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Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare anticipatory and postprocedure pain perception in female patients who undergo multichannel urodynamic evaluation in an office setting., Study Design: One hundred consecutive patients completed a visual analogue pain scale before and after urodynamic testing., Results: The mean postprocedure pain score of 2.32 cm was significantly lower than the anticipatory pain rating of 4.35 cm (P<.05). The lower postprocedure pain score was not influenced by previous hysterectomy, body mass index, menopausal status, estrogen replacement therapy, or analgesic or psychiatric medication usage. Patients who had undergone previous anti-incontinence surgery reported significantly higher levels of pain during the procedure (mean visual analogue pain scale score, 3.10 cm vs 2.06 cm; P=.027)., Conclusion: Patients who undergo urodynamic testing anticipate higher degrees of discomfort than they perceive during the procedure. Previous anti-incontinence surgery appears to lower the pain threshold.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare anticipated pain before the procedure and actual pain rating after the procedure in female patients who undergo cystourethroscopy., Study Design: Eighty-seven consecutive female patients completed a 10-cm visual analog pain scale before and after cystourethroscopy. A 24F urethroscope was used initially to inspect the urethra and was followed by a systematic survey of the bladder with a 17F cystoscope that was lubricated with 2% lidocaine gel. The visual analog pain scale scores were evaluated for significance with the use of the Student t test and the Pearson correlation coefficient., Results: Visual analog pain scale analysis demonstrated a mean anticipated pain score of 3.75 cm before the procedure versus a mean pain rating score of 2.83 cm after the procedure (P <.05). Neither a history of previous cystoscopy (visual analog pain scale score, 3.03 vs 2.30 cm; P =.18) nor talking with someone about the procedure beforehand (visual analog pain scale score, 2.74 vs 2.89 cm; P =.76) influenced the lower pain rating after the procedure. There was no significant correlation between age, parity, body mass index, or presence of pelvic organ prolapse and anticipated or realized pain perception., Conclusion: Patients who undergo cystourethroscopy consistently anticipate higher degrees of discomfort than they actually perceive during the procedure.