Preexisting Gynecologic Conditions Associated with Chronic Pelvic Pain in Veterans Undergoing Hysterectomy for Benign Indications: Impact on Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

Objectives: This article describes the prevalence of preexisting gynecologic conditions associated with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in veterans having hysterectomy for benign indications and explores whether preexisting CPP affects receipt of minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data to identify hysterectomies provided or paid for by the VHA between 2007 and 2014. Veterans were included if they had any type of hysterectomy—abdominal or MIH (vaginal, laparoscopic, or robotic). Veterans were categorized as having preexisting gynecologic conditions associated with CPP if they had an International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis of endometriosis/adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, or pelvic-congestion syndrome within 1 year prior to hysterectomy. Generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution were used to estimate the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for preexisting CPP conditions and MIH. Results: The final sample had 6830 veterans who had hysterectomies. Of these, 66.5% (n = 4540) had preexisting CPP conditions. MIH was performed in 41.8% (n = 1897) of veterans who had preexisting CPP conditions. After adjustment, there was no association between preexisting CPP and MIH (unadjusted RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.15; adjusted RR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.08). Conclusions: Veterans undergoing hysterectomy have a high prevalence of preexisting conditions associated with CPP. More hysterectomies were performed in veterans with preexisting CPP, compared to those without. However, the presence of preexisting CPP did not affect the likelihood of receiving MIH. (J GYNECOL SURG 20XX:000)