Rapkin AJ

PurposePrimary dysmenorrhea (PD; menstrual pain without an identified organic cause) has been proposed as a possible risk factor for the development of chronic pelvic pain, but the mechanism through which this process occurs is unknown. One…

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affecting up to 7% of reproductive age women. Women with PMDD are of reproductive age; therefore, contraception and treatment of PMDD are important consi…

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD; menstrual pain without an underlying medical condition) is associated with enhanced pain sensitivity and temporal summation (TS) in adult women, which may reflect the presence of central pain processes. Research in…

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) has been the focus of a number of experimental pain studies. Although a number of reviews exist, few have critically evaluated the existing body of research on PD and experimental and procedural pain. Data from 19 …

Endometriosis is a disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Severe pelvic pain is often associated with endometriosis, and this pain can be diminished with therapies that suppress estrogen production. Man…

The history of physical and sexual abuse in childhood and adulthood was assessed in 31 women with chronic pelvic pain, 142 women with chronic pain in other locations, and 32 controls. Thirty-nine percent of patients with chronic pelvic pain…

Chronic pelvic pain remains a difficult management problem that is often refractory to traditional medical or surgical therapy. The pain management center approach used successfully for the treatment of cancer pain and headache can be adapt…