Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Received: 11 September 2013 /Accepted: 8 November 2013 /Published online: 6 December 2013
# The International Urogynecological Association 2013
The goal of this study is to compare the degree of bother Initial consultation
from pelvic organ prolapse in patients with and without
Apr 2008-Feb 2012
fibro-myalgia. We hypothesize that the diagnosis of n=1113
fibromyalgia might be associated with a greater degree of
bother from prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders.
clinical database IRB # 7247) from which the data for this
study were queried. The repository is used to track surgical
Demographics
outcomes, patient demographics, and characteristics,
Exam findings
including pertinent urogynecology baseline characteristics, Symptom Scores
examination findings, surgical complications, and validated
symptom bother measurements including the Pelvic Floor Fig. 1 Project scheme
Distress Inventory (PFDI), the Pelvic Floor Impact Question-
naire (PFIQ), and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse and
Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12). for the difference in age amongst groups, subjects in the
Medical history is routinely collected at each consultation reference group were age-matched within an interval of 5
through a self-reported non-validated questionnaire tool. years to the fibromyalgia group and chosen in a 2:1 ratio.
The medical co-morbidities evaluated in our study are listed Demographic, POPQ examination, medical history, and
as “boxes” or categories on the questionnaire (fibromyalgia, PFDI, PFIQ, and PISQ-12 scores were recorded within the
hypertension, pelvic pain, etc.), and patients are asked to data repository at the time of consultation. It is standard of
self-report or self-identify a medical condition by choosing care within our practice to assess symptom bother scores
from given categories or writing on a specific condition. at the time of initial consultation through the above-
After IRB approval for this specific project (IRB #8221), mentioned questionnaires. In addition, levator myalgia and
we queried our database for women presenting for initial vulvodynia are routinely assessed and documented during
urogynecology consultation within a 46-month time period initial examinations. Levator myalgia, or pelvic floor tension
(April 2008 to February 2012). Our study is focused on myalgia, is characterized by a hypertonic and short-ened
women reporting symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse; pelvic floor with myofascial trigger points throughout the
There-fore, we selected women who answered “yes” to “do musculature [10]. In our study, levator myalgia is defined as
you usually have a bulge or something falling out that you any pain with light palpation of any of the pelvic floor muscle
can see or feel in the vaginal area?” (question #3 on the groups (pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, and obturator
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory subscale of the internus) [11]. During light palpation, the patient was asked
short version PFDI; Fig. 1). Patients without symptoms of a if she felt pain. If pain was present from one or all muscle
vaginal bulge and incomplete symptom questionnaires were groups, this response was categorized as levator myalgia
excluded from the study. “present.” If no pain was elicited from any of the muscle
Within the group of patients reporting a vaginal bulge on groups, this response was categorized as levator myalgia
initial consultation we identified women with a self- “absent.” Vulvodynia is defined as pain with the light touch
reported diagnosis of fibromyalgia and a reference group of of a cotton swab at any point along the distribution of the
women without fibromyalgia. From preliminary data we vestibule or vulva; also recorded as “present” or “absent”
found that women with fibromyalgia with symptoms of pelvic [12]. The objective measurement of prolapse in our study
organ prolapse were significantly younger than women was defined as the POPQ value (not including genital hiatus
without fibromyalgia. Therefore, in order to correct [GH], perineal body [PB] or total
Machine Translated by Google
vaginal length [TVL]) that was the largest, regardless of the consultation. Of the women with symptomatic prolapse, 43
vaginal compartment contributing to the value. (10%) indicated a history of fibromyalgia. All 417 patients
The primary outcome of this study is to compare mean were found to have past medical history information documented
PFDI scores in women with and without self-reported fibro- at the time of consultation. Five patients (1.2) did not
myalgia in a population of women with symptomatic pro-lapse. complete the PFDI and were excluded from the study.
