Vaginal Photobiomodulation for Chronic Pelvic Pain

Overall pelvic pain

Overall pelvic pain level as measured on a 0-10 numeric rating pain scale (NRPS). On this scale, 0 represents no pain and 10 represents wors pain possible. Pain will be analyzed as median pain levels and % of participants achieving a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) defined as reduction in pain level of 2 or more NRPS points.

Symptom specific pelvic pain

Pain with exercise, sitting, standing, bowel movements, urination, and intercourse as measured on a 0-10 numeric rating pain scale and analyzed in the same manner as the primary outcome 'overall pelvic pain'.

Pain impact

Pain intensity as measured by Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Intensity Scale and Pain Interference Scale. The scales assess the impact of pain on activity, mood, relationships, sleep, and general enjoyment of life. The PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale asks participants to categorize pain intensity in the last 7 days, as an ordinal categorical scale using words like 'had no pain', 'mild', 'moderate', 'severe', and 'very severe', and the PROMIS Pain Interference Scale asks participants about the degree that pain interferes with activity, work around the home, participation in social activities, things usually done for fun, enjoyment of life, family life. Participants can rank their answers as an ordinal scale using words like 'not at all', 'a little bit', 'somewhat', 'quite a bit', and 'very much'.

Quality of life

As measured by the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12), a self-reported outcome measure assessing the impact of health on an individual's everyday life. The SF-12 assess general health and well-being \[or health-related quality of life (HRQOL)\], including the impact of any and all illnesses on a broad range of functional domains. The SF-12 has two components scored on a range of 0-100: a physical component score (PCS) and a mental component score (MCS). A score of 50 or less on the PCS-12 indicates poor physical functioning or a physical condition, because scores above 50 indicate better than average health related quality of life, while a score below 50 suggests below average health. A score of 42 or less on the MCS-12 may indicate clinical depression. Therefore, SF-12 scores above 50 indicate better health and scores below 50 indicate worse than average health.

Global physical and mental health

Global physical and mental health as measured by the PROMIS Global Health questionnaire. It contains questions that allows participants to rank their general physical health, ability to carry out every day physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, carry groceries, or moving a chair, using an ordinal scale ranking 'excellent', 'very good', 'good', 'fair', and 'poor'. This questionnaire also contains questions that allows participants to rate their mental health including ability to think, and satisfaction with social activities and relationships on an ordinal scale ranking 'excellent', 'very good', 'good', 'fair', and 'poor'.