Presenter(s): Annalise Cameron − Sociology
Faculty Mentor(s): CJ Pascoe
Poster 99
Research Area: Social Science
This study explores the highly complex emotional experiences of women who have chronic pelvic pain. Women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain disorders or undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain, often face many obstacles in their medical care, close relationships, emotional health, and life in general. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of women with chronic pelvic pain and attempt to draw commonalities in their emotional dispositions. Through original semi-structured interviews with 25 women, this study successfully identified commonalities that in turn have sociological meaning. While there were commonalities in almost all areas that are complicated by pelvic pain, the most striking findings come from an analysis of female sexual identity in the context of this pain, and the emotional dispositions stemming from this female sexual identity specifically. This research contributes to the limited body of work concerning this topic, and holds value as a resource to women who experience this type of pain, the people close to them, the medical community, and society in general.