Dr Susan Evans published papers
This is the first study to demonstrate an ex vivo immune relationship in women with dysmenorrhea-related pelvic pain. It provides evidence for the potential of immune modulation as a novel pharmacological target for future drug development in the management of dysmenorrhea.
This study used a scoping review design to look at what is known about the content of psychological therapies for women with chronic pelvic pain. This study looked at information on predictors of psychological outcomes. These pieces of information could be used to form and test future psychological interventions. Gaps in the research literature and future research directions
are also discussed.
Many rodent models of endometriosis are invasive, involving surgery to implant donor endometrial tissue into recipient animals. Here, we have refined a minimally invasive model of endometriosis using naturally cycling mice (donor and recipient matched for cycle phase) to investigate lesion development in two different strains (C57BL/6 and BALB/c), induced in estrous stages of high and low estrogen (proestrus or estrus, respectively), and with varying amounts of donor endometrial tissue (7.5–40 mg), injected intraperitoneally.
This review summarizes the major known contributions of glia and neuroimmune interactions in pain, which has been determined principally in male rodents and in the context of somatic pain conditions.
We aimed to develop a questionnaire that assesses the impact of pelvic pain on women, regardless of diagnosis, that has high utility, sound psychometric performance, easy scoring, and high reliability. Two studies, with 3 separate cohorts, were undertaken. Both studies were completed online. Studies included women with self-reported pelvic pain. Women were eligible to participate regardless of whether their pelvic pain was undiagnosed, self-diagnosed, or diagnosed by a clinician.
This article considers the frequency of 14 additional pain-related symptoms in a group of 168 women with dysmenorrhea. These symptoms include stabbing pains, bladder pain, an irritable bowel, food intolerances, headaches, sexual pain, vulval pain, anxiety, low mood, nausea, dizziness, sweating. It compares the frequency of symptoms in women with and without endometriosis, and considers whether a past history of sexually distressing events affects pain symptoms.
Practical framework for clinical management of persistent pelvic pain (PPP) in girls and women. General Practitioners (GPs) will see the majority of the 15-25% of women that suffer from PPP, but do not have the framework to support them with the breadth of complex issues within this area.
The complex issues faced include the four main parts of PPP: pain from pelvic organs; the musculoskeletal response to pain; central sensitisation of nerve pathways; and the psychological sequelae of chronic pain.
This article aims to provide the framework for GPs to address PPP with confidence.
Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections have been used to reduce muscle spasm in the presence of severe pelvic pain. However, while pubococcygeus is easily accessed vaginally, injection to obturator internus is more complex – with variation in operative technique and needle placement confounding the ability to assess outcomes. We describe a simplified technique for BoNT injection to obturator internus using neurostimulation under ultrasound guidance.
Keywords: botulinum toxin, pelvic pain, neurostimulation, obturator internus, persistent pain, ultrasound‐guided injection
Abstract
Women with chronic pelvic pain have often experienced pain since adolescence as well as self-doubt, which often results in difficulties in personal development, relationships and sexual confidence. The management approach outlined in this article can help to improve outcomes for these patients.
Although Australia does not recognise Chronic Pelvic Pain on a national level, Australian and New Zealand researchers have made several breakthroughs. There is scope for further research into gender specific research which may look further at hormones and Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Endometriosis is the most common cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain in women. Dr Susan Evans outlines the cause and symptoms of endometriosis and explores potential social implications.
Microlaparoscopy for Suspected Pelvic Pathology – S F Evans, O M Petrucco. NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 1998
Abstract
This study presents an independently-assessed comparison of the laparoscopic view obtained using a 2mm versus 10mm laparoscope in women with suspected pelvic pathology. Fifteen female volunteers booked for laparoscopy with clinical evidence of pelvic abnormality according to clinical findings and/or pelvic ultrasound were recruited for this study. Sequential observations were carried out by independent observers for clinically significant differences. Although discrepancies were noted in 3 patients the view obtained with the 2mm microendoscope was considered to be comparable to that obtained with the 10mm telescope. The cases with discordant findings included mild or minimal endometriosis and distal tubal disease. The results of this study suggest that microendoscopy is likely to be entirely adequate for many routine laparoscopic procedures and sterilization.