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Prevalence and correlates of three types of pelvic pain in a nationally representative sample of Australian women

Jules S Black
Med J Aust 2009; 190 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02268.x
Published online: 5 January 2009

To the Editor: So a large proportion of women experience pelvic pain, often over years. What’s new? Of course they do. Pitts and colleagues1 fail to mention that virtually every normal, physiological event that occurs within a woman’s pelvis is associated with pain. Clearly, such pains vary in duration and intensity and are associated with events such as ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, labour and childbirth. We men have it easy by comparison. But to conclude by saying that “only about a third of women who experience chronic pelvic pain seek advice from a health professional” gives the impression the authors are trying to medicalise yet another essentially normal event.


  • Brisbane, QLD.


Correspondence: julesblack@bigpond.com

  • 1. Pitts MK, Ferris JA, Smith AMA, et al. Prevalence and correlates of three types of pelvic pain in a nationally representative sample of Australian women. Med J Aust 2008; 189: 138-143. <MJA full text>
  • 2. Black JS. Sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia in the otherwise normal pelvis. J Sex Health 1991; 1: 28-31.

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