Prevalence of neuropathic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain: systematic review

João Nogueira-Neto; Luiz Fernando Carvalho Camapum; Lyrian Lorena Freire Lira; Dara Maria Sá Rêgo Camapum; Lyvia Maria Rodrigues de Sousa Gomes; Plínio da Cunha Leal

doi:10.63231/2595-0118.202675-en

Artigo de Revisão

Prevalence of neuropathic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain: systematic review

Prevalência de dor neuropática em mulheres com dor pélvica crônica: revisão sistemática

João Nogueira-Neto; Luiz Fernando Carvalho Camapum; Lyrian Lorena Freire Lira; Dara Maria Sá Rêgo Camapum; Lyvia Maria Rodrigues de Sousa Gomes; Plínio da Cunha Leal

http://dx.doi.org/10.63231/2595-0118.202675-en BrJP, vol.9, e202675, 2026

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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a multifactorial condition frequently associated with neuropathic mechanisms, but the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) in this population remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to systematically quantify the prevalence of NP in women diagnosed with CPP, using validated screening tools.

CONTENTS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in the Prospective International Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), ID no. CRD42024593980. The search for articles was performed on the CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Embase, Pubmed, Scielo, SportDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar platforms and covered studies published between 2010 and 2024. The eight studies included 989 women with CPP and reported NP prevalence ranging from 13.6% to 66.0%. The prevalence estimates varied depending on the instrument used: 31.0%-64.8% (S-LANSS), 35.0%-66.0% (DN4), and 13.6%-31.7% (painDETECT). Sample-size-weighted mean prevalences were 45.9% for S-LANSS, 44.3% for DN4 and 28.8% for painDETECT. NP in women with CPP was also associated with lower quality of life, greater psychological distress, cognitive alterations, endometriosis, provoked vestibulodynia, vulvodynia and greater genitourinary pain severity.

CONCLUSION: NP is highly prevalent in women with CPP, underscoring the importance of routine screening for its neuropathic component in clinical practice. Further research is warranted, given the limited number of studies that comprehensively address this relation.

Keywords

Chronic pain; Neuralgia; Neuropathic pain; Pelvic pain

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor pélvica crônica (DPC) em mulheres é uma condição multifatorial frequentemente associada a mecanismos neuropáticos, porém a prevalência de dor neuropática (DN) nessa população permanece incerta. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar sistematicamente a prevalência de DN em mulheres diagnosticadas com DPC, utilizando ferramentas de triagem validadas.

CONTENTS: O estudo seguiu as diretrizes Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) e foi registrada no Prospective International Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) ID nº CRD42024593980. A busca por artigos foi realizada nas plataformas CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Embase, Pubmed, Scielo, SportDiscus, Web of Science, e Google Acadêmico e abrangeu estudos publicados entre 2010 e 2024. Os oito estudos incluíram 989 mulheres com DPC e relataram prevalência significativa de DN, variando de 13,6% a 66,0%. As estimativas de prevalência variaram dependendo do instrumento utilizado: 31,0% a 64,8% (S-LANSS), 35,0% a 66,0% (DN4) e 13,6% a 31,7% (painDETECT). As prevalências médias ponderadas pelo tamanho da amostra foram de 45,9% para S-LANSS, 44,3% para DN4 e 28,8% para painDETECT. DN na DPC também foi associada a menor qualidade de vida, maior sofrimento psicológico, alterações cognitivas, endometriose, vestibulodínia provocada, vulvodínia e maior intensidade da dor geniturinária.

CONCLUSÃO: A DN é altamente prevalente em mulheres com DPC, o que reforça a importância da triagem de rotina para seu componente neuropático na prática clínica. É necessário realizar mais pesquisas, dado o número limitado de estudos que abordam essa relação de forma abrangente.

Palavras-chave

Dor crônica; Dor neuropática; Dor pélvica; Neuralgia

Referências

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Submetido em:
19/03/2025

Aceito em:
27/03/2026

Prevalence of neuropathic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain: systematic review

Prevalência de dor neuropática em mulheres com dor pélvica crônica: revisão sistemática

João Nogueira-Neto; Luiz Fernando Carvalho Camapum; Lyrian Lorena Freire Lira; Dara Maria Sá Rêgo Camapum; Lyvia Maria Rodrigues de Sousa Gomes; Plínio da Cunha Leal

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