Chronic pelvic pain in women

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain is common in women and reduces quality of life ofpatients and is an important health care problem. Economic burden of chronic pelvic pain on the health system is quite high. When all of the direct and indirect costs were considered, a serious amount of money is spent on treatment of patients with chronic pelvic pain. Productivity of working women with chronic pelvic pain is negatively affected. Therefore significant work disability occurs in patients with chronic pelvic pain. Patients with chronic pelvic pain limit their routine daily activities and chronic pelvic pain lead to problems in their sexual life. Pathophysiology of chronic pelvic pain is poorly understood. Pain in the pelvic region can result from numerous organs. Chronic pelvic pain may result from the genital organs, urinary organs, pelvic floor muscles, gastrointestinal organs in this region, or from other systems as well as neuropsychiatric systems. Only less than half of patients with chronic pelvic pain seek medical care. Patients admitting to primary health care services for chronic pelvic pain are reported to be under evaluated and were found not to be correctly directed to appropriate health care clinics in studies. For correct diagnosis, a good evaluation of the symptoms including detailed questions on pain intensity, propagation, decreasing and increasing causes, the association of pain with sexual intercourse or menstruation, probable pregnancy, previous operations, menstrual cycle, depression symptoms, and a good physical examination is also very important. Treatment options vary from conservative medical treatment to surgical treatment. Multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain is very important. In this review, we intended to provide update information on the definition and evaluation of chronic pelvic pain, and treatment options.