Adenomyosis as a Major Cause for Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy for Chronic Pelvic Pain

Ninety-three women in whom conservative surgical therapy for chronic pelvic pain failed required hysterectomy for control of their disabling condition. In 22 of these 93 patients (24%), adenomyosis was the major pathologic finding. In 10 of the 22 (45%) women who had adenomyosis and required hysterectomy for control of their pain, tubal ligation had been previously performed. Only 15% (11/71) of patients without adenomyosis had had a tubal ligation. Over 23% of patients requiring hysterectomy for control of chronic severe pelvic pain had adenomyosis, and almost half of these women had had a tubal ligation performed. The possible relationship of adenomyosis to a previous tubal ligation has been explored.