Pain Education Makes a Difference
Pain education helps manage pain and improve quality of life
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Taking care of persons suffering with chronic pelvic pain can be challenging for both clinicians and patients. Both are often frustrated by lack of pain management resources and poor communication. This website is designed to improve patient and clinician communication by ensuring that both use similar terminology and have knowledge about available resources. This page provides an overview of education and advocacy societies as well as access to clinical tools that can be used to facilitate pain care.
A guide to performing a focused physical examination for chronic pelvic pain.
This video was created by Jorge Carrillo, MD, Georgine Lamvu, MD and Christana Ajewole, MD with support from the IPPS*, the Orlando VA Healthcare System, and the University of Central Florida. The video was the recipient of the 2022 American Association for Gynecologic Laparoscopists IRCAD** Award for Best Research in Education and Innovative Ideas in Teaching. Additional support was provided by Dorothy Bestoyong, DO, Chensy Ouyang, MD, Jessica Feranec, MD, and videography was performed by Mr. Francisco Chavez at cisco_photography.com
Guide for evaluation and management of chronic pelvic pain conditions.
Click on this title to open the full guide for easy viewing.
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
Many societies provide resources and advocate for patients with pain conditions. Here are some useful links:
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International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health
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International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases
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International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
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RESOURCES FOR VA HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
These resources are only available through the VA network.
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VA Gynecology Virtual Community of Practice: website with women's health resources such as order sets and tools.
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Interfacility Consult for Chronic Pelvic Pain: This consult can be requested through the VA system. If it does not appear in your EHR order menu, please contact Dr. Georgine Lamvu at georgine.lamvu@va.gov for assistance.
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VA Talent Management System (TMS) Courses:
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Evaluation of Chronic Pelvic Pain- TMS course # VA 43944
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Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction- TMS course # VA 44783
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Trauma Informed Gyn- TMS course # VA 40589
EVALUATION TOOLS
IMPORTANT PRIVACY AND SECURITY NOTICE: The questionnaires below collect private health information (PHI). The questionnaires should be collected directly from patients. DO NOT mail, fax, or email them to patients, unless these modes of communication are equipped with encryption and security measures designed to transfer private health information.
Healthcare Professional - Pelvic Pain INITIAL Assessment Form.​
This form can be used to guide the evaluation and treatment selection.
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INITIAL PATIENT HISTORY Survey
This form can be used to collect the initial patient history.
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FOLLOW UP PATIENT HISTORY Survey
This form can be used to evaluate patient progress.​​
RECOMMENDED READING
Evaluation and treatment of chronic pelvic pain. As-Sanie S, Ross WT, Till SR. Obstet Gynecol, 2026; 147(1):21-43. doi.10.1097/AOG.0000000000006123.
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Developing the FIGO-IPPS classification system for chronic pelvic pain: R U MOVING SOMe. Lamvu G, Villegas-Echeverri JD, As-Sanie S, Carrillo J, Allaire C, Kahlil S, Horne A, Munro MG. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2025;00:1-16. Doi:10.1002/ijgo.70522. Open access: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.70522.
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FIGO-IPPS Consensus Statement on Global Unmet Needs of Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain. Villegas-Echeverri JD, Magali R, Carrillo J, Green I, Meinhold-Heerlein, I, Attar R, Pope R, Lamvu G. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2025; 00:1-6. doi:10.1002/ijgo.70093.
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Male Chronic Pelvic Pain: AUA Guideline: Part I Evaluation and Management. Lai H, et. al. J Urol, 2025; 214(2):116-126.
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Chronic pelvic pain in women: A review: Lamvu G, Carillo J, Ouyang C, Rapkin A. JAMA 2021, 325:23(2381-2389)
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The complex intersection between pelvic pain and mental health in women. Witzeman KA, Pain Management, Vol 21, Issue #3, 2021.
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Chronic overlapping pain disorders: Differential diagnosis and treatment. Witzeman, KA. Pain Management, Vol 21, Issue #2, 2021.
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Continuous vs. cyclic combined hormonal contraceptives for treatment of dysmenorrhea: a systematic review. Damm T, Lamvu G, Carrillo J, Ouyang C and Feranec J. Contraception X, (1), 2019.
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A 10-yr Analysis of Chronic Pelvic Pain and Chronic Opioid Therapy in the Women Veteran Population. Cichowski SB, Rogers RG, Komesu Y, Murata E, et al. Mil Med, 183 (11-12), 2018
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Functional connectivity is associated with altered brain chemistry in women with endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain. As-Sanie A, Kim J, Schmidt-Wilcke T, Suddgren P, et al. J Pain (17)1, 2017
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BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES
NEWS AND RESEARCH
Trends in Endometriosis Management: A 10-year US Claims Analysis. Lewis H, et al. J Minim Invasive Gynecol, 2026; 33(2): 187-195.
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Evaluation of a scoring system for the detection of central sensitization among women with chronic pelvic pain. Cardaillac C, et al. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2023; 229(5):P530.
International association for the study of Pain Presidential Task Force on Cannabis and Cannabinoid Analgesia Position Statement. PAIN July 2021; 162:S1-S2. Link: https://journals.lww.com/pain/Fulltext/2021/07001/International_Association_for_the_Study_of_Pain.1.aspx
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