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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffIn women, chronic pelvic pain refers to pain in your pelvic region — the area below your bellybutton and between your hips — lasting six months or longer. If asked to locate your pain, you might sweep your hand over that entire area rather than point to a single spot. Chronic pelvic pain can be a symptom of another disease, or it can be designated as a condition in its own right.
The cause of chronic pelvic pain is often hard to find. Like many women, you may never receive a specific diagnosis that explains your pain. But that doesn't mean your pain isn't real and treatable.
If the source of your chronic pelvic pain is found, treatment focuses on that cause. If no cause can be found, treatment for chronic pelvic pain focuses on managing the pain.
- Hoffman BL. Pelvic pain. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3154265. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- Lentz GM. Differential diagnosis of major gynecologic problems by age group: Vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, pelvic mass. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2011.
- Chronic pelvic pain. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp099.cfm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- Howard F. Evaluation of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins - Gynecology. Chronic pelvic pain. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;103:589.
- Howard F. Treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
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