“You Don’t Really Chat About Your Pelvic Pain over Brunch”—An Exploration of Silencing, Normalization and Identity Challenges in Chronic Pelvic Pain

Lisa Pye, Jenna L. Gillett, Helen Clegg, Margaret Tilley
In: Women's Reproductive Health · 2026 · vol. 13(2) , pp. 505–520 · doi:10.1080/23293691.2025.2603689 · W7127045298
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This qualitative study explored how women with chronic pelvic pain experience silencing, normalization, and identity challenges in their daily lives.

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Abstract Shame and normalization of pelvic pain hinder help seeking and promote persistence with role functioning. However, pain can disrupt role functioning and this can challenge identity. Eighteen semi-structured online interviews with people with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) were conducted and analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis from a critical realist perspective. Two themes were developed that explore how minimization and maintaining an acceptable presented self can contribute to identity challenges and create barriers to help-seeking and support. Supporting identity challenge management through improving menstrual health education and awareness, and challenging perceived norms may reduce these barriers and, in turn, facilitate help-seeking. Acknowledgments With grateful thanks to the participants for kindly volunteering to take part in this research. With thanks to Pain UK, Pelvic Pain Support Network, Endometriosis UK and Adenomyosis Advice Association for their help in advertising this study. With thanks to Dr Emily Mattacola and Dr Lindsey Roberts for their support in the early stages of this project. Disclosure Statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). Data Availability Statement Transcripts are not available due to the sensitive nature of the topic and the need to preserve participant anonymity.

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