The effect of preprocedure anxiety levels on postprocedure pain scores in women undergoing hysterosalpingography

Abstract

According to this study, preprocedure anxiety levels have an effect on postoperative pain scores in women undergoing HSG procedure. Multiparity, male operator, and higher preprocedure anxiety scores also may have an effect on postoperative pain scores.

Effect of education and counselling on reducing pain and anxiety in women undergoing hysterosalpingography: A randomised controlled trial

“…The causes of pain felt during the procedure include the cervical traction, uterine cavity stretching and peritoneal irritation of the contrast agent (Szymusik, Grzechocińska, Marianowski, Kaczyński, & Wielgoś, ). Besides the anatomic and physical reasons, psychological factors like depression and anxiety have been reported as affecting factors in the perception of pain during gynaecological invasive procedures (Cicinelli, ; Tokmak et al, ). Anxiety is caused by the uncertainty and unfamiliarity during invasive procedures.…”

“…Anxiety is caused by the uncertainty and unfamiliarity during invasive procedures. Education and counselling have been shown to be effective in reducing the anxiety and pain experienced by patients for painful invasive procedures (Balci, Acar, Mahmoud, & Colakoglu, ; Hanprasertpong et al, ; Tokmak et al, ). Only a few interventional studies aiming to lower the anxiety felt by women undergoing HSG have been found (Agwu & Okoye, ; Erkılınç et al, ; La Fianza et al, ).…”

Does a male operator increase the pain perception of women undergoing hysterosalpingography examination?

“…The authors investigated the effect of various clinical factors and preprocedural anxiety levels on pain perception in these women after the HSG procedure and found that high preprocedure anxiety levels and male operators contributed to increased postprocedure pain in women who received HSG examination. 1 We congratulate the authors on the success of this publication.…”

“…This prospective randomized study enrolled 109 women who underwent hysterosalpingography (HSG). 1 All patients had their anxiety levels assessed and scored using the Beck anxiety inventory. The authors investigated the effect of various clinical factors and preprocedural anxiety levels on pain perception in these women after the HSG procedure and found that high preprocedure anxiety levels and male operators contributed to increased postprocedure pain in women who received HSG examination.…”

“…1 Since this study was a prospective, randomized trial, and the patients were unaware of the operator's sex before completing the Beck anxiety inventory (1 tool used for investigation of anxiety scores) at the preprocedural period, the authors claimed that this finding seemed to be "real". 1 The authors also tried to explain this unusual observation, which has not been previously published in the literature, and hypothesized that the female operators might use the instruments and perform procedures more gently. The authors seemed to be quite convinced of their results, since operator sex had an effect on VAS score independent of anxiety levels.…”