Measurement of pelvic blood flow changes in response to posture in normal subjects and in women with pelvic pain owing to congestion by using a thermal technique

1. A method is described for studying pelvic blood flow in women by the indirect method of measuring vaginal temperature changes in response to a posture change. Ten women with chronic pelvic pain and venous congestion and 10 normal subjects were observed during posture changes over a 2 h period. 2. Vaginal temperature minus axillary temperature rose after subjects changed from the supine to the seated position, indicating a fall in the rate of pelvic blood flow. 3. A significantly greater variance in the rate of change in vaginal temperature minus axillary temperature was found in patients with pelvic venous congestion compared with control subjects (P less than 0.005). 4. The findings are consistent with a disorder of blood flow regulation in women with pelvic pain owing to congestion.