Pelvic Pain Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

Pelvic Pain

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is generally defined as non-cyclic pain present for three to six months or longer, unrelated to pregnancy. Women with CPP may also have pain that radiates beyond the pelvis. Associated symptoms can include urinary or gastrointestinal symptoms, impaired quality of life, and mental health changes. As a result of these changes, women can also experience increased stress, or distress in their personal and professional relationships. Muscle systems often become involved as well.

Common gynecologic causes of CPP include endometriosis, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), large or complex ovarian cysts, adhesions, adenomyosis, and leiomyomas (fibroids). Additional causes may be muscular tension/spasm in the pelvis, ovarian remnant syndrome, and even cancer. Urologic causes of CPP include interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, renal stones, bladder foreign bodies, or urethral diverticulum. Gastrointestinal processes that can cause CPP include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular colitis, celiac disease, chronic constipation, and cancers.

Acute pelvic pain is generally defined as lower abdominal or pelvic pain that has lasted less than three months.
Common gynecologic conditions that can cause acute or new pelvic pain include ruptured ectopic pregnancy, ruptured ovarian cyst, ovarian torsion, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA), fibroids, and adenomyosis. Gastrointestinal causes include appendicitis and diverticulitis. Ureteral stones or obstruction and complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause acute onset pelvic pain.

Management depends on the cause of the pelvic pain. Workup generally includes an exam, cultures, imaging studies (ultrasound, MRI), and trials of treatment. Surgery is sometimes, but not always, needed to establish the diagnosis and treat the pain. .