Chronic Pelvic Pain

Overview of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain, as the name indicates, is consistent extreme pain that affects your pelvic region and lasts for at least six months. The continuous pain in the lower abdominal area occurs because of the change in the pain perception mechanism of your body.

In the case of chronic pelvic pain, pain receptors in your body become more aggressive and start triggering normal healthy painless sensations as painful for the body. The pain in the area is usually associated with sexual and reproductive functions. 

If remain untreated, the pain can grow severe and the problem may require medicinal treatment. The problem affects more women in comparison to males. 

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain can have different signs and symptoms of the problem. These include: 

  • Mild to severe pain
  • Episodes of pain
  • Aching
  • Pressure sensation
  • Cramps 
  • Inability to perform high-intensity physical activities

Types of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Causes of Chronic Pelvic Pain

There are many possible causes of chronic pelvic pain. Sometimes, there is more than one factor responsible for persistent pelvic pain. Some of these factors include: 

  • Gynecological: Certain gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, ovarian remnants syndrome, pelvic congestion syndrome, etc. can cause chronic pelvic pain.
  • Digestive Causes: Suffering from digestive health problems such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can be one reason that you are suffering from chronic pelvic pain.
  • Urinary Issues: Problems with the urinary system can also contribute to chronic pelvic pain. Urinary tract infections and painful bladder syndrome cause pelvic pain. 
  • Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: This refers to a chronic infection affecting the pelvic area, ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The infection is caused by sexually transmitted diseases causing bacteria and is one prominent cause of chronic pelvic disease.
  • Pelvic Support Problems: A lesser pelvic support due to weakened muscles and ligaments in the pelvic region can cause chronic pelvic pain. This dislocates organs in the pelvic area and causes problems like pelvic pain and other complications during childbirth.
  • Cancers: Different types of cancers can also cause chronic pelvic pain. These include cervical, vaginal, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, etc.
  • Psychological Factors: Alongside all these factors, many psychological factors can also cause chronic pelvic pain. These include stress, a history of sexual abuse, depression, etc.
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Risk Factors of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain can come from any of the causes mentioned above. However, a few things that can increase our risk of suffering from chronic pelvic pain include:

  • Consumption of alcohol
  • Suffering from miscarriages
  • Problems with menstrual flow
  • Psychological factors including trauma or abuse
  • Previous history of C-section

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Prevention

You can prevent pelvic pain and associated complications by keeping an eye on symptoms and seeking medical help on time.

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Diagnosis

Chronic pelvic pain diagnosis can include several steps. Here are the procedures that you will come across while figuring out the causes of chronic pelvic pain: 

  • Physical Examination: Whenever you head to the physician complaining of pelvic pain that lasts longer than 6 months, a pelvic examination is the first step. Your physician can ask you a few questions to inquire about your disease background and classify the pain. 

The inquiries may involve questions regarding your menstrual cycle, pain during sexual activity, bowel movement, infection history, or details about pelvic surgical procedures you have gone through.

  • Culture Testing: This involves obtaining vaginal and penile cultures to rule out the possibility of infection. Culture testing also includes obtaining a culture from the stool. 
  • Blood Tests: Different types of blood tests can help your doctor to figure out the root cause of the problem. Some of the blood tests include progesterone and estrogen testing. Results from these tests can be helpful in predicting your reproductive health.
  • Pelvic Imaging: Different types of techniques including, ultrasounds, X-rays, MRI and CT scans can help your physician to visualize your pelvic health status. These imaging techniques reveal the inside structure and tell if there is any abnormal growth in the pelvic region.
  • Laparoscopy: This minimally invasive surgical procedure is also known as keyhole surgery and is used to visualize the inner areas of your abdominal region. Other than laparoscopy, hysteroscopy is another such technique that enables the visualization of the uterus. 

Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain | When to Consult a Doctor

When it comes to the treatment of chronic pelvic pain, knowing the exact cause of pain is most important. Here are some of the ways to treat the problem:

Medication

Certain medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can be used for pain relief. Other than painkillers, different antibiotics can be helpful in treating infections.

Altering Ovulation

In the case of pelvic pain caused by reproductive problems, stopping ovulation is an effective technique. Ovulation alteration is done through injections or oral medicines.

Physical Therapy

Staying physically active can be quite helpful in treating chronic pelvic pain. This can involve pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Counseling

Considering the role of psychological factors in pelvic pain, counseling comes as a treatment option against pelvic pain. 

Surgery

Depending upon the cause, sometimes surgical procedures can come as an option to treat chronic pelvic pain.

If you experience problems with chronic pelvic pain, then consult a medical professional as soon as possible. Consult a Gynecologist if your pain lasts longer than 6 months.