Many Women Silently Suffer Unexplained Pelvic Pain: Study

Pelvic pain in women of reproductive age is common and often goes untreated, a new study found.

According to US News & World Report, the study found that many women experience pelvic-pain but do not report it, and suggested gynecologists ask their patients if they are experiencing pain. The study also found that many women who reported pain did not have a diagnosed underlying condition.

"Our study suggests that many reproductive-age women are experiencing but not reporting some form of pelvic pain. If they aren't doing so already, gynecologists may want to ask their patients if they're experiencing pain, as well as the type and precise location of the pain, and offer treatment as appropriate. Similarly, women should let their doctors know if they're in pain," said Dr. Karen Schliep of NIH, who conducted the research.

For the study, 473 women aged between 14 and 44 who were undergoing laparoscopic procedure for complaints like infertility, menstrual irregularities, tubal sterilization or pelvic pain. Before the procedure, the women were asked about their pain. Researchers also asked the women to locate the pain on the body.

Researchers found that nearly a third of the women reported chronic and cyclic pain coinciding with their menstrual cycle. Though most women who reported pain were diagnosed with conditions like endometriosis, many women without any underlying conditions also reported experiencing at least one of the several specific types of pain that researchers described to them.