EXPERTS’ OPINION   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2019 March;85(3):320-4

DOI: 10.23736/S0375-9393.18.13060-4

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Postpartum chronic pain

Patricia LAVAND’HOMME ✉

Department of Anesthesiology, Medical School, St. Luc Hospital, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

Postpartum chronic pain is a clinical reality which affects 6.1% to 11.5% of women after delivery and affects their recovery. The large range of incidence observed in the literature relies on criteria used to define chronic postpartum pain. The features depend on the type of delivery. Cesarean delivery which rate is increasing worldwide seems currently associated with lower risk of chronic postpartum pain, specifically chronic pelvic pain. Further chronic scar pain which often involves a neuropathic component is often of mild intensity. In opposite, after vaginal delivery, chronic pelvic pain and perineal pain have an important negative impact on women’s mood and quality of life. As for any chronic pain, individual risk factors account more than degree of tissue trauma. From actual reports in the field, better pain education of both women and health care providers might help to reduce the problem.

KEY WORDS: Chronic pain - Postpartum period - Cesarean section