A standard for terminology in chronic pelvic pain syndromes: A report from the chronic pelvic pain working group of the international continence society

Terms used in the field of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) are poorly defined and often confusing. An International Continence Society (ICS) Standard for Terminology in chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) has been developed with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by chronic pelvic pain syndromes. The standard aims to facilitate research, enhance therapy development and support healthcare delivery, for healthcare providers, and patients. This document looks at the whole person and all the domains (organ systems) in a systematic way.

A dedicated working group (WG) was instituted by the ICS Standardisation Steering Committee according to published procedures. The WG extracted information from existing relevant guidelines, consensus documents, and scientific publications. Medline and other databases were searched in relation to each chronic pelvic pain domain from 1980 to 2014. Existing ICS Standards for terminology were utilized where appropriate to ensure transparency, accessibility, flexibility, and evolution. Consensus was based on majority agreement.

The multidisciplinary CPPS Standard reports updated consensus terminology in nine domains; lower urinary tract, female genital, male genital, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological aspects, psychological aspects, sexual aspects, and comorbidities. Each is described in terms of symptoms, signs and further evaluation.

The document presents preferred terms and definitions for symptoms, signs, and evaluation (diagnostic work-up) of female and male patients with chronic pelvic pain syndromes, serving as a platform for ongoing development in this field. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neurourology and urodynamics. 2016 Aug 26 [Epub ahead of print]

Regula Doggweiler, Kristene E Whitmore, Jane M Meijlink, Marcus J Drake, Helena Frawley, Jørgen Nordling, Philip Hanno, Matthew O Fraser, Yukio Homma, Gustavo Garrido, Mario J Gomes, Sohier Elneil, Joop P van de Merwe, Alex T L Lin, Hikaru Tomoe

Department of Urology, Hirslanden Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland., Chair of Urology and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania., International Painful Bladder Foundation, Naarden, Netherlands., Department of Urology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom., Physiotherapy at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia., Department of Urology, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark., Department of Urology, Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania., Department of Urology Surgery, Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Durham, North Carolina., Department of Urology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan., Head of Voiding Dysfunctions and Urodynamics Section, Urology Division, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina., Department of Urology, St. António Hospital, Oporto, Portugal., Department of Urogynecology, University College Hospital, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, GB., Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands., Department of Urology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan., Department of Urogynecology, Chair of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East, Japan.