For clinicians
Referring a patient with pelvic nerve pain.
Pudendal neuralgia falls between specialties, which is why the average patient waits years for a diagnosis. This page sets out who to refer, what to send, and what you will receive back.
A formal referral letter is welcome but not required, and patients may also book a consultation directly without a referral.
Who to refer
Consider referral when standard workup has been unrevealing and the pain pattern is neuropathic.
- Perineal, genital or rectal pain for more than three months, worse with sitting
- 'Chronic prostatitis' with negative cultures and no antibiotic response
- Vulvodynia or interstitial cystitis unresponsive to standard therapy
- Persistent pelvic pain after mesh, prolapse, hernia or prostate surgery
- Post-partum pelvic pain persisting beyond twelve months
- Positive or partially positive pudendal nerve block awaiting surgical opinion
- Cyclists with persistent perineal pain off the bike
- Deep buttock or hip pain with sciatica-like leg pain and normal spine imaging
- Pain affected by sitting, driving, climbing stairs or hip rotation, worse for some patients and eased by others
- Suspected piriformis syndrome that has not responded to conservative treatment
What helps (but isn't required)
None of this is required to refer. Even a name and brief description is enough to get started. Anything below just helps us move faster.
- Symptom history with clear documentation of sitting provocation
- Physiotherapy summary and response
- Current medication and previous neuropathic trials with doses
- Details and outcome of any previous nerve blocks
What we do
Every patient undergoes a dedicated pelvic nerve examination and a structured review of symptoms, prior tests and treatments. Where indicated we arrange appropriate diagnostic testing and conservative treatment, including pudendal nerve blocks and piriformis muscle injections, before any surgical discussion.
Pudendal nerve decompression is offered only to patients whose clinical picture, imaging and block response align. Where they do not, we return a conservative management plan rather than operate.
About the surgeon
Dr Renaud Bollens is a urological surgeon with more than two decades of pelvic nerve surgery experience. He has trained over 140 surgeons internationally in pelvic and nerve-sparing technique and operates in Belgium and Dubai.
How to reach us
Use the email or WhatsApp buttons at the top of this page, whichever is easier for you. For urgent clinical discussion, our line is available 24/7 on +44 7451 251532, WhatsApp welcome. Patients may also book a consultation directly without a referral letter.
Common questions
How do I refer a patient?
Use the email button at the top of this page to send whatever you have. A name and a brief description is enough to get started. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +44 7451 251532, or simply ask the patient to book a consultation directly. A formal referral letter is welcome but not required.
Which patients are appropriate to refer?
Patients with pelvic, perineal, genital or rectal pain lasting over three months that is worse when sitting, with negative or unhelpful standard workup, or who have failed pelvic-floor physiotherapy and neuropathic medication. Also refer post-surgical pelvic nerve pain and suspected mesh-related nerve injury.
Do you accept international referrals?
Yes. We see patients from Europe, the GCC and Asia at our Belgium and Dubai locations, and offer remote first assessments for international patients so that travel is only arranged once a plan is agreed.
Will you operate on every referred patient?
No, and that is deliberate. Only patients whose symptom pattern, examination and imaging point to pudendal nerve entrapment, and who show a convincing response to an image-guided diagnostic block, are offered decompression. Others receive a written management plan you can deliver locally.
Do you send feedback to the referring clinician?
Yes. Referring clinicians receive a full assessment letter with diagnosis, reasoning, imaging interpretation, block results and the agreed plan, plus operative and follow-up notes where surgery proceeds.
Speak with a pudendal nerve specialist.
Dr Renaud Bollens leads a specialist practice dedicated to chronic pelvic pain, with centers in Dubai and Belgium.