BackTable / Urology / Podcast / Episode #291
Pelvic Pain Syndromes: Clinical Assessment & Strategies
with Dr. Susan MacDonald, Dr. George Koch
What do the 2025 AUA guidelines change about how we evaluate and manage chronic male pelvic pain? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Susan MacDonald (Penn State) joins host Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to break down the new American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines on chronic male pelvic pain, including chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome and chronic scrotal content pain.
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BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2026, February 24). Ep. 291 – Pelvic Pain Syndromes: Clinical Assessment & Strategies [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com
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Podcast Contributors
Synopsis
They review a structured approach from initial evaluation and physical examination to pain management. The discussion outlines an evidence-informed, multimodal management framework incorporating medications, pelvic floor physical therapy, behavioral health interventions, neuromodulators, and selective procedural strategies, with an emphasis on realistic expectation setting in this complex patient population.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
01:41 - Path to Chronic Pelvic Pain Work
08:19 - Getting Involved with the AUA
13:02 - Developing Guidelines
19:56 - Initial Patient Evaluation
27:11 - Setting Expectations
32:05 - Making the Diagnosis
35:17 - Success Rates and Counseling Patients
39:51 - Central Sensitization
44:31 - Physical Exam Recommendations
49:26 - Non-Pharmacologic Options
54:38 - Follow Up Cadence
01:02:24 - Chronic Scrotal Pain vs CPPS
01:08:26 - Conclusion
Resources
Diagnosis and Management of Male Chronic Pelvic Pain (Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome and Chronic Scrotal Content Pain): AUA Guideline (2025)
https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain
The Materials available on BackTable are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the independent professional judgment of a qualified healthcare professional in diagnosing or treating patients. Any opinions, statements, or views expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, platform, or any affiliated organization.









