There is no universally accepted definition for chronic pelvic pain (CPP). However, there are three important elements, which characterize CPP:

• Long-term pain
  To be deemed chronic, the pelvic pain must have been present for at least six months (or by some definitions, at least three months). Generally, CPP is not affected by a woman's menstrual cycle although some women with CPP do experience severe cramping during their period. The pain is often more pronounced during sexual activity.
• Other conditions have been ruled out
  The pain experienced by women with CPP is not due to measurable damage to the pelvic organs and no other condition or abnormality can account for the pain. If abnormalities are present, the pain is out of proportion to what would be expected.
• Limitations on life activities
  The pain is severe enough to limit a woman's physical activities, interfere with her occupation, affect her sexual life, and/or have an impact on her relationships and her emotional state.

CPP symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women experience severe, even disabling, pain; others, a dull pain or mild feeling of pressure in the pelvis. For some women, the pain is steady; for others, it comes and goes. For some women, urinating, having a bowel movement or having sex can cause the pain to intensify; for others, they do not.

How We Perceive Pain

To understand what is happening in women with CPP, it is important to understand how the body perceives pain.

• Understanding pain