Chronic pelvic pain in women: the path to outpatient discharge

Objective  To understand the meaning of chronic pelvic pain from the perspective of diagnosed women and analyze the determining factors for outpatient discharge.

Methods  This is qualitative research, using strategic social research as its theoretical methodological framework. 14 women participated in the study, seven of whom were undergoing outpatient follow-up and seven who were discharged from the gynecology outpatient clinic of a university hospital in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with guiding questions. The analysis of results was based on the thematic modality of content analysis, according to Bardin.

Results  Data analysis culminated in three thematic categories: “Before the pain”, “Living with the pain” and “Treating the pain”. Parental emotional abandonment, grief, disagreement with parents and childhood difficulties were prominent before the onset of pain. The onset of pain was related to the birth of children, menarche, surgeries and family conflicts. Living with pain promoted great suffering, fear, harm to relationships and work activity. The improvement in emotional state and financial conditions, the resolution of marital conflicts, the opportunity to express oneself and talk to other patients, the use of medication and some surgical procedures were decisive for pain control and outpatient discharge.

Conclusion  Chronic pelvic pain was related to socioeconomic, emotional and physical suffering. The resolution of these aspects contributed to outpatient discharge.