Factors underlying chronic pelvic pain remain poorly understood. Prior studies have suggested that parity may confer a greater risk of developing chronic pelvic pain. The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between parity and pain impact and quality of life in women with pelvic pain. Retrospective cohort. Gynecologic pain and minimally invasive surgery clinic. The study population is comprised of new patients with a primary complaint of at least 3 months of pelvic pain. Data was obtained by self-administered questionnaires assessing demographics, self-reported pain history, quality of life, present pain rating and impact, trait anxiety, and depression. Of 125 eligible women, 64 were nulliparous (mean age 32 ± 10) and 61 were parous (mean age 44 ± 12). Most participants were white, worked outside the home, and were in a higher socioeconomic bracket regardless of parity. Rates of self-reported endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis were similar in both groups. Overall, parity was unrelated to initial pain impact or quality of life scores (all Wilcoxon rank-sum p > 0.05). McGill pain scores between the groups were comparable (12 [25-75th% 7-22] vs. 13 [25-75% 7-20]). Depression scores on the CES-D were similar (10.5 [25-75% 6-18] vs. 13.5 [25-75% 7-21]) demonstrating moderate distress levels. Neither group had high anxiety scores on the STAI (14 [25-75% 8-19] vs 16 [25-75% 7-24]) or somatic complaints on the MSPQ (4 [25-75% 1-8] vs. 4 [25-75% 2-7]). SF-12 quality of life scores were also similar between the two groups (38.0 [25-75% 24.6-45.2] vs. 37.6 [25-75% 30.1-46.8] for the physical assessment and 49.5 [25-75% 38.1-53.7] vs. 46.1 [25-75% 35.0-56.7] for the mental assessment). Parity is not associated with self-reported pain impact or quality of life in women presenting initially to our pelvic pain clinic.