The decision to operate on a patient with chronic pelvic pain can be quite complex, and depends on the type of problem, how long it has been present, and how successful nonoperative treatments have been. Therefore, hard and fast rules that apply to all patients are impossible to identify and list. Nevertheless, some generalizations may be made:

If your pain is related to a tumor, cyst, or some other structural lesion, then an operation is likely indicated.

If your pain is related to a nerve entrapment syndrome that is confirmed by electrodiagnostic testing (electromyography and/or nerve conduction studies), then you might be a candidate for surgery.

Even if your pain has no discernable structural cause, and conservative measures such as physical therapy, acupuncture, and psychotherapy are unable to control the pain, then you might be a candidate for a trial of neurostimulation.