Pudendal neuralgia: standing up to the problem

Pudendal neuralgia is defined as the perception of pain within the distribution of the pudendal nerve, which in practical terms is equivalent to the so-called ‘saddle area’. Pudendal neuralgia is common, although population-based epidemiology studies are unfortunately lacking. The presence of an anatomical variant that predisposes people to pudendal nerve entrapment has been identified in three of 40 dissection specimens. So, theoretically at least, pudendal neuralgia should be present in a large subset of the general population. Fortunately, not everyone with the anatomical condition will develop a clinically significant syndrome.

Picture credit: © Wavebreakmedia/Deposit Photos. Model used for illustrative purposes only.