Severe chronic pelvic pain in women may be caused by ligamentous laxity in the posterior fornix of the vagina
Non-randomised trial
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⤵ 4 in-corpus citations
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This study investigated whether laxity in the posterior vaginal fornix causes chronic pelvic pain in women with normal laparoscopy findings, finding that surgical repair of uterosacral ligaments relieved pain in 70% of patients at 12 months.
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Abstract
The aim was to prospectively study the relationship between pelvic pain of otherwise unknown origin and laxity in the posterior vaginal fornix. Twenty-eight patients with negative laparoscopy findings, lower abdominal pain and laxity in the posterior ligamentous supports of the uterus underwent surgical approximation of their uterosacral ligaments. At 3-month review, 85% of patients were cured, and at 12 months, 70%. Nonorganic pelvic pain has frequently been attributed to psychological factors. However, the results suggest that this may be a T12-L1 parasympathetic pain referred to the lower abdomen, perhaps due to the force of gravity stimulating pain nerves unable to be supported by the lax uterosacral ligaments in which they are contained. It was concluded that laxity in the posterior ligaments of the vagina should first be excluded before referring patients with pelvic floor discomfort or pain for psychiatric care.
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Too few in-corpus citations on either side for a chart; here are the lists.
Cites (3)
- Clinical features of women with chronic lower abdominal pain and pelvic congestion 1988
- Psychological and somatic factors in women with pain due to pelvic congestion 1988
- Psychogenic pelvic pain or occult prolapse syndrome? 1986
Cited by (4)
- Pitfalls of the medical paradigm in chronic pelvic pain 2000
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Caused by Laxity of the Uterosacral Ligaments: Are the Posterior Fornix Syndrome and the Allen-Masters Syndrome Synonyms? 2016
- Uterosacral ligament plication can relieve 'idiopathic' chronic pelvic pain 2022
- Cure of chronic pelvic pain by reinforcing the uterosacral ligaments 2013
References (7)
- Clinical features of women with chronic lower abdominal pain and pelvic congestion via openalex
- Psychogenic pelvic pain or occult prolapse syndrome? via openalex
- Psychological and somatic factors in women with pain due to pelvic congestion via openalex
- W2014629790 via openalex
- W2015291132 via openalex
- W2492854889 via openalex
- doi:10.1007/978-3-642-67968-1 via openalex
Cited by (4)
- Uterosacral ligament plication can relieve 'idiopathic' chronic pelvic pain 2022
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Caused by Laxity of the Uterosacral Ligaments: Are the Posterior Fornix Syndrome and the Allen-Masters Syndrome Synonyms? 2016
- Cure of chronic pelvic pain by reinforcing the uterosacral ligaments 2013
- Pitfalls of the medical paradigm in chronic pelvic pain 2000
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- openalex
- last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
- pubmed
- last seen: 2026-10-08T21:59:55.756364+00:00
- unpaywall
- last seen: 2026-10-16T06:24:35.758740+00:00
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