Day 3 | Session 8 | Concurrent | Pelvic pain

Help, I have no one to help me with patient's pain: low resource, high-impact pelvic pain care

Persistent pelvic pain often causes significant disability and distress and is one of the most common reasons for referral to a gynaecology clinic. Navigating these complex consultations within the constraints of a stretched health system can feel challenging for clinicians. This session offers practical, evidence-informed strategies you can use in clinic on Monday to deliver effective, patient-centred care.

Dr Karen Joseph
Specialist Pain Medicine Physician and Gynaecologist
Christchurch

In the pursuit of providing best, evidence-based care for those living with pelvic pain Karen has completed specialist training in Pain Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Sexual & Reproductive Health.Her research interests are exploring, and attempting to develop ways to meet, the unmet needs of those living with pelvic pain.

Neuropsychology of endometriosis-associated pain

Endometriosis symptoms extend beyond pain, with more than 60% of patients reporting some level of cognitive difficulty at work or school. This presentation provides evidence of cognitive and neurophysiological dysfunction in women with endometriosis, highlighting the contribution of chronic pelvic pain to these difficulties. These findings shed light on the complex endometriosis–pain–cognition pathways and have shifted the field to a point where interventional work is now underway.

Dr Ashlee Berryman
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Christchurch

Dr Ashlee Berryman is a research neuroscientist at the University of Otago whose work focuses on the cognitive and neurophysiological consequences of endometriosis-associated pain. Her research has investigated cognitive functioning, brain activity, and pain-related changes among individuals with endometriosis. Ashlee is now extending this work into interventional research, investigating novel approaches to improving cognitive and pain-related outcomes for those living with endometriosis. 

She is passionate about translating neuroscience research into meaningful improvements in women’s health to help our wāhine flourish. 

Use of botox in pelvic floor dysfunction

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Dr Sam Holford
Gynaecologist, Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon
Auckland

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Interventional radiology in chronic pelvic pain

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Dr Jonathan Freedman
Radiologist
Hawkes Bay

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