Role of hysteroscopy in evaluating chronic pelvic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a survey of various gynecological conditions causing chronic pelvic pain (CPP) that might be diagnosed by hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Review article.


METHODS
Departments of obstetrics and gynecology and pathophysiology of human reproduction at a university in Italy.


METHODS
Women affected by CPP.


METHODS
Hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Effectiveness in diagnosing intrauterine pathologies that cause CPP.


RESULTS
Hysteroscopy is highly effective in diagnosing various gynecological causes of CPP, including adenomyosis, chronic endometritis, Müllerian anomalies, retained fetal bones, endocervical ossification, and intrauterine abnormalities. Furthermore, hysteroscopy may play a primary role in the resolution of some of these conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Because it can be executed safely in an office setting without anesthesia, hysteroscopy may be indicated, together with the other noninvasive procedures such as transvaginal ultrasonography, as a first-level investigation in women who are affected by CPP.
Di Spiezio Sardo
Attilio
A
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. cdispie@tin.it
Guida
Maurizio
M
Bettocchi
Stefano
S
Nappi
Luigi
L
Sorrentino
Filomena
F
Bifulco
Giuseppe
G
Nappi
Carmine
C
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*