STAI slightly decreased (-1.9 ± 8.6; p<.02), while depression did not change (-0.7 ± 7.8; p=.36). Pain changes were not related to changes of SF-36 or mood scores. In women with CPP, prolonged pain amelioration, has little impact on mood, particularly on depression. The data support the need for a multidisciplinary approach to women with CPP.