Pelvic Pain Specialist

What causes pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain may begin in your reproductive, digestive, or urinary systems. You can also develop pelvic pain when muscles, ligaments, or organs like your appendix or intestines become injured or inflamed.

Sudden, severe pelvic pain often signals a problem that needs emergency medical care. You may have a ruptured ovarian cyst, an ectopic pregnancy, or a torn fallopian tube (caused by the ectopic pregnancy). This type of pain also occurs from cramping during a miscarriage.

Your pain may also signal a urinary tract infection. However, when ongoing pelvic pain originates in your reproductive system, it often develops due to conditions such as:

• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Adenomyosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pelvic adhesions (scar tissue)
• Endometrial cancer

Pelvic pain is most frequently present in women with endometriosis.

What symptoms accompany pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain varies based on the underlying cause. Your pain may range from mild to severe, feel dull or sharp, and cause constant or occasional discomfort. Some women find their pain occurs before or after their periods or during sex.

The gynecological conditions responsible for pelvic pain often cause abnormal uterine bleeding, frequent urination, or difficulty urinating. You may also have abdominal bloating.

How is pelvic pain diagnosed?

Your provider reviews your medical history and learns about the details of your symptoms. Then they complete a pelvic exam. Depending on your exam results, they may order blood tests, a urinalysis, or perform a pregnancy test.

Your provider may also need to perform a diagnostic ultrasound to get detailed images of your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

How is pelvic pain treated?

Your provider develops a customized treatment plan based on the cause of your pelvic pain. Treatment typically begins with nonsurgical options such as lifestyle changes and a wide range of possible medications.

If your symptoms don't improve, your provider may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to examine the inside of your uterus or treat the underlying condition. For example, they may need to remove uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, or patches of endometriosis.

You can get relief from pelvic pain with treatment from the experienced team at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology. To schedule an appointment, call the nearest office or book online today.