Chronic pelvic pain (CPP), characterized by persistent non-cyclic pain lasting over six months, presents a therapeutic challenge due to the absence of established treatments. In response to this unmet need, a team led by J. Heyman, et. al.,(2006) conducted a randomized study to investigate the efficacy of distension therapy on specific pelvic structures in women suffering from CPP, as well as its impact on various quality of life parameters.

The study, conducted at a Primary Health Care Centre in Kolbäck, Sweden, enrolled fifty women with a median age of 33 years and a median CPP duration of 25.5 months. Participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, receiving distension therapy, or a control group. Prior to randomization and two to three weeks following a second treatment session, participants completed a questionnaire assessing pain intensity, duration, frequency, as well as quality of life indicators such as sleep disturbance, mental fatigue, depression, mood, and anger using visual analog scales and five-point scales.

The results of the study revealed significant improvements in pain intensity, frequency, and duration of pelvic pain, painful intercourse, lower back pain, sleep disturbance, sleep quality, mental fatigue, depression, mood, and anger in the treatment group compared to the control group. Notably, distension therapy outperformed counseling in alleviating pain intensity (OR 18.37, 95% CI 3.39-99.64) and pain during intercourse (OR 8.59, 95% CI 1.57-46.68).

In conclusion, this open, randomized study provides compelling evidence for the efficacy of distension therapy in relieving pelvic pain and enhancing quality of life among women with CPP. These findings underscore the potential of targeted interventions to address the complex challenges associated with chronic pelvic pain, offering hope for improved management and patient outcomes in this debilitating condition.

Reference: Heyman, J., Öhrvik, J., & Leppert, J. (2006). Distension of painful structures in the treatment for chronic pelvic pain in women. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 85(5), 599-603.