Complementary and Alternative (CAM) Treatment Options for Women with Pelvic Pain

Purpose of Review: To provide an overview of the current complementary and alternative (CAM) treatment options for women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Recent Findings: Recent studies on chronic pain at cellular, molecular, and network level and their interaction with the immune system have unfolded several mechanisms for pain making it promising to explore the alternative paradigm to manage the incredibly complex chronic pelvic pain condition where multifactorial etiology often limits successful outcomes. Summary: The multifactorial nature and complexity in establishing the underlying diagnosis in CPP limit predictable response to traditional medical and interventional options. Complementary and alternative options have been studied to improve outcomes. Incorporation of exercise-based CAM, pelvic floor physical therapy, acupuncture, and cognitive behavioral therapy are suggested to show promising results, but well powered randomized studies are needed to draw conclusions on their efficacy. Evidence for non-opioid alternatives such as oral cannabinoids are preliminary and may emerge to be safe and effective.