IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 36 / Issue 3 / pii/1630635724253-1163854512

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Original Research
Perceived pain and anxiety before and after amniocentesis among pregnant Turkish women
R.A. Al1, 2,*S. Yalvac1O.Y. Altar3, I. Dolen1
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2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum (Turkey)
13 Psychology, SSK Ankara, Maternity and Women’s Health Teaching Hospital, Ankara
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2009, 36(3), 184–186;
Published: 10 September 2009
Abstract

Purpose of investigation: To examine maternal perception of pain and anxiety before and soon after midtrimester genetic amniocentesis. Methods: Two hundred and ninety-two women consecutive were prospectively included in the study between March and December 2002. Study variables included age, gestational age, gravidity, parity, educational history, history of previous invasive prenatal procedures, indication for amniocentesis and source of information regarding amniocentesis. Maternal pain and anxiety associated with performing amniocentesis were subjectively quantified with the use of the visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Actual pain after amniocentesis was significantly lower compared with perceived pain before the procedure (3 [0-10] vs 5 [0-10], p < 0.001). Perceived anxiety before amniocentesis was significantly higher than perceived anxiety immediately after amniocentesis (7 [0-10] vs 5 [0-10], p < 0.001). Women who were informed about the procedure beforehand perceived the procedure to be less painful and expressed less anxiety before and after amniocentesis. Conclusions: Pre-amniocentesis counseling should emphasize that the actual pain and anxiety experienced during the procedure are low in intensity and significantly lower than expected.
Keywords
Amniocentesis
Pain
Anxiety
Perception
Prenatal diagnosis
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