Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Concerns and goals of women with mesh pain syndrome
By Badri H et al.·2026·Saint Mary's Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on Europe PMC →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Concerns and Goals of Women with Isolated Mesh-Associated Pain Syndrome Accessing a Quaternary Mesh Referral Service: A Thematic Analysis.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the experiences of women who have isolated mesh-associated pain syndrome (I-MAPS), which is a common issue for those with complications from mesh used in surgeries. Researchers invited 280 women to share their thoughts about their concerns and goals related to their condition, and 203 responded. Many of the women expressed worries about pain and pelvic floor symptoms, with most hoping for relief from their symptoms, while some were specifically interested in having the mesh removed. The findings suggest that while many women want the mesh taken out, others are more focused on understanding their symptoms and the safety of the mesh. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for personalized care that addresses the various concerns of these patients.
Abstract
<h4>Introduction and hypothesis</h4>Isolated mesh-associated pain syndrome (I-MAPS) is the commonest reason why women access mesh-complication services. Qualitative work exploring expectations of women with I-MAPS is limited. We aimed to explore the concerns and goals of women with I-MAPS who accessed care at a quaternary-level mesh service to ensure that services are designed to meet their needs.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 280 women with I-MAPS related to a single continence device, were invited to provide free-text comments on concerns and goals related to their mesh complication using the Electronic Patient Assessment Questionnaire (e-PAQ). Of 280 participants, 203 completed the e-PAQ (response proportion 73%) and 179 (response proportion 64%) provided comments. Thematic analysis was performed based on the methodology proposed by Braun and Clarke.<h4>Results</h4>Thirty-eight codes were developed, and 109 sub-codes. These defined eight core themes. Concerns regarding pain accounted for 22% of comments (106 out of 489). Concerns about pelvic floor symptoms featured heavily in comments. Symptom resolution was desired by most; however, a proportion requested symptom reduction. Mesh-removal surgery was a common goal pursued; however, a proportion wished information about the safety and future threat of mesh devices.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Patients with I-MAPS appear to have concerns unrelated to pain including pelvic floor dysfunction and these may be the primary motivation for accessing mesh services. Although mesh removal was a motivation for many, it was not requested by all. This highlights the importance of services offering individualised and holistic care through multidisciplinary team involvement.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41117905