Recognition and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome among women with chronic pelvic pain

Rachel E. Williams, Katherine E. Hartmann, Robert S. Sandler, William C. Miller, Lucy A. Savitz, John F. Steege

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: We sought to describe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatment among women with chronic pelvic pain. Study design: We performed a cross-sectional study of new chronic pelvic pain patients between 1993 and 2000 (n = 987). IBS was defined by Rome I criteria. IBS treatment was defined as lower gastrointestinal drugs or referral. Analyses were descriptive and multivariable. Results: IBS occurred in 35% of patients. In the highest quartile of pain, women with IBS were not more likely to have IBS treatment initiated. In the lowest three quarters of pain, women with IBS were 5.08 times more likely to have IBS treatment initiated. IBS was not diagnosed 40% of the time. IBS treatments were not recommended to 67% of patients with IBS. More than 35% of patients were prescribed narcotics. Conclusion: IBS is not consistently diagnosed and treated even in a pelvic pain clinic. Yet, treatment of IBS may reduce the overall abdominal pain of these patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)761-767
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume192
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005

Keywords

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Diagnosis
  • Epidemiology
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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