Chronic Pelvic Pain Definition and Characteristics

Key Characteristics

• Chronic pelvic pain affects approximately one quarter of women worldwide and is the most common presenting complaint at gynecologic office visits 1
• The condition causes significant morbidity and has substantial public health impact and downstream costs 1

Anatomical Considerations

• Pain may be localized to different areas, including the deep or internal pelvis 2
• Pain may be localized to different areas, including the perineum, vulva, or vagina 2
• Pain may be localized to different areas, including the lower abdomen 1

Etiological Framework

• Pelvic inflammatory disease is a gynecological cause of chronic pelvic pain 1
• Adenomyosis is a gynecological cause of chronic pelvic pain 1
• Inflammatory bowel diseases are a gastrointestinal cause of chronic pelvic pain 1

Musculoskeletal Considerations

• Pelvic girdle pain is a musculoskeletal cause of chronic pelvic pain 2
• Myofascial pain is a musculoskeletal cause of chronic pelvic pain 2

Clinical Significance

• In postmenopausal women, special attention should be given to vaginal bleeding and suspected adnexal masses due to the risk of endometrial and ovarian neoplasia 1