Can pelvic pain affect my emotional well-being?

The relationship between pelvic pain and emotional health is complex.¹ Many women with long-lasting pelvic pain also have depression or anxiety, but how these conditions are linked is not well understood.

For instance, long-lasting pain can lead to depression, but depression also can cause pain or make existing pain worse.² Women with pelvic pain also have higher rates of having a history of sexual or physical abuse.³ Ongoing pelvic pain also can contribute to sleep problems, sexual problems, relationship stress, and problems at work and at home.¹

All these factors can play a role in how a woman feels pain, in her emotional wellness, and in her quality of life.¹ Learning healthy ways to cope with pain is an important aspect of treatment.