Pelvic Pain

What is pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain refers to any discomfort you feel in your lower abdominal area. The pain may be a dull ache or a sharp shooting pain. Your pain may occur and resolve quickly or be an ongoing or recurring problem.

Though pelvic pain is not always a serious health issue, if your pain is chronic or recurring, you may want to schedule a consultation at Physicians and Surgeons for Women. The health providers also recommend scheduling a consultation if you have pain during intercourse or experience abnormal bleeding.

These symptoms may indicate a gynecological condition that would benefit from medical intervention from the providers at Physicians and Surgeons for Women.

These symptoms may indicate a gynecological condition that would benefit from medical intervention from the providers at Physicians and Surgeons for Women.

What causes pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain may develop from any condition that affects your reproductive organs, urinary system, or lower digestive tract. Common gynecological conditions that cause pelvic pain include:

• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  

Your pelvic pain may also develop from conditions that affect your urinary or gastrointestinal system, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or kidney stones.

What happens during a pelvic pain evaluation?

When you visit Physicians and Surgeons for Women for a pelvic pain evaluation, you can expect a patient-centered exam. Your provider first listens intently to your symptoms and concerns. We will review your medical and gynecological history and conduct a physical and pelvic exam.

To confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis, your provider may request various diagnostic tests, such as a urinalysis, blood test, ultrasound testing, CT scan, or MRI.

How is pelvic pain treated?

Treatment for your pelvic pain depends on the underlying cause. When possible, the women’s health experts at Physicians and Surgeons for Women take a conservative approach to care.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Lifestyle modification
• Physical therapy
• Nutritional supplements
• Birth control
• Disease-specific treatment

Depending on your diagnosis, your provider may suggest various procedures to treat the underlying cause of your pelvic pain. For example, if fibroids cause pelvic pain, they recommend surgery to remove the non-cancerous tumor.

In some cases, particularly for severe bleeding and pain, you may need a procedure to destroy the lining of your uterus. This procedure, endometrial ablation, permanently removes the innermost layer of uterine tissue.

An endometrial ablation may be a good alternative to hysterectomy, a surgery to remove your uterus. You cannot get pregnant after an endometrial ablation or hysterectomy. For this reason, it is important to carefully consider all your treatment options with your Physicians and Surgeons for Women provider before you make any decisions.

You should expect cramping every month with your period, but if your pelvic pain interferes with your daily life, call Physicians and Surgeons for Women to book an appointment today.