If you’re experiencing any kind of pain in the lower part of your abdomen — an area known as your pelvic region — it’s important for you to have a medical checkup. Pelvic pain can signal serious medical conditions that require care. And treatment can relieve pain that interferes with your quality of life.
Your pelvic region contains your reproductive organs — including your uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina — as well as your kidneys, appendix, and intestines. Problems with any of these organs can lead to pain.
At Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Susan Crockett is an expert at diagnosing and treating pelvic pain. She and her team of highly skilled care providers can work with you to determine what’s causing your pelvic pain and how best to relieve it.
How pelvic pain feels
Depending on its source, pelvic pain can cause various types of pain. It may create pain that occurs only sometimes — for example, around the time of your menstrual period or after sex. Pain may be constant or come and go on an intermittent basis.
Pelvic pain may remain in your lower abdominal area or it may radiate to your low back. You may describe it as dull, sharp, stabbing, or throbbing. If pelvic pain lasts for six months or longer, we refer to it as chronic pelvic pain.
Causes of pelvic pain
Some of the conditions that trigger pelvic pain in women include:
Urinary tract infection
A UTI is an infection that occurs in your urinary system, which includes your kidneys, bladder, ureters (the tubes between your kidneys and bladder), or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body from your bladder).
Painful menstrual periods
Also known as dysmenorrhea, painful periods affect more than half of all women who menstruate. Although some mild cramping and discomfort are normal around the time of your period, excessive pain may signal a condition that requires care.
Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts
These are noncancerous growths that can occur in your uterus or ovaries, causing pain and sometimes interfering with your ability to get pregnant.
Pain during intercourse
Painful intercourse can occur in women after menopause or as a result of medical conditions.
Sexually transmitted infections
Pain can result from infections such as chlamydia, genital herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other conditions spread through sexual contact.
Pelvic organ prolapse
This condition occurs when one of your pelvic organs drops from its normal location as a result of injury, childbirth, or other causes.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis causes tissue that lines your uterus to grow in places where it shouldn’t, such as the outside of your uterus, your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, rectum, or elsewhere in your pelvic region.
Diagnosing and treating pelvic pain
To determine what’s causing your pelvic pain, Dr. Crockett starts by asking you questions about your symptoms. She conducts a pelvic exam and may order tests such as blood tests, urinalysis, X-rays, or a pelvic ultrasound to learn more about your condition.
Once she diagnoses the source of your pelvic pain, Dr. Crockett works with you to create a treatment plan. The type of treatment you receive depends on your diagnosis and may range from lifestyle changes to medication or minor surgery.
If you’re experiencing any kind of pelvic pain, don’t wait any longer. Your care providers at Virtuosa GYN assist women with pelvic pain every day and have the experience and training necessary to solve pelvic pain problems. Call Virtuosa GYN today to schedule an appointment.
