Many women, when their gynaecologist suggests they seek help from a psychologist, react with disbelief: “But this pain isn’t all in my head.” Endometriosis, painful periods, vulvodynia and chronic pelvic pain all have real biological causes. The pain is real and is not a figment of the imagination. The problem is that pain is not felt solely where it originates. Its intensity is influenced not only by the condition of the tissues or the stage of the disease, but also by the nervous system, stress levels, sleep quality, mental well-being and previous experiences of pain.