Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain affects the lowest part of the abdomen, mostly between the belly and the groin. The pain is usually felt as throbbing, burning or heaviness in the lower abdomen. Pelvic pain can occur both in men and women, and the possible onset for pelvic pain can be certain types of infections, abnormal functioning of some non-reproductive internal organs or pain that is generated from the pelvic bones. In women, pelvic pain can be a symptom of any abnormalities in any one of the women’s reproductive organs, like the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina or cervix. 

Women who suffer from pelvic pain describe the intensity of the pain which ranges from being mild to very intense. Pelvic pain that is caused due to any sort of infections may develop slowly over a period of time and get worse as they persist. In women, pelvic pain also occurs as cramping during menstruation. If the pain is generated due to any abnormalities in the reproductive, digestive or urinary system, the pain is felt during sexual intercourse, urination or regular bowel movements. In some severe cases, pelvic pain is also caused due to presence of cancerous tumours in the bladder or colon.

It is very important to understand the severity of pelvic pain because if the pain persists, the underlying cause can prove to be life-threatening. Thus, if you experience mild or severe pelvic pain which is persistent over a period of time, you should immediately seek medical care.

Causes of Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can occur due to various reasons, hence, it is important to understand the underlying cause of your pelvic pain so that the right and effective treatment can be started.

1. Menstrual Cramps

One of the most common causes of pelvic pain in women are menstrual cramps. In most women, pelvic pain and menstrual cramps start a day or two before the start of menstrual cycle while in some cases, the pain continues for 1-2 days after the beginning of menstrual cycle. Menstrual cramps are usually throbbing in intensity and women might feel muscular contractions, because the uterus sheds its lining during the menstrual cycle. In cases of severe pain, use of warm heating pads and pain relievers can come to the rescue.

2. Ovulation

Some women experience painful ovulation. Ovulation is a process in which the ovaries release eggs and some fluid which travel down to the uterus. The released fluid can sometimes cause irritation and pain in the pelvic region.

3. Cystitis or Urinary Tract Infection 

Cystitis is a medical condition which causes inflammation in the bladder and is mainly caused when vaginal or rectal bacteria enter the bladder. On the other hand, urinary tract infection is caused anywhere in kidneys, urethra, bladder or ureters. One major symptom of both these infections is severe pelvic pain apart from painful urination, bleeding between menstrual cycles and vaginal discharge.

4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease  (PID) is an infection that occurs in the female reproductive organs. The major cause of PID is found to be an untreated sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. If the PID bacteria enters the womb, it can permanently damage the surrounding tissues. Pelvic pain is one of the prominent symptoms of PID along with fever, painful urination or painful intercourse.

5. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the tissue that lines on the inside of the uterus begins to grow on the outside. It may cause mild to severe pelvic pain, in women. When the menstrual cycle is about to begin, the tissue that has developed on the outside causes bleeding, pains and inflammation in the pelvic region.

6. Bowel Syndrome

Bowel syndrome is an abnormality causing constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. If the problem persists for a longer time, it causes severe pelvic pain. There is no specific treatment for a bowel syndrome but it can be cured through changes in diet and medications.

7. Appendicitis:

Appendix is the smallest organ of the body which is located in the lower-right abdomen. Appendicitis is a medical condition which causes inflammation or enlargement of the appendix. This problem is known to cause severe pain in the pelvic region.

8. Urinary stones

Stones are usually found in bladder or kidneys and are mainly made up of salts, minerals and calcium. When they develop large in size, they cause the urine to change colour, painful urination and blood in the urine. Stones in the gall bladder and kidneys and known to cause severe pelvic pain and pain in the lower back.

9. Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is one of the most life-threatening conditions that occurs to the body of a woman. It occurs when the embryo starts to grow on the outside of the uterus. This kind of pregnancy is known to cause severe pains, cramping in the pelvic region and vaginal bleeding.

10. Ovarian cysts

The major role of the ovaries is to release eggs for reproduction. When ovaries become clogged, they fail to release the egg and an unwanted cyst begins to grow in the area. These ovarian cysts are known to cause severe pelvic pain and require immediate medical assistance.

11. Uterine Myomas

Myomas or fibroids are lumps of muscle and tissues that begin to grow within the uterus. While most of the fibroids are non-cancerous in nature, they cause severe pain in the pelvis and lower back. When fibroids begin to outgrow the blood supply, they can cause chronic pelvic pain that requires immediate medical assistance.

12. Tumour:

In some cases, a benign cancerous growth is found in the reproductive organs or gastrointestinal organs, which causes pain in the pelvic region. This can happen with both men and women, and requires medical assistance for its diagnosis and treatment.

If you begin to observe sudden pains or any sharp burning sensation in the abdominal area, you should immediately seek medical attention, because ignoring any sort of pelvic pain will only prove to degrade your health condition.