What is pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain is any type of pain below the belly button but above the groin. While pelvic pain is often a sign of menstrual cramps, digestive problems, or ovulation in women, it can be indicative of a more serious problem.
There’s no specific type of pelvic pain. It can be intermittent, constant, dull, sharp, sudden, mild, or severe. If you experience sudden, severe pelvic pain, you should go to the emergency room right away, as this is often a sign of appendicitis and other serious conditions.
What causes pelvic pain?
There are many conditions that can cause pelvic pain in women, including:
- Menstrual pain and cramps
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Ovulation
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Cancer
- Hernia
- Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)
In addition to pelvic pain, you may experience pain or discomfort during sex, when you sit down for too long, or when you use the restroom.
How is pelvic pain diagnosed?
Because pelvic pain is a general condition, your practitioner’s goal is to determine exactly what is causing your pain, so they can eliminate it at the source. The first step is recording your symptoms.
When you come into Women's Health Care Center of Houston, make sure you tell your practitioner:
- What your pelvic pain feels like
- How long you’ve had symptoms
- Which medications and techniques, if any, have helped relieve the pain
- Whether the pain worsens during sex or menstruation
- How severe the pain is
- Whether the pain comes and goes or stays constant
- If you’ve had surgery or a treatment recently
At this time, your practitioner reviews your medical history and asks about your family’s health history, as it may relate to your diagnosis.
In addition to a physical exam after your discussion, your practitioner may perform the following exams or tests to determine the cause of your pelvic pain.
- Pelvic exam
- Hysteroscopy
- In-office transvaginal ultrasound
- Pregnancy test
- Blood count
- STD test
- Urine test for UTI
Determining the cause of your pain can help your practitioner choose the right treatment for your symptoms.
How is pelvic pain treated?
Your pelvic pain treatment depends entirely on what’s causing it and why. Once the team at Women's Health Care Center of Houston has the information they need to make a diagnosis, they may recommend one or more of the following treatments.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
- Antibiotics
- Hormonal birth control
- Antidepressants
- Physical therapy
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Full hysterectomy, in some cases
Pelvic pain can be a debilitating condition that affects your ability to lead a full, happy life. To see a board-certified gynecologist, call Women's Health Care Center of Houston or schedule a visit online.
