I became hysterical and when my husband got home I fell down on the floor and just begged him to kill me because I couldn’t do my job, I couldn’t be a wife, I couldn’t take care of my child, and there was no reason for me to go on.

– Jane (interviewee)

The doctors told me it was all in my head, that I really couldn't be having any pain because I was no longer testing positive for a urinary tract infection. I would pray before going to see each new doctor. I'd walk in the office thinking, "Please. I don't care if I have cancer at this point. Just tell me it's something so I can learn to deal with it or take steps to make it better."

– Kat (interviewee)

I was diagnosed with vulvodynia when I was 20, but I know I had it much longer than that. My family physician had no idea that vulvodynia was a condition and even went so far as to tell me that the pain was all in my head.– A patient of Dr. Echenberg

– Jane (interviewee)

When the pain first started, I silently continued intercourse. When the pain was severe, I just had to stop. We would try at times, but I couldn't stand the pain. Eventually, my husband quit going to bed with me. He would stay up at night watching porn and satisfying his needs. We were married only two years when the pain started.– Survey Respondent

November 2025

About the Echenberg Institute for Pelvic and Sexual Pain

Talking directly with Dr. Echenberg can be a game-changing experience for your path to recovery! He continues his years of clinical and educational care.

Curious about your pelvic and genital symptoms and how you can "turn down the dial" and get your life back? Are you ready to be listened to and believed? There is so much information that you likely haven't heard about uninvited and deep pelvic and genital sensations.

Click here for our new telehealth options and fee schedule:

Click here for an important message from Dr. Echenberg

New E-Book Now Available - 165 Pages

Loaded with clickable videos, articles, and many resources

Click on the book cover for purchase from our website

Book review by Jill Osborne - founder of the ICN

You're not alone. Your pain is real. Your voice matters.

Discover trauma-informed education and advocacy for chronic pelvic, genital, and sexual pain disorders

Do you have any combination of these symptoms and can't find help?

The Pelvic region consists of all aspects of the male and female body between the umbilicus (belly button) and the mid-thigh. Chronic Pelvic Pain is a complex of painful pelvic symptoms, including, but not limited to:

1) spontaneous and unwanted sexual arousal in the genital area, (spectrum of genital hyperarousal disorders - PGAD/RGS)

2) urinary frequency and urgency associated with pain, (Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis) - (IBS)

4) lower abdominal bloating and pressure.

5) vaginal, vulvar, penile itching, burning, and sensitivity,

6) sitting pain - constantly trying to favor one side or the other.

7) sexual pain (entrance, during, or after sexual activity in females, and erectile and ejaculatory pain in males),

8) lower back, sacral, hip, or lower abdominal pain. Unexplained tailbone or buttock pain.

Associated anger, shame, fear, frustration, anxiety, depression, agitation, self-doubt, or other negative emotional feelings, any or all secondary to the above symptoms

Have you had invasive diagnostic testing, multiple treatments, and surgeries, and still have no diagnosis that makes sense to you? Let us "connect the dots".