Pelvic pain—A common gynaecological problem

Abstract

Women who attended a gynaecological outpatient clinic complaining of pelvic pain of at least 6 months' duration were thoroughly investigated by examination, pathological tests and a laparoscopy to determine the cause of the pain. Those in whom no pathology could be demonstrated (32 women) were referred to a psychologist who attended the gynaecological clinic and who randomly assigned each woman to one of three treatment groups or to a control group. The object was to determine which of a number of simple therapeutic approaches proved most effective in the treatment of the pain. Results indicated that, although there was improvement (in terms of number of painfree days in the month) in all the treatment groups at three months, it was most marked in the non-directive counselling group. The results of a follow-up one year later are presented. During the study it became clear that the close association between the psychologist and the gynaecologist was an important factor in the acceptance by the patients of a psychological approach to their problem.