https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.35506

Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Pain: A Neglected Field in Developing Countries

authors:

avatar Mansoureh Gorginzadeh 1 , avatar Farnad Imani 2 , avatar Saeid Safari ORCID 2 , *

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tehran University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
Pain Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine: Vol.6, issue 1; e35506
published online: February 13, 2016
article type: Editorial
received: December 13, 2015
revised: January 2, 2016
accepted: January 13, 2016

How To Cite Gorginzadeh M, Imani F, Safari S. Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Pain: A Neglected Field in Developing Countries. Anesth Pain Med. 2016;6(1):e35506. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.35506.

Inadequate access to antenatal care is still a major concern in many developing countries, and reducing pregnancy-related mortality is the main goal of national and international organizations of maternal health (1, 2). Despite the significant gap to reach the millennium development goal 5 (MDG5) to put an end to all the preventable causes of maternal deaths, the importance of other apparently benign pregnancy-related disorders should not be underestimated (3). In other words, besides considering the warning signs of major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality during the antenatal visits, including hemorrhagic or hypertensive disorders, some other measures should be taken to make the gestational and puerperal period as tolerable and satisfying as possible both for mother and her family, especially in the developing countries (3, 4). Nearly, half of the pregnant females experience pelvic girdle pain (PGP), at least to some extent (5). Although this musculoskeletal pain within the pelvic area is not harmful to females or their fetuses, it is indeed disabling interferes with their motherhood, familial relationships and their profession (5, 6).

Unfortunately, among the discomforts experienced by females during pregnancy, musculoskeletal complaints like PGP are not taken serious by the majority of clinicians. In a study by Pierce et al. the mean pain intensity score reported for low back or pelvic girdle pain was six out of ten and in 80% of females these rate had negative impact on their lifestyles (7). In another study by Malmqvist et al. PGP was the main cause of sick leave in Norwegian pregnant females with a mean duration of 11 weeks (8). In the same study, the principal reason not to take a leave from work was the subjects’ higher educational level besides job satisfaction and not to perceive less pain, which actually did exist (8). The pain which tends to begin as early as 18 weeks of pregnancy may persist in the postpartum period for as long as 15 months (9, 10).

A number of mechanical and hormonal factors are blamed for the development of this disorder: 1) the increasing load of the gravid uterus on spine and pelvis, 2) softening of the pubic symphysis, 3) laxity of the pelvic ligaments and 4) shifting of the uterus and a change in the pelvic orientation, which result in pelvic instability (10-13).

Females may have a wide range of complaints. Simply, everyday activities like getting up, turning over in bed, sitting down or walking may become painful (14, 15). The most common pain characteristics reported were dull, stabbing or cutting pain types within the pelvic area radiating to back or thighs (15). Many other aspects of a females’ life can also be greatly deteriorated (14-16). With regard to the pain management, no single medical treatment has proved to be effective till now (14-18). While, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are contraindicated in the third trimester of pregnancy and opioids are not considered safe, paracetamol is not associated with satisfactory results (14). Opioids are not generally considered harmless; however, tramadol, with weaker tendency for opioid receptors, is safely used during pregnancy without maternal or neonatal toxicity (19). Combined treatment of opioids with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonist like ketamine seems to have better analgesic effects; though, not proved by all studies (20). Compartment block with local anesthetics is another modality to decrease opioid consumption; nonetheless, its efficacy is not established yet (16, 21). Other proposed interventions include using pelvic belts, regular exercise, physical therapy, transcutaneous nerve stimulation and acupuncture which are costly and not everyone can afford especially in the developing countries. Therefore, what seems to be practical and cost-benefit, at least at the present time, is the role of appropriate support and adequate education from health care providers to recognize the risk factors and the ways to minimize the symptoms (16). Since there seems to be a lack of knowledge and awareness about the existence of such a disability among the caregivers themselves, further investigation is required in this field (6, 16). According to recent studies, physical exercise could have alleviating effects (17, 18). However, in a systematic review by Gutke et al. among different treatment modalities for lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy, it was reported that acupuncture and pelvic belts had the strongest effect and exercise had a weak effect (22).

In conclusion, it can be stated that pregnancy-related chronic pains, including pelvic girdle pain, are really disabling throughout many females’ lives, though not detrimental. While there are still many gaps in detection and appropriate management of this disorder, PGP should be considered as a major health concern in the society which deserves much more attention and support.

References

  • 1.

    Alkema L, Chou D, Hogan D, Zhang S, Moller AB, Gemmill A, et al. Global, regional, and national levels and trends in maternal mortality between 1990 and 2015, with scenario-based projections to 2030: a systematic analysis by the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group. Lancet. 2015. [PubMed ID: 26584737]. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)00838-7.

  • 2.

    Anastasi E, Borchert M, Campbell OM, Sondorp E, Kaducu F, Hill O, et al. Losing women along the path to safe motherhood: why is there such a gap between women's use of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance? A mixed methods study in northern Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015;15:287. [PubMed ID: 26538084]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0695-9.

  • 3.

