Pelvic Pain
Women commonly experience episodes of mild pelvic or abdominal discomfort at certain times during the menstrual cycle. Some women, however, have pain which is not explained by the normal physical changes that occur in the uterus and ovaries. This pain can have many causes whcih may involve the reproductive organs and sometimes the nearby urinary tract, bowel, or other abdominal structures. A person’s reaction to pain depends not only on it’s cause, but on how it affects their ability to function.
Some of the more common causes of pelvic pain are:
The Menstrual Cycle
Women can experience pain due to the normal physical events that occur during the menstrual cycle. This pain is usually described as a mild cramping, but in some women it can be quite severe. The amount of pain and other symptoms that a woman experiences during her menstrual cycle is quite variable. The pain is not always the same each cycle and can change from month to month, decrease with age or after childbirth, or remain unchanged if menstrual pain becomes progressively more severe. It may be a sign of a problem other than the normal events.
Uterine Problems
Several conditions of the uterus can lead to pelvic and abdominal pain. Fibroids are a common benign overgrowth of the uterine muscle tissue that can cause pelvic pain or pressure. Adenomyosis is a condition where the glandular lining of the uterus is found within the muscle of the uterus. This condition may cause painful menstruation and heavier menstrual bleeding.
Ovarian/Tubal Problems
Infections in the fallopian tubes usually cause a sudden onset of pain and fever. Women who have had prior infections of the fallopian tubes may have pain and symptoms long after the infection has been treated. Pelvic infections, sometimes called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), are typically caused by sexually transmitted diseases. After the infection is treated, scare tissue around the tubes and ovaries can cause discomfort. Ovarian cysts and tumors may also cause pain and pressure. These cysts usually go away without causing long-term problems.
Pelvic Problems
Endometriosis is a disease that can cause pelvic pain. The tissue usually found in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) attaches to the surface of other organs in the pelvis and abdomen. Endometriosis can be mild, having small implants on pelvic organs. However, larger and deeper areas can develop and cause more severe adhesions or cysts (endometriomas) containing endometriosis. The amount of pain a women experiences is variable. Small amounts of disease can cause mild to severe pain. Adhesions can be caused by endometriosis as well as previous surgery on the uterus, tubes or ovaries. Women with a history of a ruptured appendix may have adhesions which affect the pelvic organs and cause pain.
Other Causes of Pain
Bowel problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and Diverticulosis may cause varying degrees of pelvic pain. Urinary tract problems such as bladder infections, kidney stones and interstitial cystitis are all associated with pelvic pain.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
A thorough history is the first step in determining the source of the pain. Women may be asked to keep records of: when the pain occurs, what triggers the pain, and what relieves the pain. A physical examination should include abdominal and pelvic exams. The physician will try to map the pain and whether it radiates to different areas. This may be a clue to the source of the pain. Blood tests, cultures and/or urine samples may need to be collected.
A transvaginal ultrasound will be used to evaluate the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. A CT scan may be needed to get detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. A surgical procedure (laparoscopy) may be needed at which time the physician places a small viewing instrument through an incision near the naval to examine the abdomen and pelvis. Many pelvic problems can be treated at this time.
TREATMENT
Medications can often control many forms of pelvic pain. People who suffer from chronic pain may benefit from nerve blocks, stress management techniques, physical therapy and relaxation methods. Laparoscopic surgery can treat certain causes of pelvic pain including endometriosis and scare tissue.
RESOURCES :
ADHESIONS-WHAT ARE THEY…
ENDOMETRIOSIS
MANAGING PELVIC PAIN
Some of the more common causes of pelvic pain are:
The Menstrual Cycle
Women can experience pain due to the normal physical events that occur during the menstrual cycle. This pain is usually described as a mild cramping, but in some women it can be quite severe. The amount of pain and other symptoms that a woman experiences during her menstrual cycle is quite variable. The pain is not always the same each cycle and can change from month to month, decrease with age or after childbirth, or remain unchanged if menstrual pain becomes progressively more severe. It may be a sign of a problem other than the normal events.
Uterine Problems
Several conditions of the uterus can lead to pelvic and abdominal pain. Fibroids are a common benign overgrowth of the uterine muscle tissue that can cause pelvic pain or pressure. Adenomyosis is a condition where the glandular lining of the uterus is found within the muscle of the uterus. This condition may cause painful menstruation and heavier menstrual bleeding.
Ovarian/Tubal Problems
Infections in the fallopian tubes usually cause a sudden onset of pain and fever. Women who have had prior infections of the fallopian tubes may have pain and symptoms long after the infection has been treated. Pelvic infections, sometimes called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), are typically caused by sexually transmitted diseases. After the infection is treated, scare tissue around the tubes and ovaries can cause discomfort. Ovarian cysts and tumors may also cause pain and pressure. These cysts usually go away without causing long-term problems.
Pelvic Problems
Endometriosis is a disease that can cause pelvic pain. The tissue usually found in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) attaches to the surface of other organs in the pelvis and abdomen. Endometriosis can be mild, having small implants on pelvic organs. However, larger and deeper areas can develop and cause more severe adhesions or cysts (endometriomas) containing endometriosis. The amount of pain a women experiences is variable. Small amounts of disease can cause mild to severe pain. Adhesions can be caused by endometriosis as well as previous surgery on the uterus, tubes or ovaries. Women with a history of a ruptured appendix may have adhesions which affect the pelvic organs and cause pain.
Other Causes of Pain
Bowel problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and Diverticulosis may cause varying degrees of pelvic pain. Urinary tract problems such as bladder infections, kidney stones and interstitial cystitis are all associated with pelvic pain.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
A thorough history is the first step in determining the source of the pain. Women may be asked to keep records of: when the pain occurs, what triggers the pain, and what relieves the pain. A physical examination should include abdominal and pelvic exams. The physician will try to map the pain and whether it radiates to different areas. This may be a clue to the source of the pain. Blood tests, cultures and/or urine samples may need to be collected.
A transvaginal ultrasound will be used to evaluate the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. A CT scan may be needed to get detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. A surgical procedure (laparoscopy) may be needed at which time the physician places a small viewing instrument through an incision near the naval to examine the abdomen and pelvis. Many pelvic problems can be treated at this time.
TREATMENT
Medications can often control many forms of pelvic pain. People who suffer from chronic pain may benefit from nerve blocks, stress management techniques, physical therapy and relaxation methods. Laparoscopic surgery can treat certain causes of pelvic pain including endometriosis and scare tissue.
RESOURCES :
ADHESIONS-WHAT ARE THEY…
ENDOMETRIOSIS
MANAGING PELVIC PAIN
