A patient consults with their GP

Persistent pelvic pain

Statewide referral criteria

Specialty: Gynaecology
Age group: Adult

Direct to an emergency department that can provide a gynaecology assessment:

  • Acute, severe pelvic or abdominal pain

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

  • Persistent pelvic pain that has not responded to adequate medical management.

Information to be included in the referral

Information that must be provided

  • Past medical history including:
    • obstetric and gynaecological history
    • pain severity, duration, any link to menstrual cycle or dysmenorrhea
    • how pain is different to any co-existing gastrointestinal pain
    • any previous pelvic inflammatory disease
    • any history of sexual abuse
    • previous medical and surgical management
  • Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements)
  • Any medicines previously tried, duration of trial and effect.

Provide if available

  • Most recent human papillomavirus (HPV) and liquid-based cytology (LBC) co-test result or cervical screening test results
  • Sexually transmitted infections test results.

Additional comments

The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.

Specialist multidisciplinary programs for people experiencing complications with transvaginal mesh are available at:

  • Royal Women’s Hospital
  • Mercy Hospital for Women
  • Monash Health
  • Western Health.

Referral to a chronic pain service may be appropriate.

Cervical screening test results may be provided from either self-collected or clinician collected samples.

Where appropriate and available, the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.

Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for

Not applicable.

Updated

Where to get help

Patients
For information about your specific medical condition, care pathway and/or wait times, please contact your GP or health service that you have been referred to.

General Practitioners
If your query relates to a referral for a specialist clinic, please contact the relevant health service directly or refer to their website for guidance.

For all other queries
Email plannedcare@health.vic.gov.au.