Our body responds to pain, such as burning, injury or freezing. It helps your body understand which actions and behaviours are detrimental to your health and safety and tells you that something might be wrong in your body. Though uncomfortable and often frustrating, debilitating pain hampers the quality of life. For example, women often experience menstrual cramps when they are on their periods, but it is unusual to have pelvic pain otherwise.
In most cases, women are unable to care for their physical and emotional well-being. They are often stressed out with familial responsibilities, work stress and social obligations. This leads them to ignore their health completely, shrug off their pain or decide to deal with it later. However, when it comes to painful sex treatment, it could denote a severe health condition that must be examined and treated.
What is chronic pelvic pain, and what are the symptoms?
Chronic pelvic pain refers to severe pain in the pelvis, which is the area below the belly button and between the hips. A chronic condition refers to a condition that is present for six months or longer, which signifies disease. Usually, the pain varies from mild to severe, ranging from sharp, dull, cramping or stabbing. Also, you must report recurring abdominal pain apart from indigestion, cramps, bloating and gas.
What are the possible causes of pelvic pain?
Chronic pelvic pain signifies reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic floor disorder or uterine fibroids, which impacts fertility and future pregnancies. It is also caused by vulvodynia, gynaecological cancer and urinary tract infection, which results in painful sexual intercourse.
In most cases, it is diagnosed and treated using cystoscopy, laparoscopy, lifestyle changes and medication. Also, it causes anxiety, depression, poor life quality and insomnia. Conditions that affect the digestive and reproductive system cause pelvic pain, such as:
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Endometriosis :- Endometriosis is a serious medical condition where the uterine lining starts growing outside the uterus, such as the fallopian tubes or ovaries. This causes long, heavy and painful periods along with pelvic pain. If left untreated, it causes infertility. It is diagnosed with MRIs, ultrasounds and pelvic examinations.
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Uterine fibroids :- Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous but abnormal uterine growth, and bigger fibroids cause pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Other symptoms include frequent urination, constipation and more extended periods.
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Ovarian cysts :- Each month, the ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tubes. A woman develops ovarian cysts when the ovaries do not release the egg entirely, which develops into a cyst. Though ovarian cysts are common, they often cause chronic pelvic when left untreated. Other symptoms include abdominal pressure, pain and bloating. They are diagnosed with ultrasound and treated minimally-invasive surgery or medication.
In some cases, women experience heavy and painful periods, unexplained weight gain, excessive hair, pelvic pain and acne. These are signs of a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can be managed.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) :- This is a chronic medical condition that causes constipation, diarrhoea, gas, bloating, abdominal and pelvic pain in London. Though there is no known cause of IBS, it is triggered by certain food products such as citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, milk, dairy products, beans, wheat and cabbage – along with stress. Visit the doctor if you have noticed a significant change in your bowel habits, such as anaemia, diarrhoea at night, unexplained vomiting, weight loss, rectal bleeding, difficulty in swallowing and persistent pain.
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Pelvic congestion syndrome :- This is caused by enlarged veins in the pelvic area, which is common in women of childbearing age. In most cases, women who have had multiple pregnancies are at risk of pelvic congestion syndrome. This starts during or after pregnancy and worsens after walking, standing or sexual intercourse.
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Painful bladder syndrome :- Also known as interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome is a chronic bladder health issue that causes pressure and pain in the bladder. Other subsequent conditions include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infection and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). Symptoms include painful urination, pain during sexual intercourse and frequent urination.
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Sexually transmitted disease :- Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea cause pelvic pain but can be treated with antibiotics. However, when left untreated, these infect the uterus and cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and scarring.
Therefore, pelvic pain must be taken seriously for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are looking for pelvic pain treatment, contact us at Well Women Clinic.
