Why You Should Never Ignore Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is discomfort that occurs in your lower abdominal area below your navel. Many important reproductive organs reside in your pelvic area, including your ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina, as well as your bladder, intestines, and rectum.  

Many women experience pelvic pain. For example, your period may cause menstrual cramps in your pelvic area.

Having occasional menstrual cramps is normal. But if you have any other type of pelvic pain, you should talk with your doctor about it. Pelvic pain can have various causes and can be a symptom of conditions that require medical treatment. That’s why you should never ignore it.

To give you some context about pelvic pain, Dr. Ulas Bozdogan of the Advanced Endometriosis Center in New York City and Bergen County, NJ, shares this important information with you.

Types of pelvic pain

Pelvic conditions can cause different types of pelvic pain that may:

• Come and go
• Trouble you on a regular basis
• Only occur occasionally, for example, only after sex
• Occur only if you’re pregnant
• Feel sharp and stabbing or dull
• Be mild, moderate, or severe

Paying attention to the type of pain you have and describing it to Dr. Bozdogan can help guide him in his diagnosis.

Causes of pelvic pain

Pelvic pain can occur as a result of various underlying issues, including the following:

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful condition that occurs when tissue from your uterus grows where it doesn’t belong, most commonly on the outside of your uterus, on your bowels, or on your ovaries or the fallopian tubes.

This abnormal tissue growth can cause pelvic pain as well as infertility.

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form in the uterus. They can grow as large as a grapefruit, or even larger. Uterine fibroids can cause pelvic pain and other symptoms, and can interfere with a healthy pregnancy.

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is excessive menstrual bleeding. It can occur as a result of hormone imbalances, ovary problems, uterine fibroids, or other causes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID is a serious medical condition that occurs when the pelvic organs and tissues become infected. Most cases of PID begin with a sexually transmitted disease that goes undetected and untreated, which allows the disease to spread and promote the formation of scar tissue.

In addition to pelvic pain, PID can lead to infertility and pregnancy complications.

Pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that occurs when a pelvic organ descends (prolapses) from its normal position and begins pressing against the vaginal wall, eventually invading the vaginal canal.

Tumors

Although tumors are a less common cause of pelvic pain, they do sometimes occur.

Ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage

If you’re pregnant, pelvic pain could be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in a place other than the uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes.

Get help for your pelvic pain

Pelvic pain can cause significant debility and loss of quality of life, and sometimes the underlying cause can be difficult to identify. That’s why it’s crucial to see a doctor with extensive experience with pelvic conditions.

Dr. Bozdogan is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain and can provide the care you need. He conducts a thorough examination and obtains blood work and urinalysis, as well as ultrasound or other diagnostic imaging, to determine the cause of pelvic pain.

If you have pelvic pain, call the Advanced Endometriosis Center for an appointment today or click the “request appointment” button to get started.