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Pelvic Pain/ Endometriosis

Health professional resources
Why refer to us

Why Refer Your Patients to Us?

The Centre for Pelvic Pain & Endometriosis is one of few tertiary care centres of excellence in Canada for the management of endometriosis and pelvic pain.

Our affiliation with both the BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre and the UBC Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology provides many advantages to your patients:

Comprehensive Care:  Our patients have ease of access to many in-house services such as laboratory and diagnostic services, surgical day care, physiotherapy, and counselling. Our patients also have access to maternity care and other specialized women's health services.

Quality and Safety:  Our policies and protocols are subject to rigorous review through BC Women's Quality and Safety Committee and our program is included in regular Hospital Accreditation processes.

Research: Access to a strong research base through the Women's Health Research Institute ensures that the care we provide is the most advanced, effective and evidence-based care that exists. In addition, we regularly conduct our own research on pelvic pain and endometriosis.

About the program

Once your referral is accepted (based on the criteria) you will be notified within 2 weeks if your referral is deferred. See referrals and criteria.

If accepted, we will call your patient directly and give her an appointment date. Our current wait time for a first appointment is about 4 to 5 months.

At the first visit

Patients are assessed by a gynaecologist, with the examination including an internal pelvic ultrasound for most women. At the end of the first appointment, the gynecologist will discuss treatment options with the patient which may include medical management and/or surgical management, including advanced laparoscopic excisional surgery.

Our interdisciplinary program

As such, your patient's treatment plan may include participation in a pain education workshop, as well as an assessment by our pelvic floor physiotherapist and clinical counsellor. Additional follow-up appointments with our gynaecologist, physiotherapist, and counsellor will occur as required.

Completion of program

Most women complete the program within 6 to 12 months and are then released back to you for follow-up care. Once the program is completed, our gynaecologists are available for ongoing consultation with you regarding your patient's care.

Supporting patients

How to support your patients living with chronic pelvic pain

Over the years, our patients have taught us a great deal about the approaches that are most helpful:

  • Acknowledge that her pain is real; that all pain is real.
  • Inform her that she is not alone; nearly 20% of women of reproductive age experience chronic pelvic pain; about 50% of those women have endometriosis (IPPS, 2012; Zondervan, 1999).
  • Understand the great psychosocial impact of chronic pain on work, school, relationships, and mental health.
  • Introduce her to lifestyle changes that may help with chronic pain such as an anti-inflammatory diet, gently paced activity,  and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
  • Provide information on self-management strategies and support groups for chronic pain.
  • Reassure her that chronic pelvic pain can be treated.
  • Consider a referral to the Centre for Pelvic Pain & Endometriosis.

More information and patient resources for chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis: Pelvic pain & endometriosis.

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