Pelvic Pain: Medical History

The medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of acute or chronic pelvic pain.

Family history

  • What is the general health of your family members?
  • Are there any diseases in your family that are common?

Social history

  • What is your profession?
  • Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
  • Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • How long has the pain been present?
    • Has there been any change in the pain?
    • Become stronger?
    • Do you occur in episodes?
    • Does the pain radiate?
  • Where exactly is the pain localized?
  • Did the pain come on suddenly* or did it develop slowly?
  • What is the character of the pain? Sharp, dull, burning, tearing, colicky, etc.?
  • Have you noticed any other symptoms: e.g. fever, meteorism (flatulence)?
  • If a woman reports pelvic pain, the following questions are required:
    • When was your last menstrual period?
    • Do you have a change in your menstrual period? (Longer?, shorter?, weaker?, outside of your period?)
    • Do you have pain during your period? If yes,
      • Since the beginning of your first menstrual period?
      • Only later after the first menstrual period (since when?)
    • Do you have vaginal discharge?
    • Could you be pregnant?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Have you lost body weight unintentionally in the recent past? If so, how many kilograms in what time?
  • Have you noticed any changes in bowel movements? Frequency? Quantity? Impurities? Pain?
  • Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars, or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol more often? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses of it per day?
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, which drugs and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. medication history.

  • Previous diseases (gynecological and urological diseases, neoplasms).
  • Operations
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vaccination status
  • Allergies
  • Pregnancies
  • Environmental history
  • Medication history (see also under “Abdominal pain due to medication”).