THE University of South Australia has released a new study to help healthcare workers better support women with persistent pelvic pain, including symptoms that are suggestive of gynaecological, lower urinary tract, bowel, sexual, and pelvic floor dysfunction.
In Australia, one in two women experience persistent pelvic pain, with one in four reporting that pelvic pain impacts their daily lives, including their ability to work, study, or exercise.
Using interviews with 20 Australian females who suffer from pelvic pain, the study identified four important concepts that the participants said can help with pain management.
One of those points is that a sensitised nervous system can lead to overprotective pain, which provides a biological explanation for pelvic pain and validates that pain is real, and not 'in your head'.
Other key ideas identified by the females as helpful ways to think about their pelvic pain include: "Pain doesn't always mean my pelvis is damaged"; "How I think, feel, and 'see' my pain can make it worse"; and "I can change my pain... slowly".
UniSA researcher and PhD candidate Amelia Mardon said, "while preliminary evidence suggests that pain science education can help women with persistent pelvic pain, there has been little information about what these consumers value learning".
This study addresses the gap by capturing people's experiences of persistent pelvic pain and identifying what knowledge could help others, Mardon explained.
"By putting consumers' voices, experiences, and opinions at the forefront of any intervention, we're ensuring that pain education is relevant and aligned with their needs or priorities." JM
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