Competing interests: None. REFERENCES

care of patients with CPP. Furthermore, the high proportion of women who have IBS among gynaecologists ’ patients with CPP suggests that in some cases their ‘‘pelvic’ ’ pain would be regarded as abdominal pain by gastroenterologists. Unnecessary pelvic surgery is best avoided through collaboration between the patient’s gastroenterologist and gynaecologist. Additional prospective studies on patients with IBS undergoing surgery could help identify more associations between patient features and unnecessary surgery. However, current knowledge can protect many patients from the risks and costs of unneeded surgery.