Could chronic pelvic pain be a functional somatic syndrome?

John W. Warren, Warren JW, Vadim Morozov, Fred M. Howard, Howard FM
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2011 · vol. 205(3) , pp. 199.e1–199.e5 · doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.04.003 · PMID:21620363 · W2138157529
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This paper explores the possibility of classifying chronic pelvic pain as a functional somatic syndrome, examining its characteristics and potential underlying mechanisms.

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Abstract

The cause of noncyclical chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in many women is unknown: 30% have no identifiable pelvic pathology, and in those who do the relationship of CPP and the pathology is often unclear. Moreover, epidemiologic studies demonstrate that the common findings of endometriosis and adhesions do not greatly increase the odds of having CPP. CPP and the functional somatic syndromes (fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and others) share many characteristics including pain as a prominent symptom and comorbidity. For the functional somatic syndromes, the initial focus of etiologic investigations has been on local mechanisms and then on systemic pathogeneses. We believe that the research trajectories of the functional somatic syndromes and CPP are converging. Their juncture might reveal an important pathologic mechanism for CPP in some women that is primarily outside the pelvis. This observation would open up new areas of exploration and treatment of CPP.

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Condition tags

chronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Chronic Pain Pelvic Pain Somatoform Disorders Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Female Humans Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Somatoform Disorders Somatoform Disorders

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