Chronic pelvic pain in women – gastroenterological, gynaecological or psychological?

Women with chronic pelvic pain form a substantial part of the workload of gynaecologists, gastroenterologists and surgeons. Each investigates with their own diagnostic bias but the source of pain often remains obscure, with a lack of abnormal findings or failure of symptom resolution despite treatment of identified pathology. The patient's physical and social disability may become compounded by diagnostic confusion, and by prolonged and ineffective treatments including surgery. The end result is often a sense of helplessness in both the patient and the physician.