From 'overwhelmed to empowered' – GPs confidence soars after doing our course on Persistent Pelvic Pain

Persistent pelvic pain (PPP) and endometriosis (where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus leading to pain and adhesions) is hard to treat. In Australia, the 1 in 7 women and people assigned female at birth who have endometriosis wait on average 6.5 years before being diagnosed.

PPP is common, with 1 in 4 women experiencing persistent pelvic pain.

Achieving earlier diagnosis can prevent many negative impacts on a woman's life. That's why we've developed our structured and practically applicable learning and resources in our online training course: Persistent Pelvic Pain - Leadership in Care.

Australian and NZ GPs can complete the self-paced training using any digital device, and it can be paused and resumed any time.  

Rachel Andrew, co-founder and practising Pelvic Health Physiotherapist said, 'We aim to get this learning to all practitioners in Primary Care like GPs or nurses, who want to better manage their patients who come to them for help.

This training is particularly valuable for GPs who work with rural and remote communities. They can be upskilled in just 10 hrs without having to go anywhere, and can immediately apply what they learn to identify symptoms of common PPP conditions like endometriosis and pelvic floor dysfunction, appropriate examinations, investigations and referrals, and treatment options including effective, patient-led management and self-care plans, and managing a multidisciplinary team for comprehensive care.

Patient resources are inclusive and ready to give to patients to start some treatment immediately, to make a holistic plan together and decide on next steps.

A GP can do so much while a patient is waiting to see a specialist.'

99% of course participants say they now have the confidence to manage patients with persistent pelvic pain with a holistic care plan.

One GP said, '(My) patients now have a one-page, clear, streamlined document to refer to, acting as both a health summary and an ongoing management plan. Patients have expressed feeling validated regarding their histories and symptoms and also feeling positive about the way forward. I now feel that both the patient, and myself as the GP, are on the same page with clarity regarding their management goals and individual wishes for care."

Read more about the course and feedback from GPs in the 2024 report – download below.