Undergarment and methods of treating pain symptoms using same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides undergarments, kits including undergarments, and methods of using same to relieve pain, such as abdominal, vaginal, and/or perineal pain (e.g., perianal pain), using undergarments and kits including undergarments.

1 . An undergarment comprising:
 a gusset for positioning adjacent to a crotch region of a user and having an anterior end and a posterior end substantially opposite the anterior end;   a first front panel including a distal portion that overlaps with the anterior end of the gusset, and a proximal portion that extends up to an anterior pelvic edge;   a second front panel including a distal portion that overlaps with the anterior pelvic edge of the first front panel, and a proximal portion that extends up to an anterior umbilical edge; and   a rear panel including a distal portion that overlaps with the posterior end of the gusset, and a proximal portion that extends up to a posterior waist edge, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel form a pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The undergarment of  claim 1  further comprising a substantially open tube formed between the gusset, the first distal portion of the first front panel, and the distal portion of the rear panel. 
     
     
         3 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset has a minimum width of not less than about 3 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the second front panel extends over the proximal portion of the first front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the first front panel extends over the distal portion of the second front panel. 
     
     
         6 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the gusset has a minimum width of at least about 2 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The undergarment of  claim 1  further comprising a third front panel disposed between the second front panel and a user, when the undergarment is in use by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the undergarment is seamless. 
     
     
         9 . A kit comprising:
 an undergarment of  claim 1 ; and   at least one thermal pack for inserting into the pouch of the undergarment.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal pack is a cooling pack. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal pack is a heating pack. 
     
     
         12 . A method of reducing pain in a subject, the method comprising:
 providing an undergarment of  claim 1  to the subject;   positioning the undergarment about the abdominal area of the subject;   inserting a thermal pack into the pouch to a position adjacent to a pain locus; and   leaving the thermal pack in the position for a period of time to reduce the pain.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pain is selected from the group consisting of: pain caused by child birth, a cesarean section procedure, an appendectomy procedure, a vasectomy procedure, a hernia repair procedure, an episiotomy correction procedure, a pelvic organ prolapse (“POP”) repair procedure, a stress urinary incontinence (“SUI”) repair procedure, a gynecological procedure (e.g., a hysterectomy procedure, an adhesiolysis procedure, a cervical biopsy procedure, a colporrhaphy procedure, a colposcopy procedure, a dilation and curettage (“D&C”) procedure, an endometrial ablation procedure, an endometrial biopsy procedure, a uterine biopsy procedure, a fluid-contrast ultrasound (“FCUS”) procedure, a hysterosalpingography procedure, a hysteroscopy procedure, a myomectomy procedure, an oophorectomy procedure, a pelvic ultrasound procedure, a pelviscopy (pelvic laparoscopy) procedure, a selective salpingography procedure, a uterine suspension procedure, a vaginal vault suspension procedure, a toluidine blue dye test procedure, a trachelectomy procedure, a tubal ligation procedure, a uterine fibroid embolization (“UFE”) procedure, or a vulvectomy procedure), a hemorrhoid or a hemorrhoid correction procedure, a cancer, a sexually transmitted infection, an anal fissure, a muscle spasm (e.g., proctalgia fugax and/or levator syndrome), an anal fistula, a perianal hematoma, a rectal ulcer (e.g., solitary rectal ulcer syndrome), a thrombosis (e.g., a thrombosis hemorrhoid), tenesmus, inflammatory bowel disease, proctitis, a perineal, perianal or perirectal abscess, fecal impaction, rectal prolapse, abdominal pain, labial pain, perineal pain, pain resulting from fertility treatments (e.g., injection site pain, bloating, sensitivity), Bartholinitis, post-surgical pains (e.g., pain resulting from hysterectomy, pain resulting from Bartholin marsupialization, or pain resulting from vaginal tightening due to, e.g., vaginoplasty, perineoplasty, labia majora plasty, labiaplasty, hymenoplasty, or vulvar lipoplasty), pain related to endometriosis, plastic surgeries, post-D&C procedure, post-harvesting of eggs for freezing, lower back pain, hemorrhoids, gender reassignment surgeries, yeast infections, pain from Bartholin cyst, marsupialization of Bartholin cyst, surgical drainage of Bartholin cyst, pain and itching related to menopause, pain and itching related to vulvar cancer, pain associated with sex, pain and itching associated with sexually transmitted disease, vaginosis, pain and abdominal swelling associated with menstrual cycles, bladder inflammation, interstitial cystitis, cystitis, pain related to urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to pelvic or abdominal adhesions, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to ovarian cysts, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to uterine fibroids, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to tumors, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to kidney stones, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to PMS, pain and/or abdominal swelling related to vulvodynia, and/or pain and abdominal swelling related to adenomyosis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pain is abdominal or vaginal pain. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the abdominal or vaginal pain is associated with child birth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the abdominal or vaginal pain is associated with a cesarean section procedure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the abdominal pain is associated with a vasectomy procedure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the abdominal pain is associated with a hernia repair procedure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the abdominal and/or vaginal pain is associated with an episiotomy correction procedure.