Pelvic pain is any pain that occurs in the area below your belly button and between your hips. There are a large number of different potential causes of pelvic pain, varying from mild conditions to more severe conditions. 

 

It’s important that if you are experiencing any recurring pain, especially if it is severe, that you get a check up with your doctor. 

 

It can be hard to determine when you should be concerned, and when you should contact your health professional. 

 

This guide should help you understand a little bit more about pelvic pain and the different potential causes. 

 

The Pelvic Area

The pelvic floor muscles support the organs in this region, and pelvic pain can potentially stem from issues with the muscles here. 

 

The pelvic area holds a lot of important organs, including female reproductive organs;

 

• Uterus
• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Cervix
• Vagina
• Rectum
• Bladder
• Urethra
  

 

Potential Causes of Pelvic Pain

Sometimes pelvic pain may be mild, and not something that you need to worry about. However if you continue to experience acute pelvic pain, or pelvic pain for an extended period of time, then you should contact your doctor. 

 

Potential conditions affecting pelvic pain include:

 

• Urinary tract infections
• Sexually transmitted infections 
• Kidney infection 
• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy 
• Pelvic inflammatory disease 
• Menstrual cramps
• Ovarian cysts and other ovarian issues
• Fibroids
• Endometriosis 
• Uterine cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Irritable bowel syndrome

 

Symptoms of Pelvic Pain 

Chronic pelvic pain can have a variety of causes; it can be a symptom of another disease or it can be its own condition. 

Symptoms associated with pelvic pain include:

• Menstrual cramps & pain 
• Irregular bleeding, spotting or discharge
• Pain or difficulty urinating
• Constipation and diarrhoea 
• Bloating
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain in hip area
• Lower abdominal pain 

If your pelvic pain is caused by a different underlying condition, treating that condition may be enough to eliminate your pain.

 

Other Things To Consider

Intense Period Pains Is Not Normal 

Unfortunately there seems to be a common idea that intense pain during your period from menstrual cramps or other causes is normal and should be ignored. 

Pelvic pain in women can sometimes take longer to diagnose and treat due to this common misconception. 

 

While some pain and discomfort can be expected during your period, you should not be in debilitating pain that interferes with your everyday life. If your pain doesn’t go away with medication, and persists over multiple days, then you should contact your GP. 

 

Often this can be a symptom of a more severe condition, and there may be treatment options available to you to alleviate this pain. 

 

Treatments For Pelvic Pain

Ultimately the goal of your treatment is to alleviate the pain and other symptoms so you can have a better quality of life. 

 

There are many different treatment options for this condition, and it will depend on your type of pelvic pain and your individual circumstances.

 

It can range from physical therapy, all the way through to surgery if the condition is severe enough. 

 

When you visit your GP they may perform a physical exam and run a variety of tests if necessary to find the cause for the pain.

 

If you need specialist help, you may then be referred to an obstetrician and gynaecologist such as Dr. Kelvin Larwood. 

 

You can read more about how Dr Larwood can help you here.