An Approach to Chronic Pelvic Pain
November 7, 2025 from 1:30pm MDT to 2:20pm MDT
Chronic pelvic pain is difficult for both the patient and the clinician. All acute findings- ruled out. All imaging- negative. Now what? Tell the patient that their period/pain is normal? (No) Tell them it's all in their head? (NO!) Refer to gynecology, a multidisciplinary pain clinic, trauma informed physiotherapy? (GREAT START!). In this session you will learn about a trauma informed model of the causes of pelvic pain, how nocioplastic pain syndromes can be established and protected against and how to work with your patient to improve their symptoms. As chronic pelvic pain is often multifactorial, so must be the treatment. The session will also focus on what can be done in limited resource settings.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
- Review the multifactorial sources of pelvic pain
- Discuss the sources of trauma within a female or gender non-conforming pelvis
- Outline the pathophysiology of nocioplastic pain syndromes in the context of chronic pelvic pain
- Discuss the evidence-based treatment modalities for chronic pelvic pain: in resource rich and resource limited treatment settings
- Teach effective counseling and language for opening a discussion about pelvic pain
Speakers / Panelists
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An Approach to Chronic Pelvic Pain
November 7, 2025 from 1:30pm MDT to 2:20pm MDT
Erin Unger
PA-C/CCPA
Erin Unger
Erin Unger PA-C/CCPA has worked in sexual health for the past 11 years. She currently works in the minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and urogynecology departments at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She believes in comprehensive, inclusive, trauma informed care for all of her patients. She is also faculty at the University of Toronto, where she pushes her PA students to be the best clinicians they can be. If you are sitting in her talks, ask any and all questions. If you see her in the wild- please stop by and say hi!