The Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea, Dyspareunia, Pelvic Pain, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Primary Care Practices

TLDR

Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome are common complaints among reproductive‑age women and are not consistently linked to age, parity, marital status, race, income, or education. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome among reproductive‑age women in primary care settings. The authors surveyed 701 reproductive‑age women in five primary‑care practices using a ten‑page questionnaire, achieving an 83 % response rate (581 completed forms). Among 581 respondents, prevalence rates were 90 % for dysmenorrhea, 46 % for dyspareunia, 39 % for pelvic pain, and 12 % for irritable bowel syndrome; low income and African‑American race were risk factors for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain, respectively, and pelvic pain was more common in women aged 26‑30, leading the authors to recommend routine inquiry about these complaints in women's health care.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in a clinical population of reproductive-age women.A ten-page questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of women age 18-45 years who were approached in the waiting areas of two obstetrics and gynecology practices and three family medicine practices in central North Carolina. Of 701 women approached to fill out the questionnaire, 581 (83%) returned completed forms suitable for analysis.The reported prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome was 90, 46, 39, and 12%, respectively. Low income was found to be a risk factor for dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, and African-American race was found to be a risk factor for pelvic pain. Pelvic pain was also more common among women 26-30 years old. Otherwise, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome were not associated with age, parity, marital status, race, income, or education.Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome are common complaints among women of reproductive age and are not consistently associated with demographic risk factors. Therefore, inquiry about these pelvic pain complaints should be a routine part of health care for women.