THE ASSOCIATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE WITH PELVIC PAIN COMPLAINTS IN A PRIMARY-CARE POPULATION

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse during childhood and adulthood and its association with pelvic and ot her pain complaints in a population of reproductive-aged women. STUDY DESIGN: A 10-page questionnaire was administered to 581 nonpregnant wo men aged 18 to 45 years examined in primary care offices. RESULTS: The reported incidences of childhood and adult sexual abuse were 26% and 28%. In regression analyses, with the exception of irritable bowel syn drome, women with only a history of childhood sexual abuse and no abus e later in life are not more likely than nonabused women to report pai n syndromes. By contrast, with the exception of dysmenorrhea, all pain complaints studied were more common in women reporting abuse both as children and as adults. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual abuse that occurs during c hildhood and again as an adult is strongly associated with pelvic pain complaints.