ABSTRACT
Chronic pelvic pain syndromes belong to the category of visceral pain. Pelvic pain is a debilitating problem that can significantly impair the quality of life of a woman. Patients with chronic pelvic pain are usually evaluated and treated by gynecologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, and internists. Although these patients seek medical care because they are looking for help to alleviate their pelvic discomfort and pain, in clinical practice, much emphasis has been placed on finding a specific etiology and specific pathological markers for pelvic disease. These patients typically undergo many diagnostic tests and procedures. However, often the examination and workup remain unrevealing and no specific cause of the pain can be identified. In these cases, it is important to recognize not only that pain is a symptom of pelvic disease but also that the patient is suffering from a chronic pelvic pain syndrome, where "pain" is the prominent symptom of the chronic visceral pain syndrome.
