Psycho-social factors in pelvic pain. A controlled study of women living in physically abusive relationships.

The study was designed to reveal possible associations between living in an abusive relationship and gynecological disturbances, including pelvic pain. 66 women living in or having lived in such a relationship the previous year were compared with 114 women, in a random sample of women from the same area not exposed to life in an abusive relationship. Data from both groups were obtained through personal interview. 32 women (48%) in the study group and 24 (21%) among controls had a history of pelvic pain (p less than 0.001). Eight (12%) women in the study-group versus 2 (2%) of the controls had contacted a physician and reported a history of pelvic pain during the year prior to the interview (p less than 0.05). The difference in the history of pelvic pain could not be explained by differences in psychosocial factors between the groups.