What is it?

Pain in the pelvic cavity that lasts for more than six months is called chronic pelvic pain. It is a problem that can affect both women and men. It is one of the most common causes of pain in women and one of hardest disorders to diagnose and manage in all patients. People with chronic pelvic pain often have a difficult time finding relief from their pain, even after going to many different health care providers. The pelvic cavity is the area between your pelvis. It is located in the lowest part of your abdomen (trunk).

                          Female pelvic cavity                                              Male pelvic cavity

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Chronic pelvic pain can often be traced to an infection, surgery, injury or medical problem such as endometriosis in women or prostatitis in men. Acute pain stops after the body heals itself or the medical problem goes away. However with chronic pelvic pain, changes can occur in your nervous system, tissues or muscles that cause pain to continue long after it should have stopped.