Pain sensitivity of and pain radiation from the internal female genital organs

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and the localizationof pain from the internal female genital organs. In 28 women undergoing aring sterilization, the internal genital organs were pinched with a 3 mmforceps and the pain sensitivity and localization were recorded. Painlocalization was vague, and pinching of the medial and distal end of theoviduct, or of the anterior, posterior or left or right uterosacralligament could not be discriminated. The sensitivity of the pouch ofDouglas and of the uterosacrals was greater than of the oviduct, uterus orovaries. Small typical endometriotic lesions were specifically morepainful. The pain from the uterus was felt mainly in the hypogastricregion. The oviducts and ovaries radiated mainly to the iliac fossa,whereas pain stimulation of the uterosacrals and pouch of Douglas was feltpredominantly in the perineal-perivulvar-perianal region. Radiation to thelower back was rare and never occurred in isolation.