Long‐term effects of surgically corrected menstrual outflow obstruction: A case–control study

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo enhance evidence‐based knowledge on long‐term sequalae in patients with surgically corrected obstructing Müllerian anomalies.MethodsThis long‐term case–control study included patients with menstrual outflow obstruction due to congenital anomalies of the uterus or vagina, who were at least 18 years old, and for whom 2 years had elapsed since the first surgery at the start of this study. The control group consisted of women without current gynecological problems. Patients underwent a surgical correction at the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen between 1980 and 2013. Of 78 patients approached, 38 (49%) were included in this study. The control group consisted of 54 females. The main outcome measures were pain and health state. The following questionnaires were used: Visual Analogue Scale pain scores, European Quality of Life–5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐3L) and the adapted Endometriosis Health Profile questionnaire (EHP‐30).ResultsPatients had higher actual and maximum abdominal pain scores compared with controls (11 vs 0 [P = 0.007] and 48 vs 21 [P = 0.035], respectively). Based on the EQ‐5D‐3L scores, patients had more pain and discomfort (P = 0.005), more mood problems (P = 0.023), and a poorer subjective health state (P = 0.002) and self‐rated health state (P = 0.031). Based on the EHP‐30, patients had a significant poorer self‐rated health state on four out of five subscales.ConclusionIn this study, following surgically corrected menstrual obstruction, patients had statistically significant higher abdominal pain scores and a poorer self‐rated health state compared with controls.