Secret Suffering: How Women's Sexual and Pelvic Pain Affects Their Relationships (Sex, Love, and Psychology) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Robert J. Echenberg M.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

When the subject is sex, the bottom line for one of every five women between ages 18 and 50 in the United States is this: sex hurts. Generally known as Chronic Pelvic Pain, the condition is estimated to affect at least 15 million American women.

Product Description

Secret Suffering: How Women's Sexual and Pelvic Pain Affects Their Relationships is the first book to explain how pelvic and sexual pain affects the lives of women (and men) and their partners in their own words/ The work also provides information on cutting-edge research and describes the most effective treatment modalities. Susan Bilheimer, coauthor, shares her own experiences as a patient who has gone down the painful, frustrating road of living with an illness that is often dismissed and not taken seriously. Robert J. Echenberg, M.D., coauthor, has treated over 700 women (and some men) with the disorder. He shares his decades of experience and expertise as a gynecologist and specialist in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain.

Not only does CPP interfere with a woman's physical and mental health, it can wreak havoc in family relationships, ruin careers, and wreck marriages. In the majority of cases, women suffer in silence. Even when they do seek medical help, what they find too often is inadequate care, as most doctors, even gynecological specialists, are not properly trained in recognizing, much less treating, all aspects of CPP.

Through classic, new, and emerging research, with statements from experts and interviews with CPP sufferers and their partners, Secret Suffering exposes and gives strong voice and compassionate understanding to this complex disorder. Most importantly, information on effective treatments for CPP, as well as the depression and other psychological fallout it may cause, are presented. Through Secret Suffering, Bilheimer and Echenberg finally shatter the silence, educate patients, build understanding, and demand that chronic pelvic and genital pain be taken seriously by the medical community.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 205 pages
• Publisher: Praeger; 1 edition (May 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313359210
• ISBN-13: 978-0313359217
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #583,192 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you suffer from pain during intimacy, this book will be your lifeline. It's wonderful!, June 11, 2009

By	Jill O. (Wine Country of California, USA) - See all my reviews

When one of every five women between ages 18 and 50 in the United States have sex, it hurts, often badly. Until now, very few patients ever talked about their experience until a new IC hero, Susan Bilheimer, arrived on the scene. A chronic pelvic pain patient, Susan has been a driving force in creating this book and, partnered with Dr. Robert Echenberg, now offers hope and encouragement to the millions of women struggling with this condition.

Secret Suffering: How Women's Sexual and Pelvic Pain Affects Their Relationships has it all. Patient stories, a husbands point of view, a same sex couples experience with pelvic pain, the dilemma confronting single women with chronic pain, faith and the poignant story of two men who experience sexual pain. They talk about the difficulties working with the medical community and also the great hope promised by a new, far more accepting medical paradigm of chronic pelvic and sexual pain. The appendix offers 64 tips to relieve sexual and pelvic pain!

I can't say enough about this book. It's now at the very top of books I will be recommending to patients struggling with IC and intimacy. This will, beyond any other book I can suggest, break your isolation and show you that you are not alone and that there is hope! It's truly a must read.

One note! It's too bad that the publisher has set such a high retail price. This book can help tens of thousands of patients but I am afraid that many simply won't be able to afford it. Let's hope that they come out with a paperback soon!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long road, June 6, 2009

By	Merrill A. Landis "merrilly1" (pa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I and am so glad this book has been written. I am currently a patient of Dr. Echenberg-and it had to be divine intervention I found him.I went through so much with my pelvis-saw Dr. after Dr. and it was always the same-there's nothing wrong with you.This book has been a bridge for my family and friends to understand better what I have been going through.It's hard enough for myself tounderstand,but thanks to the book I now can relate my problems with other patients and learn more about my body and how it works.It is A must read-for the patient partner or friend.Don't miss it It's extremely informative and encompasses all areas

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally someone understands., October 21, 2009

By	Robin Olsen "bubidabub" (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have suffered from chronic pelvic pain for almost 30 years. Even though my family is aware of my health problems, until I read this book, "Secret Suffering", by Dr. Echenberg & Susan Bilheimer, I felt like I was going through this all alone. This book encompasses underlying causes for pain, & treatments that are available, but most important to my healing experience- it gave me faith that there are doctors out there who do believe & want to help us,... & the overwhelming feeling of relief that can only come from sharing experiences of those who suffer like me. If you or someone you know has this type of medical problem, educate yourself, seek treatment, don't give up- & READ THIS BOOK. It MIGHT NOT make the pain go away.... but it WILL make you feel better :-)