Anticipated and perceived pain from midtrimester amniocentesis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anticipated and perceived pain and determine the factors contributing to pain perception in women undergoing midtrimester amniocentesis.MethodsA visual analog scale was used to quantify pain in this prospective study of 64 women undergoing amniocentesis in the same clinical setting. The analysis was done using the paired-samples t test, analysis of variance, the Kruskal–Wallis test, the Mann–Whitney U test, and Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsThe postprocedural pain scores were significantly less than the preprocedural pain scores (P < 0.01). Parity, a previous amniocentesis, the indication for amniocentesis, and the previous loss of a child were factors contributing to pain scores. No correlations were found between pain score and maternal age, week of pregnancy at the time of the procedure, parity, or having lost a child.ConclusionThe perceived pain was less than the anticipated pain, and the factors contributing to pain should be kept in mind when counseling patients undergoing midtrimester amniocentesis.