Laparoscopic evaluation of chronic pelvic pain in Zimbabwean women.

A prospective study in which 360 women complaining of lower abdominal pain, were subjected to laparoscopic evaluation to confirm a diagnosis of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was carried out. Out of 360 women 234 (65%) had visually normal pelvis and on hydrotubation both tubes were patent; 54 (15%) had one tube patent while 72 (20%) had bilaterally occluded tubes. There were no complications. It is concluded that if women complain of chronic lower abdominal pain laparoscopic evaluation should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis of PID to avoid unnecessary prescription of antibiotics.