Dyspareunia (deep or superficial)/Vulvodynia/Vestibulodynia/Genitopelvic Pain Penetration Disorder
Adult

Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Service

Useful Management Information

  • Refer to local guidelines
  • Advise using lubricant and adequate foreplay prior to intercourse
  • All GPPPN patients: For superficial dyspareunia: (consider referral to women’s health physiotherapist
  • For superficial dyspareunia:
    • breast feeding women – consider topical oestrogen
    • consider vaginismus and referral to a sexual medicine service +/- Pelvic floor physiotherapist
    • consider psychosocial issues and referral for counselling

Clinical resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • No category 1 criteria
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Severe pelvic pain associated with dyspareunia
  • Unexplained persistent unusual vaginal discharge, especially if offensive and blood stained
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Vulvodynia/Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

  • Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Essential Referral Information

  • History of:
    • nature of the pain – location, intermittent or persistent
    • general body muscle tensing and general or focal pelvic floor muscle tension before and during attempts at penetration
    • medical, surgical and obstetric history
  • Pelvic USS results (TVS preferable)

Additional Referral Information

  • BMI
  • STI screen result – endocervical swab or first catch urine for chlamydia +/- gonorrhoea NAA
  • HVS M/C/S and viral PCR result
  • Previous CST result (if within last 5 years)
Last updated 18 February 2025

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Gold Coast Health

Internal Referrals

Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Clinical Service (EPPICS) (e-BlueSlips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Service
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 744 284

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Graeme Walker
Medical Director Gynaecology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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