An Approach to Common Causes of Nonobstetric Gynecologic Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can be a frustrating chief complaint for both providers and patients. Prompt recognition and intervention help to alleviate the burden of this common clinical complaint. This article seeks to educate providers on how to identify, workup, diagnose, and treat common causes of nonobstetric gynecologic pelvic pain. Providers should keep in mind that not all pelvic pain is related to the reproductive organs. The most common nongynecologic causes of pelvic pain include irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, pelvic floor muscle tenderness, and depression.1 Table 1 outlines the various differential diagnoses of pelvic pain. Disclaimer: This article reviews pathologies related to the female pelvic anatomy; however, not all people with this anatomy identify as female. This article will be void of gendered terms, unless citing studies that refer directly to women. The authors wish to be inclusive and represent the diverse patient population that can experience pelvic pain.