Frank F. Tu

Dysmenorrhea is often linked to uterine inflammation, but the additional factors and pathways that contribute to its pathophysiology remain poorly understood. Given growing evidence linking endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to inflammation …

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify menstrual pain trajectories over 2 years in young women with moderate-to-severe intensity, and determine baseline factors, including modifiable variables, that differentiate these trajectories. METH…

Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent and undertreated, substantially impairing quality of life in reproductive-age individuals. Excessive uterine contractility is widely considered a key mechanistic contributor to menstrual pain. We conducted a…

BACKGROUND: Dyspareunia, defined as pain before, during or after intercourse, is a subset of female sexual dysfunction with overlapping gynecologic, urologic and psychosocial etiologies. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mens…

OBJECTIVE: To examine how eicosanoid levels in menstrual effluent of adolescents within 3 years of menarche relate to the severity of menstrual pain. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community teaching hospital. POPULATION OR S…

Dysmenorrhea (period pain) affects over 40% of women and is a leading cause of missed school and workdays. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this pain are not fully understood. We conducted a systematic review (Prospero registrat…

Cover: The cover image is from the Clinical Article Validation of a simple body map to measure widespread pain in urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A MAPP Research Network study by Clemens JQ, Locke K, Landis JR, et al. Neurourol Urody…

aDepartment of Ob/Gyn, Endeavor Health, Evanston, IL, United States bDepartment of Ob/Gyn, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms responsible for menstrual pain are poorly understood. However, dynamic, noninvasive pelvic imaging of menstrual pain sufferers could aid in identifying therapeutic targets and testing novel treatments. OBJECTIVE:…

PURPOSE: In patients with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), the presence of widespread pain appears to identify a distinct phenotype, with a different symptom trajectory and potentially different response to treatment than pati…

OBJECTIVE: The World Endometriosis Research Foundation established the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project (EPHect) to create standardized documentation tools (with common data elements) to facilitate the comparison a…

Dysmenorrhea is characterized by high rates of transition to chronic pain. In a previous study using structural equation modeling, we demonstrated that several symptom domains associated with the emerging concept of nociplastic pain can be …

AbstractMultimodal hypersensitivity (MMH)-greater sensitivity across multiple sensory modalities (eg, light, sound, temperature, pressure)-is associated with the development of chronic pain. However, previous MMH studies are restricted give…

Endometriosis, affecting 5-10% of reproductive-age women, is a common contributor to dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain. Diagnosis requires laparoscopic tissue biopsy, but careful pelvic examination, and/or imaging with either ultrasound …

For well selected patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), 74% to 95% of women will report complete or significant improvement in pain after hysterectomy. A thoughtful history, examination, and review of imaging can improve success by linki…

OBJECTIVES: To examine women's perceptions of endometriosis-associated disease burden and its impact on life decisions and goal attainment. DESIGN: An anonymous online survey was distributed in October 2018 through the social media network…

Excess pain after visceral provocation has been suggested as a marker for chronic pelvic pain risk in women. However, few noninvasive tests have been validated that could be performed readily on youth in early risk windows. Therefore, we ev…

Although elevated estradiol levels facilitate chronic pelvic pain in animal models, it remains to be determined whether sex steroid levels are altered in a cross-section of women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and those at-risk for developi…

AIM: Prior research has primarily focused on static pain assessment, largely ignoring the dynamic nature of pain over time. We used a novel assessment tool for characterizing pain duration, frequency, and amplitude in women with dysmenorrhe…

OBJECTIVE: Inadequate communication about endometriosis symptom burden between women and healthcare providers is a barrier for optimal treatment. This study describes the development of the EndoWheel, a patient-reported assessment tool that…

Endometriosis may exert a profound negative influence on the lives of individuals with the disorder, adversely affecting quality of life, participation in daily and social activities, physical and sexual functioning, relationships, educatio…

This chapter discusses the strategy for approaching the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP). CPP affects approximately 4–16% of the general population, including 6–25% of reproductive-aged women. There is also a likely asso…

Women who develop bladder pain syndrome (BPS), irritable bowel syndrome, or dyspareunia frequently have an antecedent history of dysmenorrhea. Despite the high prevalence of menstrual pain, its role in chronic pelvic pain emergence remains …