Chronic pelvic pain in women

An estimated one in seven women in the United States experiences chronic pelvic pain, and treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach (Dydyk & Gupta, 2023). Hawkey and colleagues (2022) completed a qualitative study to examine the effects of chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis on 17 women between the ages of 21 and 48. Study participants identified common challenges, including sexual intimacy, pregnancy, parenting, and work. Some participants described being unable to take medications to alleviate pain because of other responsibilities (e.g., needing to finish the workday, needing to pick up a child from day care). Some also felt that their career advancement opportunities were limited because of the need to manage their conditions. Many participants struggled with getting a diagnosis and underwent unnecessary medical tests and treatments. Pain during sexual intercourse and menstrual pain caused embarrassment for some participants and were normalized by health care providers and other women, which in some cases led to delayed intervention.