Risk factors for chronic pelvic pain in a cohort of primipara and secondipara at one year after delivery: association of chronic pelvic pain with autoimmune pathologies

Abstract AIM: Over genetic and obsteteric factors, also autoimmunity may be involved in female chronic pelvic pain (CPP) pathogenesis. Our study aims to determinate the prevalence of CPP after one year from delivery, and to investigate the possible influence on CPP of concomitant autoimmune conditions. Methods. We selected a cohort of caucasian primipara and secondipara who delivered in our clinic in 2006. We collected personal, clinical and obstetric data, and asked them about pelviperineal painful symptoms. Results. Mean maternal age is 35.52 years (±4.70), 27.65% of women delivered by cesarean section, 61.04% spontaneously and 11.32% by operative assistance, with partoanalgesia in 10.39% of cases, episiotomy in 41.19%, vaginoperineal tears in respectively 14.10% I degree, 11.13% II degree and 0.93% III-IV degree; 43.60% of women have ever undergone abdominopelvic surgery, 32.84% by laparotomy-laparoscopy, 7.05% by hysteroscopy, 5.01% limited to perineum. Chronic autoimmune diseases affect 78.48% of women, allergies 7.79%, rheumatic pathologies 1.3%, autoimmune endocrinopathies 71.8%; 26.53% of women report pelviperineal painful symptoms, being already present in 2.23% of cases, 12.43% generalised pelvic pain, 4.27% bladder pain, 2.60% vulvodynia, 17. 07% dyspareunia. By monovariate analysis CPP results influenced by III-IV degree vaginoperineal tears, operative assistance, preexisting CPP, previous and actual urinary incontinence, previous abdominopelvic surgical interventions and chronic rheumatic pathologies. Furthermore, rheumatic disease, operative assistance and previous CPP are predictive factors for CPP in the postpartum (AUC=58.10%). Conclusion. Delivery may highlight CPP symptoms in predisposed women affected by chronic autoimmune pathologies.