Secondary outcomes include comparing the leading Mean BMI differed between groups: women with fibro-myalgia
edge of the prolapse, the presence of levator myalgia and had a larger mean BMI of 30.5 kg/m2 (SD 8.4) and
vulvodynia on examination, and a self-reported history of those without fibromyalgia 27.6 kg/m2 (SD 5.3; p =0.006;
sexual abuse and depression. Table 1). Consistent with the Pacific Northwest, the majority
In preparation for this project, we performed a preliminary of subjects were Caucasian/white and this was not different
limited query of our entire repository. From that, we learned between groups. Significantly more women with fibromyalgia
that, in women with complaints of prolapse, who also reported reported a history of sexual abuse OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.3, 7.9).
a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, 36 % of them had less than (but Our primary outcome of mean pelvic floor symptom
not equal to) ICS stage 2 prolapse/support. In contrast, in bother scores differed significantly between groups (Table 2).
women with complaints of prolapse, but no fibromyalgia, only Women with fibromyalgia reported approximately 50%
9.5% had less than stage 2 support. Therefore, based on the more pelvic floor symptoms bother and impact of quality
anticipated 25 % difference between the groups, we chose to of life measured with validated pelvic floor questionnaires
perform the most extensive analysis on 43 patients in the (PFDI and PFIQ) compared with women without fibromyalgia.
fibromyalgia arm and 86 patients in the reference group Symptom scores in women with fibromyalgia were
(80% power, alpha 0.05). significantly higher on all PFDI subscales evaluating urinary
We used independent t tests for continuous variables and symptoms (Urogenital Distress Inventory, UDI), defecatory
Chi-squared analysis for categorical variables. Fisher's exact symptoms (Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory, CRADI), and
test was used for categorical variables in which sample sizes prolapse symptoms (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory,
they were small. A multiple linear regression was performed to POPDI; Table 2). Women with fibromyalgia reported
investigate the relationship between symptom bother scores lower mean PISQ score (sexual function) than women
and the leading edge of the prolapse, with significant variables without fibromyalgia (p=0.018).
found in the univariate analysis. Despite more symptoms bothering from prolapse, women with
fibromyalgia were found to have less objectively measured
pelvic descent on examination, with the leading edge of the
Results prolapse found to be +0.3 (SD 1.7) in women with fibromyalgia
and +0.9 (SD 1.8) in women without fibromyalgia
One thousand one hundred and thirteen patients were seen for (p=0.045; Table 3). The presence of levator myalgia differed
an initial urogynecology consultation during the 46-month between groups: 36% of women with fibromyalgia were
time period. One hundred and fourteen (7%) women reported found to have levator myalgia compared with 13 % of women
a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Four hundred and seventeen without fibromyalgia, OR 3.7 (95% CI 1.5, 9.1). six women
(37%) reported feeling or seeing a bulge at their initial with fibromyalgia and 3 women without fibromyalgia did
Table 1 Demographics
Demographics Patients with Patients without p value OR (95% CI)
fibromyalgia (n =43) fibromyalgia (n =86)
Ethnicity
Caucasian 41 (95) 81 (94) 0.989
Other 2 (5) 4 (6)
Menopausal 27 (66) 52 (66) .139 1.21 (0.53, 2.75)
HRT 14 (38) 15 (19) 0.024 2.68 (1.12, 6.39)
Sexually active 15 (35) 51 (60) 0.035 0.44 (0.20, 0.95)
History of sexual abuse 13 (38) 13 (16) 0.010 3.12 (1.29, 7.87)
to
Values represented as mean History of depression 20 (46) 29 (34) 0.173 1.68 (0.79, 3.55)
(SD), number (%)
Machine Translated by Google
examination) [13]. Surgical therapy for prolapse is generally the fibromyalgia group, the fibromyalgia patient population
considered after conservative management has failed and may be mis-represented. Furthermore, this study does not
when the degree of bother or symptoms of the prolapse are address the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms and its impact
perceived to be greater than the risks of surgery. Owing to on pelvic floor disorders.
Increased bother, women with levator myalgia and fibromy- Our study has shown that fibromyalgia is a prevalent
algia may prefer treatment for prolapse at a stage of decent condition within a urogynecology patient population with
that would typically be considered less significant. In fact, clinical relevance regarding pelvic floor disorders. Addressing
our data demonstrate that if a patient carries a diagnosis of fibromyalgia symptoms and levator myalgia within an uro-
fibromyalgia, 35% of women reporting a bulge will have gynecology practice is important and worthwhile. Fibromyalgia
a leading edge of prolapse within the hymen. Available is a chronic condition in which patient education is
surgical options may not improve the bulge sensation in paramount in treatment success. Drugs such as pregablin,
these patients and may lead to a mismatch between patient gabapentin, and fluoxetine are FDA approved for use in
and physician expectations. The patient with fibromyalgia fibromyalgia. In addition, exercise and cognitive behavioral
and levator myalgia may anticipate unattainable results therapy have been proven to be effective in reducing pain
from prolapse interventions if her levator myalgia is left in patients with fibromyalgia [5]. Treatment of levator
undiagnosed or untreated. myalgia with myofascial physical therapy has been shown
To our knowledge, this study is the first to address the to be effective [15, 16]. Typical myofascial physical therapy
impact of fibromyalgia on symptoms bothering from pelvic organ includes weekly hour-long visits involving tissue manipulation
prolapse. Its strengths include the use of a reference group of connective tissue abnormalities and myofascial trigger
without fibromyalgia and the use of validated questionnaires points in the abdominal wall, thighs, and back, as well as
to quantify symptoms bother. Limitations of the study lie internal palpation through the vagina. Recommending treatment-
within the observational and retrospective design and the ment for fibromyalgia and levator myalgia is relatively un-
samplesize; larger prospective studies are needed to further complicated and may prove advantageous prior to invasive
understand the true relationship among fibromyalgia, levator treatment of pelvic floor disorders.
