The Journal of family practice

This article reviews the limited evidence for treating chronic pelvic pain and offers recommendations for the primary care physician on providing symptomatic relief in the absence of diagnosed pathology.

A.B. is a 14-year-old G0. She is brought to the office by her mother. A.B. says that she experiences severe cramping for 3 to 4 days each month with pain located primarily in her lower abdomen but sometimes causing aching in her thighs. Occ…

Pelvic endometriosis is associated with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life. The diagnosis of this condition is challenging: Symptoms vary considerably often mimicking those of other medical conditions. Laparoscopic visualiz…

M.A. a 31-year-old G2P2 has scheduled an appointment because she is concerned that my endometriosis is back and is experiencing incapacitating low pelvic pain. She is convinced that her endometriosis and adhesions have recurred and requests…

Endometriosis is a common disease that affects up to 5 million women in the United States. Specifically the prevalence of endometriosis is 1 in 15 (7%) women of reproductive age, and there is an associated incidence of infertility in as man…

Chronic pelvic pain is one of the most challenging gynecologic problems seen in primary care practice. Important causes of this problem include endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, and the syndrome of chroni…

During the past 20 years, contraceptive steroids have undergone significant changes as the result of an increased understanding of their metabolic, pharmacologic, and hormonal activities. During this time, prospective and retrospective epid…

Accurate diagnosis of the adnexal mass requires knowledge of embryology, anatomy, and physiology. Bimanual pelvic examination remains the primary and most practical means of detecting and evaluating adnexal pathology. Selective use of diagn…