CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN CAUSED BY RESIDUAL OVARIES AND OVARIAN REMNANTS

Objective To determine the diagnostic effectiveness and treatment of w omen with chronic lower abdominal pain due to residual ovaries or ovar ian remnants. Design A prospective observational study. Setting Tertia ry referral pelvic pain clinic. Subjects Seventeen women complaining o f chronic pelvic pain of up to 25 years' duration, of whom seven had r esidual ovaries and 10 ovarian remnant(s). Main outcome measures Persi stent lower abdominal pain, pelvic tenderness and quality of life one year post-operatively. Results Six of the seven women with residual ov aries, and nine of the 10 women with presumed ovarian remnants experie nced relief of the original pain, loss of pelvic tenderness and an imp roved quality of life. Conclusions Residual ovaries after hysterectomy and ovarian remnants are established causes of chronic pelvic pain. D iagnosis and surgical removal is frequently difficult. Management stra tegies are proposed for both conditions.