Interventional Pain Management and Female Pelvic Pain: Considerations for Diagnosis and Treatment

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a recurring and/or constant pain of at least six months duration that has resulted in either functional or psychological disability that can require interventional treatments. Chronic pelvic pain can be visceral, somatic, neuropathic, or a combination. Patients with CPP often suffer from concurrent bowel or bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. The complexity of chronic pelvic pain can be challenging to treat, which can lead to frustration for both patients and their physicians. Treatment should involve a comprehensive and multi-modal approach involving psychosocial support, counseling, physical therapy, medication management, and interventional procedures. This manuscript will focus both on the etiologies and the interventional treatment options for chronic pelvic pain.