Chronic Female Pelvic Pain

Surgery is most likely to help when it's done for a specific condition, such as fibroids or endometriosis.

Reference Hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, is sometimes used as a last-resort treatment. Depending on the cause, hysterectomy may relieve pain for some women.

Studies have shown that surgery to remove scar tissue Reference adhesions Opens New Window from previous surgery or from Reference pelvic inflammatory disease Opens New Window doesn't relieve pain unless the adhesions are severe.^{Reference 1}

Surgery to remove reproductive organs may also help when the cause of pain can't be found.^{Reference 1} When surgery, such as hysterectomy or cutting of specific pelvic-area nerves, is done for pain with no known cause, there is a risk of persistent pain or pain that is worse after surgery. And it can have serious side effects that you need to consider.

Reference Laparoscopy to diagnose chronic pelvic pain may be done before other treatment. Areas of endometriosis or scar tissue may be removed or destroyed during the laparoscopy.

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