ConditionHead, face & pelvis
Persistent pelvic pain
Persistent pelvic pain is commonly investigated for years and treated for weeks. It sits across several specialties, which is exactly why it needs one clinician holding the whole plan together.
Also calledChronic pelvic painPudendal pain
What it is
Pain in the lower abdomen, groin, perineum or genital area lasting beyond six months. Contributors can include nerve irritation, pelvic floor muscle overactivity, previous surgery, and central sensitisation — often several together.
What it feels like
- Burning or aching worse with prolonged sitting
- Pain related to bladder or bowel filling and emptying
- Pain with intercourse or examination
- Symptoms that flare with stress and disturbed sleep
How we assess it
A long, unhurried history, review of everything already investigated, and — with your consent and a chaperone — a focused examination. The aim is a coherent explanation rather than another round of tests.
Treatment options
- Pudendal or other targeted nerve block, diagnostic first
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy with a clinician experienced in persistent pain
- Neuropathic medication trial with clear review points
- Pain psychology, particularly where the pain affects intimacy and mood
What recovery looks like
Progress here is usually gradual and measured in sitting tolerance, sleep and daily activity rather than in a pain score alone.
Risks and honest limits
Where a gynaecological, urological or colorectal cause has not been excluded, that comes first. We coordinate rather than duplicate.
A note on this page
This is general information, written to help you prepare for a conversation. It is not a substitute for an individual assessment — what is right for you depends on your history, your examination and your own goals.
Common questions
Asked before, answered here
No. Normal investigations exclude certain causes; they do not make the pain imaginary. Nerve and muscle sources rarely show on standard tests.
—Begin
Have this assessed properly
Send a few lines about your pain and how long it has been going on. We will reply with a time and what to bring.
Visit
Level 2, 48 Macquarie StreetSydney, NSW 2000Response
Enquiries are answered within one to two business days. Urgent clinical matters are triaged the same day by the practice team.