Pelvic pain can occur anywhere below your belly button and between your hips. It may include your abdomen, genitals, or lower back.
Pelvic pain can cause more issues than just discomfort. It can interfere with your intimate relationships and quality of life. Your pain may be mild and occasional, or you may feel it constantly.
When your pain lasts for more than six months, it’s considered chronic. Chronic pelvic pain affects about 15% of women of childbearing age in this country. Worldwide, this common, chronic condition affects up to one-third of all women.
Common complaints of pelvic pain
Your pelvic pain symptoms are likely different than another woman’s. However, among the most commonly reported symptoms are:
- Dull, aching pain in the pelvic region
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Sharp pains and cramping
- Pressure in the pelvic area
- Pain with a bowel movement
- Pain or pressure when lifting a heavy object
- Pain when sitting for long periods
Possible causes of pelvic pain
Pelvic pain can be a challenging condition to diagnose because several issues could be contributing to your pain. In some cases, pain is physiological. Some of the conditions that can cause pelvic pain include:
Endometriosis
If you have endometriosis, the lining that grows inside your uterus, called the endometrium, grows through and outside your uterus. This lining that is outside your uterus then tries to shed itself, just as it would from inside during menstruation when you don’t become pregnant each month. However, this lining has nowhere to exit the body. So instead, it builds up, which causes pain and discomfort.
Fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop inside the uterus. These growths can lead to a feeling of heaviness and pressure in your pelvic area. They may be small, large, inside your uterus, or on the outside.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Called IBS for short, irritable bowel syndrome causes bloating, pain, and gastrointestinal issues. This can lead to pelvic pain, discomfort, and pressure. Irritable bowel syndrome is common and often difficult to diagnose and treat.
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis, also referred to as painful bladder syndrome, is marked by frequent urination or the need to urinate frequently, and pain. If you have interstitial cystitis, the pain likely dissipates after you urinate.
Pelvic inflammatory disease
This condition often results from scarring caused by a long-term infection. Often the cause of the infection is a sexually transmitted disease. Along with pain in your pelvic region, you may experience a vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding, and even a fever.
Vulvodynia
The exact cause of this chronic pelvic pain condition does not have a clear cause. Vulvodynia is pain, soreness, itching, or stinging of the vulva. Intercourse is likely painful, but not be able to see any apparent reason for the pain.
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, don’t ignore it. Learning the underlying cause is essential to remedying your pain and preventing complications. Call Virtuosa GYN for an appointment or reaquest one using our online booking tool.
