[Chronic pelvic pain in women from a gynecologic viewpoint]

Chronic pelvic pain in women is a difficult subject that challenges the gynecologist in practice. Possible gynecological causes are endometriosis, adhesions/PID, pelvic varicosis and ovarian retention syndrome/ovarian remnant syndrome. Other somatic causes are irritable bowel syndrome, bladder pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.Confirmed psychosocial factors contributing to chronic pelvic pain are comorbidity with anxiety disorders, substance abuse or depression, but the influence of social factors is less certain. The connection to physical and sexual abuse also remains unclear. Important diagnostic steps are studying the patient's history, a gynecological examination and laparoscopy. Multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches are helpful. Basic psychosomatic care and psychotherapy should be integrated into the therapeutic concept at an early stage of the disease.