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Conditions | Pelvic Pain

Women can face a number of health concerns as they age. Learn more about pelvic pain to discover behavioral techniques and treatment options.

Learn More About Pelvic Pain

Need to know more about how pelvic pain will affect you or someone you care for? Learn all the basics here:

     » Introduction to Pelvic Pain
     » Anatomy of Pelvic Pain
     » Diagnosis of Pelvic Pain
     » Treatment of Pelvic Pain

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Introduction

Statistics

Anatomy and How Things Go Wrong

Causes

Making the Diagnosis

Treatment Options

Statistics

by Colleen M. Fitzgerald, MD

Pelvic pain is a common disorder in women. Approximately 15-20% of women aged 18-50 years have chronic pelvic pain of greater than 1 year’s duration. It accounts for about 10% of all referrals to gynecologists. The lifetime occurrence rate of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) may be as high as 33%. One third to one half of all those with CPP may not have a definitive diagnosis making it a difficult problem for doctors to treat. Research shows that about half the women with CPP have had a history of physical or sexual abuse. CPP is commonly associated with depression and anxiety.

The direct health care-related costs due to chronic pelvic pain are estimated to be $880 million per year. Pelvic pain is treated by internists, gynecologists, urologists, and pain specialists such as anesthesiologists and physiatrists. Physical therapists also commonly treat pelvic pain if they have specialty training in pelvic floor disorders.

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