Survey: many told their pelvic pain is 'normal'. ('We have to do a Better Job').

SEATTLE -- Women with chronic pelvic pain relating to endometriosis are routinely told that they are exaggerating their pain or that they should consider it "normal."

This unsympathetic attitude is expressed not only by family members and friends, but also by ob.gyns., according to a survey released at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Of 968 women who experience chronic pain relating to endometriosis or adhesions, 39% report having been told they exaggerate their pain. More than half were told this by their ob.gyn., according to Mary Lou Ballweg, president of the Endometriosis Association, the survey sponsor.

An additional 43% were told this by a friend or family member, according to the survey, which was cosponsored by Gynecare.

Nearly 60% have been told the pain is normal, 56% by their ob.gyn., and 29% by family or friends.

More than half describe their pain as "severe" to "unbearable," and 43% say their pain is constant. (See chart.) Not surprisingly, more than 80% acknowledge that their pain has at times interfered with work, Ms. Ballweg commented.

One reason for the widespread misunderstanding of the impact of endometriosis is that, even into the early 1980s, medical textbooks described menstrual complaints as psychogenic, Ms. Ballweg said. "That thinking is still out there," she told this newspaper.