To be successful, treatment for chronic pelvic pain (CPP) must address any underlying condition(s). In some cases, this includes neuropathic pain, which originates in the nerves. Treatment should also consider factors that influence how the brain processes pain, such as depression or past trauma.

This is obviously a complex task. Treatment for pelvic pain usually takes place over several weeks or months. A big part of your treatment will be learning to cope with pain and to unlearn pain responses. It is unlikely that any single one of the approaches below will resolve your pain. However, by carefully planning your treatment strategy and observing the results, you and your doctor can gradually relieve your pain.

One of the first steps in relieving your pain will be to treat the conditions that underlie it. Information about treating endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and adhesions, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis and back pain can be found elsewhere on this site.

In addition to these specific treatments, the approaches listed below can also be used to treat CPP:

• Counselling
• Hormones
• Medications
• Nerve impulse modification
• Physical therapy and biofeedback
• Relaxation techniques
• Surgery
• Trigger point injections