myalgia, and pelvic floor disorders. Our study is limited based
on its reliance on a self-reported diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Without a standardized diagnosis criterion for inclusion into Conflicts of interest None.
Machine Translated by Google
References 9. de Araujo MP, Faria AC, Takano CC, de Oliveira E, Sartori MG,
Pollak DF et al (2008) Urodynamic study and quality of life in patients
with fibromyalgia and lower urinary tract symptoms. Int Urogynecol
1. Bennett RM, Jones J, Turk DC, Russell IJ, Matallana L (2007) An J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 19:1103–1107 10. Haylen
internet survey of 2,596 people with fibromyalgia. BMC Musculoskelet BT, de Ridder D, Freeman RM, Swift SE, Berghmans B, Lee J et al
Disord 8:27 (2010) An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/
2. Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, Goldenberg DL, Katz RS, Mease International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology
P et al (2010) The American College of Rheumatology preliminary for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Neurourol Urodyn 29:4–20
diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom
severity. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 62:600–610 3. Wolfe 11. Adams K, Gregory WT, Osmundsen B, Clark A (2013) Levator
F, Ross K, Anderson J, Russell IJ, Hebert L (1995) The prevalence myalgia: why bother? Int Urogynecol J 24:1687–1693
and characteristics of fibromyalgia in the general population. 12. Bergeron S, Binik YM, Khalife S, Pagidas K, Glazer HI (2001)
Arthritis Rheum 38:19–28 Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: reliability of diagnosis and evaluation
4. Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA of current diagnostic criteria. Obstet Gynecol 98:45–51
et al (2008) Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other 13. Ghetti C, Gregory WT, Edwards SR, Otto LN, Clark AL (2005)
rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Pelvic organ descent and symptoms of pelvic floor disorders.
Rheum 58:26–35 5. Schmidt-Wilcke T, Clauw DJ (2011) Fibromyalgia: Obstet Gynecol 193:53–57
from patho-physiology to therapy. Nat Rev Rheumatol 14. Yunus MB (2007) Fibromyalgia and overlapping disorders: the
7:518–527 6. Giesecke T, Gracely RH, Grant MA, Nachemson A, unifying concept of central sensitivity syndromes. Semin Arthritis
Petzke F, Williams DA et al (2004) Evidence of increased central Rheum 36:339–356
pain processing in idiopathic chronic low back pain. Arthritis 15. FitzGerald MP, Anderson RU, Potts J, Payne CK, Peters KM,
Rheum 50:613–623 7. Geisser ME, Casey KL, Brucksch CB, Ribbens Clemens JQ et al (2009) Randomized Multicenter Feasibility Trial of
CM, Appleton BB, Crofford LJ (2003) Perception of noxious and Myofascial Physical Therapy for the Treatment of Urological Chronic
innocuous heat stimulation among healthy women and women with Pelvic Pain Syndromes. J Urol 182:570–580 16.
fibromyalgia: associa- tion with mood, somatic focus, and FitzGerald MP, Payne CK, Lukacz ES, Yang CC, Peters KM, Chai TC
catastrophizing. Pain 102:243–250 8. Schmidt-Wilcke T, Clauw DJ et al (2012) Randomized multicenter clinical trial of myofascial
(2010) Pharmacotherapy in fibromyalgia (FM)–implications for the physical therapy in women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder
underlying pathophysiology. Pharmacol Ther 127:283–294 syndrome and pelvic floor tenderness. J Urol 187:2113–2118