Pelvic pain
Persistent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis lasting 6 months or more.
About this condition
Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis lasting 6 months or longer. It can involve gynaecological, bladder, bowel, musculoskeletal and nerve components at the same time, which is why a single cause is often never identified. Bladder pain syndrome, adenomyosis, pelvic floor dysfunction and nerve entrapment all sit within this picture.
Because several systems are involved, the best care is multidisciplinary: gynaecology, urology, pelvic health physiotherapy and pain medicine working together. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is one of the most useful and most overlooked treatments. Assessment covers what investigations have been done, which specialties have been involved and how the pain behaves day to day.
Treatments people usually try first
These are the treatments commonly offered in the UK for this condition. A specialist doctor will want to know which of them you have tried, and what happened.
- Pelvic health physiotherapy and pelvic floor retraining
- Hormonal treatment where a gynaecological cause is suspected
- Nerve pain medicines such as amitriptyline or duloxetine
- Bladder specific treatment for bladder pain syndrome
- Nerve blocks or referral to a specialist pain clinic
- Diagnostic laparoscopy where clinically indicated
Could medical cannabis be appropriate?
People with this condition sometimes ask whether medical cannabis could be appropriate for them. That is a question for a specialist doctor, who will look at your diagnosis, your history and everything you have already tried before saying anything either way.
Medical cannabis is an unlicensed prescription only medicine in the UK. It is considered only where a diagnosed condition has not responded adequately to conventional treatment, and it is never a first step. We cannot tell you in advance what might be prescribed, and UK law does not allow us to describe or advertise any medicine on this website.
What we can do is assess you properly and be honest with you. If a specialist doctor does not think this route is right for you, they will say so, and they will explain why.
All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Questions about pelvic pain
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