PAIN SENSITIVITY OF AND PAIN RADIATION FROM THE INTERNAL FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and the localiz ation of pain from the internal female genital organs. In 28 women und ergoing a ring sterilization, the internal genital organs were pinched with a 3 mm forceps and the pain sensitivity and localization were re corded. Pain localization was vague, and pinching of the medial and di stal end of the oviduct, or of the anterior, posterior or left or righ t uterosacral ligament could not be discriminated. The sensitivity of the pouch of Douglas and of the uterosacrals was greater than of the o viduct, uterus or ovaries. Small typical endometriotic lesions were sp ecifically more painful. The pain from the uterus was felt mainly in t he hypogastric region. The oviducts and ovaries radiated mainly to the iliac fossa, whereas pain stimulation of the uterosacrals and pouch o f Douglas was felt predominantly in the perineal-perivulvar-perianal r egion. Radiation to the lo,rer back was rare and never occurred in iso lation.