[Somatoform disorders-chronic pelvic pain in women]

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Chronic pelvic pain in women requires a biopsychosocial approach due to potential combined physical and psychological causes, necessitating multimodal assessment and interdisciplinary consultation.

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This paper discusses pelvic pain in women, focusing on chronic lower abdominal/chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) as encountered in general practice, urology, gynecology, and pediatrics, and contrasts differing definitions across national and international guidelines. It reviews that chronic pelvic pain has multiple potential causes and is often not attributable to a single diagnosis, with frequent combinations of physical and psychological factors, leading the authors to recommend a biopsychosocial assessment and multimodal, interdisciplinary approaches. A major caveat is that the paper emphasizes the definitional variability of CPPS and the resulting diagnostic complexity rather than presenting new experimental data. Relevance to endometriosis: endometriosis is explicitly listed among key keywords and is positioned alongside other pelvic pain etiologies (e.g., IC/BPS and pelvic inflammatory disease), though the paper’s main focus is on somatoform/syndromic frameworks and work-up approaches for chronic pelvic pain broadly rather than on endometriosis-specific mechanisms.

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Abstract

Pelvic pain in women is a clinically common symptom and a frequent finding in general practitioner, urological, gynecological, and pediatric practice. The list of possible differential diagnoses is long and the clarification ranges from a visual diagnosis to technical and surgical examinations to complex interdisciplinary consultations. But when do we talk about chronic lower abdominal pain? What can be the cause of this and how can we approach it diagnostically and therapeutically? What should we pay attention to? The difficulty begins with the definition. If we look at the national and international guidelines and publications, we find different definitions for chronic pelvic pain. There are various causes of chronic pelvic pain. There is often a combination of physical and psychological factors, which is why it is often not possible to identify a single diagnosis behind chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The clarification of these complaints requires a biopsychosocial approach. Multimodal approaches should be considered in assessment and treatment, and experts from other disciplines should be consulted.
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Zusammenfassung Der Unterbauchschmerz bei weiblichen Patienten ist klinisch ein alltägliches Symptom und ein häufiger Befund in der hausärztlichen, urologischen, gynäkologischen und pädiatrischen Praxis. Die Liste der möglichen Differenzialdiagnosen ist lang und die Abklärung reicht von einer Blickdiagnose über apparative und operative Untersuchungen bis hin zu aufwendigen interdisziplinären Konsultationen. Doch wann sprechen wir von chronischem Unterbauchschmerz (CPPS)? Was kann diesem ursächlich zugrunde liegen und wie können wir uns diagnostisch und therapeutisch nähern? Was gibt es zu beachten? Die Schwierigkeit beginnt bereits bei der Definition. Schauen wir in die nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien und Publikationen, so finden wir unterschiedliche Definitionen des CPPS. Es gibt verschiedene Ursachen für CPPS. Oft besteht eine Kombination von körperlichen und psychischen Faktoren, weshalb sich hinter dem CPPS oftmals keine einzelne Diagnose identifizieren lässt. Die Abklärung dieser Beschwerden erfordert einen biopsychosozialen Ansatz. Bei der Einschätzung und Behandlung sollten multimodale Ansätze in Betracht und Experten weiterer Disziplinen hinzugezogen werden. Abstract Pelvic pain in women is a clinically common symptom and a frequent finding in general practitioner, urological, gynecological, and pediatric practice. The list of possible differential diagnoses is long and the clarification ranges from a visual diagnosis to technical and surgical examinations to complex interdisciplinary consultations. But when do we talk about chronic lower abdominal pain? What can be the cause of this and how can we approach it diagnostically and therapeutically? What should we pay attention to? The difficulty begins with the definition. If we look at the national and international guidelines and publications, we find different definitions for chronic pelvic pain. There are various causes of chronic pelvic pain. There is often a combination of physical and psychological factors, which is why it is often not possible to identify a single diagnosis behind chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The clarification of these complaints requires a biopsychosocial approach. Multimodal approaches should be considered in assessment and treatment, and experts from other disciplines should be consulted. Similar content being viewed by others Literatur Ahangari A (2014) Prevalence of chronic pelvic pain among women: an updated review. Pain Phys 17:E141–147 Alappattu MJ, Bishop MD (2011) Psychological factors in chronic pelvic pain in women: relevance and application of the fear-avoidance model of pain. Phys Ther 91:1542–1550 Anderson RU, Harvey RH, Wise D et al (2015) Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: reduction of medication use after pelvic floor physical therapy with an internal myofascial trigger point wand. 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Januar 2023 Wood DP, Wiesner MG, Reiter RC (1990) Psychogenic chronic pelvic pain: diagnosis and management. Clin Obstet Gynecol 33:179–195 Zondervan KT, Yudkin PL, Vessey MP et al (1999) Patterns of diagnosis and referral in women consulting for chronic pelvic pain in UK primary care. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 106:1156–1161 Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Ethics declarations Interessenkonflikt B.T. Kaftan: Leitender Oberarzt – Klinik für Urologie – Städtisches Klinikum Lüneburg gGmbH; Mitgliedschaften: DKG, DGU, ICS, EAU; Auditor/Fachexperte OnkoZert GmbH; Vorträge/Seminare/Film: Dr. Pfleger Arzneimittel GmbH, Uromed Kurt Drews KG. Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autor/-innen keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien. Additional information QR-Code scannen & Beitrag online lesen Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Kaftan, B.T. Somatoforme Syndrome – chronischer Unterbauchschmerz der Frau. Urologie 62, 571–581 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00120-023-02087-4 Accepted: Published: Version of record: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00120-023-02087-4 Schlüsselwörter - Chronischer Beckenschmerz - Somatische Belastungsstörung - „Pelvic inflammatory disease“ - Endometriose - Interstitielle Zystitis / Blasenschmerzsyndrom (IC/BPS)

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Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain

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