RESUMO
Chronic pelvic pain is a commonly encountered clinical entity, and many women with this chronic pain condition will be treated at some point in time with opioids for management of their pain. Clinicians in women's health are frequently asked and expected to participate in the care of women with chronic pelvic pain, as well as other gynecologic pain conditions, and should be familiar with the role of opioid therapy for these conditions. The goal of this article is to help determine which patients may be appropriate candidates for the initiation or continuation of opioid therapy for gynecologic pain. In addition, this article will help the clinician to establish treatment goals, select appropriate medications, monitor the efficacy of treatment, and to determine when discontinuation of medications is appropriate.