What Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain?

Since there are important anatomical differences between men and women, there are also gender-specific causes of chronic pelvic pain.

Pelvic structures such as the ovaries, uterus, and external genitalia can be sources of pain in women. Similarly, the testicles, prostate gland, and epididymis can be sources of pain in men. The bladder, spine, pelvis, pelvic floor muscles, and nerves are examples of gender-nonspecific generators of pain in both men and women. Tumors, inflammatory lesions, and trauma may all cause pain in both men and women. Psychological stressors may amplify or initiate chronic pelvic pain. Depression, trauma, divorce, death of a loved-one, and other unfortunate situations may all represent psychological stressors that can trigger or worsen chronic pelvic pain. A history of sexual assault is, unfortunately, found in as many as a third of all female patients with chronic pelvic pain, and is thought to be an important contributor to the genesis of chronic pelvic pain in many patients.