What is Chronic Pelvic Pain?

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is a vague and confusing term that refers to pain in the pelvic area lasting at least six months in spite of conventional treatments. CPP patients may experience pain in the abdomen, hip, pelvis, vagina, vulva, thighs, buttocks and rectum. According to the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS), this condition is one of the most common medical problems affecting women today – accounting for about 10% of outpatient gynecological visits. Men haven’t been spared either although they represent a much smaller number of cases.

CPP is largely caused by lifestyle since the majority of cases have been attributed to prolonged sitting (which might seem amusing if the pain weren’t so unrelenting). Other causes have been cited such as physical trauma resulting from a fracture, previous surgeries and even sexual abuse. Often reported in women of child­bearing age, CPP may contribute to lost time at work, unnecessary operations, poor posture, painful sexual intercourse and emotional problems. Pelvic pain can be symptomatic of chronic tension, so we often use a manual technique called myofascial/trigger point release to relax pelvic floor muscles and to restore circulation in the area (for more information, log onto www.pelvicpain.org).

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