Pelvic pain affects many women and may be symptomatic and caused by a wide variety of conditions, from endometriosis or fibroids, to more serious conditions like cancer.
It is not easy to pinpoint the exact cause of pelvic pain since it can be a symptom of many different conditions. If the pain is persistent and recurring, it is recommended you meet with a specialist to discuss your personal health history, your current health circumstances, and the symptoms you are experiencing to determine the cause of the pain.
Pain-Causing Health Conditions
Some of the most common minor causes of pelvic pain include:
- Acid reflux
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Food allergies
- Stress
- Gas & bloating
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, these are some of the conditions specific to women’s health that commonly result in pain:
- Reproductive disorders affecting the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes
- Fibroids, noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear for women in their 40s and 50s
- Cysts, a sac-like pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances
- Endometriosis, a condition that occurs when bits of the tissue that lines the uterus grow on other pelvic organs, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of a woman’s reproductive organs often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STIs)
- Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which typically occurs because the fallopian tube is damaged by inflammation or is misshaped
- Bowel or bladder issues
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common disorder that affects the large intestine
- Ulcerative colitis, a severe inflammatory bowel disease which may require surgery
- Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract
- Urinary tract infection and disorders of the kidneys or bladder
- Kidney stones
When to See a Doctor for Pelvic Pain
If your pain is recurring, and conservative measures like over-the-counter medications fail to relieve the pain, we recommend seeing a healthcare provider.
Be sure to keep note on what symptoms you are experiencing and when, as to help your doctor more quickly diagnose you and prescribe a treatment plan to have you feeling better as quickly as possible.
Your healthcare provider will likely order diagnostic tests to locate the source of your pelvic pain.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we urge you to see seek immediate medical attention as you could be experiencing a serious medical condition which may require urgent immediate medical help.
- Fever
- Bloody stools
- Chest pain
- Yellow skin (jaundice)
- Abdominal swelling and tenderness
How Advanced Gynecology Can Help: Treatment Options for Pelvic Pain
If you’ve been suffering persistent pain, Advanced Gynecology is here for you.
Our board-certified team of women’s health experts are ready to help you with diagnostic care and a range of options from pain management solutions to surgical procedures to hormone therapy to a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. We will gladly counsel you about the best options for you and your health.
Meanwhile, it may be helpful to take anti-inflammatory NSAID medications, such as over-the-counter Advil or Aleve.
For more information, schedule an appointment today or call 706-389-9228 to speak with one of our patient coordinators.