    Say L, Chou D, Gemmill A, Tuncalp O, Moller AB, Daniels J, et al. Global causes of maternal death: a WHO systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2014;2(6):e323-33. [PubMed ID: 25103301]. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(14)70227-x.

  • 4.

    Hoope-Bender PT, Lopes ST, Nove A, Michel-Schuldt M, Moyo NT, Bokosi M, et al. Midwifery 2030: a woman's pathway to health. What does this mean? Midwifery. 2016;32:1-6. [PubMed ID: 26621374]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.10.014.

  • 5.

    Kanakaris NK, Roberts CS, Giannoudis PV. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: an update. BMC Med. 2011;9:15. [PubMed ID: 21324134]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-9-15.

  • 6.

    Elden H, Lundgren I, Robertson E. Life's pregnant pause of pain: pregnant women's experiences of pelvic girdle pain related to daily life: a Swedish interview study. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2013;4(1):29-34. [PubMed ID: 23427930]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2012.11.003.

  • 7.

    Pierce H, Homer CS, Dahlen HG, King J. Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: listening to Australian women. Nurs Res Pract. 2012;2012:387428. [PubMed ID: 22685643]. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/387428.

  • 8.

    Malmqvist S, Kjaermann I, Andersen K, Okland I, Larsen JP, Bronnick K. The association between pelvic girdle pain and sick leave during pregnancy; a retrospective study of a Norwegian population. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015;15:237. [PubMed ID: 26437972]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0667-0.

  • 9.

    Wu WH, Meijer OG, Uegaki K, Mens JM, van Dieen JH, Wuisman PI, et al. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: Terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence. Eur Spine J. 2004;13(7):575-89. [PubMed ID: 15338362]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-003-0615-y.

  • 10.

    Sjodahl J, Gutke A, Oberg B. Predictors for long-term disability in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain. Eur Spine J. 2013;22(7):1665-73. [PubMed ID: 23430102]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2716-6.

  • 11.

    Katonis P, Kampouroglou A, Aggelopoulos A, Kakavelakis K, Lykoudis S, Makrigiannakis A, et al. Pregnancy-related low back pain. Hippokratia. 2011;15(3):205-10. [PubMed ID: 22435016].

  • 12.

    Ritchie JR. Orthopedic considerations during pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2003;46(2):456-66. [PubMed ID: 12808395].

  • 13.

    Aldabe D, Ribeiro DC, Milosavljevic S, Dawn Bussey M. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain and its relationship with relaxin levels during pregnancy: a systematic review. Eur Spine J. 2012;21(9):1769-76. [PubMed ID: 22310881]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2162-x.

  • 14.

    Vas J, Aranda-Regules JM, Modesto M, Aguilar I, Baron-Crespo M, Ramos-Monserrat M, et al. Auricular acupuncture for primary care treatment of low back pain and posterior pelvic pain in pregnancy: study protocol for a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Trials. 2014;15:288. [PubMed ID: 25027493]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-288.

  • 15.

    Bergstrom C, Persson M, Mogren I. Pregnancy-related low back pain and pelvic girdle pain approximately 14 months after pregnancy - pain status, self-rated health and family situation. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14:48. [PubMed ID: 24460727]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-48.

  • 16.

    Persson M, Winkvist A, Dahlgren L, Mogren I. "Struggling with daily life and enduring pain": a qualitative study of the experiences of pregnant women living with pelvic girdle pain. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:111. [PubMed ID: 23668823]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-111.

  • 17.

    Tseng PC, Puthussery S, Pappas Y, Gau ML. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of exercise programs on Lumbo Pelvic Pain among postnatal women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015;15:316. [PubMed ID: 26612732]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0736-4.

  • 18.

    Andersen LK, Backhausen M, Hegaard HK, Juhl M. Physical exercise and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: A nested case-control study within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2015;6(4):198-203. [PubMed ID: 26614601]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2015.04.004.

  • 19.

    Imani F, Entezary SR, Alebouyeh MR, Parhizgar S. The maternal and neonatal effects of adding tramadol to 2% lidocaine in epidural anesthesia for cesarean section. Anesth Pain Med. 2011;1(1):25-9. [PubMed ID: 25729652]. https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.22287523.1271.

  • 20.

    Imani F, Faiz HR, Sedaghat M, Hajiashrafi M. Effects of adding ketamine to fentanyl plus acetaminophen on postoperative pain by patient controlled analgesia in abdominal surgery. Anesth Pain Med. 2014;4(1). eee12162. [PubMed ID: 24660145]. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.12162.

  • 21.

    Gharaei H, Imani F, Almasi F, Solimani M. The Effect of Ultrasound-guided TAPB on Pain Management after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy. Korean J Pain. 2013;26(4):374-8. [PubMed ID: 24156004]. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2013.26.4.374.

  • 22.

    Gutke A, Betten C, Degerskar K, Pousette S, Olsen MF. Treatments for pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review of physiotherapy modalities. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94(11):1156-67. [PubMed ID: 26018758]. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.12681.