Pelvic pain tends to be a rather common issue that women experience. However, the causes of pelvic pain may not always be completely clear. Based on how long and how much it hurts, pelvic floor pain can be either acute or chronic. When women feel a sudden and rather sharp pain in private areas, we’re talking about acute pelvic pain. But, if the pain is constant, meaning that a woman is affected by it for more than six months, with pelvic cramps coming and going randomly, it’s highly likely that the pain is chronic.
The causes of pelvic pain may lie in the organs surrounding the pelvis, or, in some cases, it could be psychological. The latter can cause severe pain sensation even without the existing physical issue.
If you notice anything unusual or worrying, make sure to book your appointment at a trusted gynecology clinic. You’re always welcome to seek help and/or advice from the renowned Dr. Kompal Gadh, certified OB/GYN with years of practice and experience.
Potential Causes of Pelvic Pain
Feelings of pelvic pressure and pain may be rooted in other health issues such as injury/fibrosis-related nerve inflammation or skeletal and smooth muscle contractions.
When it comes to acute pelvic floor pain, the most common triggers include:
- Ruptured (or twisted) cyst in the ovaries
- Ruptured fallopian tube
- Infection of the urinary tract
- Reproductive organs infection, also known as a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Appendicitis
- Miscarriage
- Pregnancy out of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
In case of chronic pelvic floor pain, potentially triggering conditions include:
- Endometriosis
- Endometrial polyps
- Abnormal uterine wall growth (fibroids)
- Period cramps
- Scar tissue around the pelvic cavity organs
- Reproductive tract cancer
Health issues concerning the nervous, digestive, and urinary systems may also be the reason behind sharp pain in the private area.
Pelvic Cramps and Pain Symptoms
In order to get the right diagnosis when suffering from pelvic pressure or pain, it’s crucial to discuss this issue openly with your doctor. That said, the following descriptions of pelvic pain and the causes could be used as a guide but not as a self-diagnosis tool.
- When the pain is localized, the cause of it could be some kind of inflammation.
- Pelvic cramps could be triggered by a soft organ spasm such as appendix, intestine, or ureter.
- Sudden and sharp pain in private area could be due to a blood circulation obstruction that has temporarily caused a blood supply deficiency.
- The cause of pelvic pressure and pain that develops slowly could lie in some kind of intestinal obstruction or appendicitis.
- Pain sensation within the entire abdomen may point to the accumulated intestinal content, pus, or blood.
- If the pain gets worse during the examination or movement, it could be caused by the abdominal cavity lining irritation.
Pelvic pain does not always require medical attention, but if there’s a reasonable assumption of infection, there’s a preexisting condition and sudden pain oscillations, and/or the person experiences severe pain and random vaginal bleeding, it’s crucial to reach out to the doctor as soon as possible. What’s more, if the pelvic pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, make sure to get in touch with the doctor quickly. In general, it’s very beneficial to go for regular gynecological checkups.
How to Get Pelvic Pain Diagnosed?
In order to get the pelvic pain properly diagnosed and uncover the cause behind it, the patient will have to do some tests. What’s more, it’s important to think carefully about your condition so that you can properly answer the following questions, in case your doctor happens to ask them:
- When was the first time you felt pain, and where?
- How long have you suffered from this type of pain?
- Have you noticed that the pain correlates to your period, sexual intercourse, or urinating?
- How does the pain feel – is it a dull, pressure-like pain, or sharp?
- Describe the situation and circumstances you were in when the pain first started.
- Was the pain really sudden or more gradual?
When the doctor has all the info about the pelvic pain you’re feeling, including details such as pain sensation and timing while moving, eating, engaging in sexual intercourse, and sleeping, they can come to a more precise conclusion and diagnosis.
It’s necessary to complete a pelvic exam and go through a thorough physical when trying to diagnose pelvic pain. Also, the doctor will need full medical history. Apart from those, it’s highly possible that there will be a need for other tests, such as:
- Pregnancy and blood tests
- Culture of cervix cells
- Urinalysis
- Ultrasound to get a complete internal organs image
- CT scan, which is even more detailed than ultrasound and can show abnormalities in the bones, muscles, and organs that normally wouldn’t show in ultrasound or X-ray
- MRI to get a 2-dimensional look into the internal organ structure
- Laparoscopy, which counts as a surgical procedure and involves inserting a lens tube into the abdominal wall to directly look at the condition of the pelvic area; this is often the best way to discover a potential endometrial growth
- X-ray to get the organs and bones images on film
- Colonoscopy, which is used to take a good look at the condition of the large intestine in order to spot potential abnormal growths, ulcers, inflammation, and bleeding; the doctor can see the entire colon lining and even take a tissue sample for further examination
- Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure examining the inside of the large intestine in order to pinpoint the causes of abdominal pain, abnormal growth, constipation or diarrhea, and bleeding
Treatment for Pelvic Pain
Depending on what the doctor discovered as the main cause of pelvic pain, the treatment can vary from one patient to another. What’s more, the specifics will be highly based on other elements of the condition, such as:
- Medical history and current health
- Patient’s tolerance for certain meds and procedures
- The condition’s extent and expectations
- Patient’s opinion
That said, the treatment can involve:
- Anti-inflammatory and/or antibiotic meds
- Exercises for relaxation
- Oral contraception
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
In the case that the doctor simply cannot discover the physical reason behind persistent pelvic pain, they will probably suggest some sort of counseling that could help the patient cope with the pain better. It’s also possible for the doctor to take the multidisciplinary approach, tailoring the treatment to the patient’s specific needs that often involve changes to the environment and nutrition, managing pain, and engaging in physical therapy.
Keep in mind that, even though unpleasant, pelvic pain is a rather common issue for women. Depending on whether the pain is acute or chronic, the doctor will be able to diagnose the cause and prescribe the right treatment. Remember, your health can and will determine the quality of your life, which is why you should never ignore potential issues and concerns.
As such, if you’re experiencing discomfort in the pelvic area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
