Pelvic pain and sexual pain

Pelvic pain and sexual pain

Pelvic pain and sexual pain (2572)

Jayne Berryman ¹

Wesley Anaesthesia and Pain Management/Mater Health Services, Tarragindi, QLD, Australia

Sexual pain: Vulvodynia, Vestibulodynia, Dyspareunia, Vaginismus….

”Everything is normal, it’s all in your head”. And is it?

Sexual pain is an often silent, embarrassing and shameful suffering for many women. This has significant effects on self-esteem, relationships and quality of life. The prevalence in premenopausal women is estimated to be between 10-20%.

During this talk we will delve into the fascinating and fast moving world of our newest specialty: Pain Medicine. What is pain really? What is a ‘biopsychosocial’ model and why should we care about it? What is ‘central sensitisation’ and how does it apply to sexual pain? How does a patient’s mood and personality apply to their pain state? How could your language alter the outcomes of treatment? What is ‘multidisciplinary’ pain management and how can it really improve patient’s quality of life? What is the role of the Gynaecologist in this team?

I will discuss the commonly used ‘Fear Avoidance’ model of pain behavior and apply this to sexual pain states.

I will briefly consider the role of current therapies: pharmacotherapy, Mona Lisa Touch, Botox and pelvic floor physiotherapy.

When managing sexual pain, a good functional outcome is rare without a holistic, biospychosocial approach to management.

Dewitte M, Van Lankveld J, Crombez G. Understanding sexual pain: A cognitive-motivational account. PAIN 152 (2011) 251-253

Thomten J, Lundahl R, Stigenberg K, Linton S. Fear avoidance and pain catastrophising among women with sexual pain. Women’s Health (2014) 10(6), 571-581

Wesselmann U, Bonham A, Foster D. Vulvodynia: Current state of the biological evidence. PAIN 155 (2014) 1696-1701

Authors contributing to this abstract.

Berryman, J

Dr Berryman completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Queensland in 2002. After training throughout Queensland, she completed her Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 2011 followed by a Fellowship in Pain Medicine at the Professor Tess Cramond Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in 2012. For two years following this, Jayne held Staff Specialist appointments in Pain Medicine at the Professor Tess Cramond Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic followed by the Metro South Persistent Pain Management Service. In 2013 Jayne moved into private practice, joining the Wesley Anaesthesia and Pain Management group to pursue a subspecialist interest in the management of Persistent Pelvic Pain. Jayne is consulting in Pain Medicine at the Wesley Hospital and in Ipwsich. She continues her public commitment with an appointment as a Staff Specialist Anaesthetist at Mater Adult and Mothers’ Hospitals, South Brisbane. At the Mater, she has recently been part of a team who have set up and work in Queensland’s first Multidisciplinary Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic.

Pelvic pain and sexual pain (2572)

Add notes

Berryman, J

Login