Pelvic Pain in Women

Abstract

In the majority of cases, pelvic pain in women has no anatomic basis, yet the desire to eliminate pelvic pain motivates more gynecologic surgery than any other single reason. Only a few of the female genitalia actually have end organs for pain. True causes of pelvic pain arising from the genitalia and other sources are irritation of the peritoneum, traction on a mesentery, distention of a viscus or tissue space, pressure, and spasm or rupture of a viscus.

Physicians cannot always diagnose the cause of pelvic pain, but they can refuse to operate when a pelvic lesion is not found. Only in this way can the common neurotic fixations and chronic pelvic invalidism be prevented.