New course encourages GPs to take a holistic approach to persistent pelvic pain
One in five women experience persistent pelvic pain, yet many say their symptoms are often dismissed or minimized by health professionals. A new online training program has been designed to address knowledge gaps in the issue and empower GPs to better help their patients.
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00:00 Louise Richardson's self is rarely without pelvic pain.
00:06 Her symptoms often rollercoaster throughout the day from dull to extreme.
00:10 Sometimes I experience burning and searing pain.
00:13 Sometimes I experience a deep aching.
00:16 Sometimes I have muscle spasms and a kind of bruising sensation.
00:20 Daily stretching, medication and an anti-inflammatory diet are crucial
00:25 to helping manage the symptoms of her endometriosis and adenomyosis.
00:30 Dr. Richardson's self was only diagnosed after years of pleading for help
00:34 and having her symptoms minimised.
00:37 Pelvic pain is complex and it involves a lot of different organs.
00:40 A new course is seeking to help GPs better understand persistent pelvic pain.
00:45 It affects one in five women but is notoriously underdiagnosed and undertreated,
00:50 with many women feeling dismissed or invalidated.
00:54 When pain's affecting someone's function on a day-to-day basis
00:57 where they can't go to work, they can't school,
01:00 they can't parent their family as well as they can, that's not normal.
01:05 The course debunks myths and misunderstandings.
01:08 People are still being told even today to have a baby to cure endometriosis.
01:14 The program encourages GPs to use a holistic approach,
01:18 including support from gynaecologists, pelvic health physiotherapists and dieticians.
01:23 These patients need a team but the GP is the perfect person to direct that team
01:29 and direct that care, follow the patient up well.
01:32 Dr. Richardson's self hopes the training will ultimately help other women and girls.
01:37 I don't want them to have to spend 25 years wondering why they're in pain
01:42 and why no one can help them.
01:44 Now hopefully they won't have to.
01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]