At Central Maine Healthcare, our patients’ comfort and quality of life is our top priority. If you’re dealing with pelvic discomfort or pain, we’re here to help you find the cause and get the treatment that you need. Our board-certified physicians use the latest medical technology and the most up-to-date research to assist women, so they can get back to a pain-free lifestyle.
Pelvic Pain 101
Pelvic pain can be either acute or chronic. If you have a sudden (perhaps sharp) pain that won’t go away, you have acute pain. If it’s more of a constant (maybe dull) pain that lasts for weeks, months, or even years, your pain would be considered chronic.
It’s important to know that the pelvis holds many kinds of organs that are connected to various organ systems. Your pelvic pain might be related to reproductive health, but it could also be connected to your digestive health or elimination system. It could also have something to do with your tendons or ligaments, or other types of issues.
If you have acute pain, make sure to get in to see a doctor as soon as possible. If it’s a sharp pain or a sudden pain that really hurts, head to the emergency room to make sure it’s not something dangerous. For chronic pain, make sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor so you can work together to find the source of the pain.
Types of Pelvic Pain
In women, pelvic pain can often be related to issues with the reproductive health system including the ovaries, uterus, and vagina.
Types of issues that could be causing reproductive-related pelvic pain include:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Ovulation
- Menstrual cramps
- Ovarian cysts
- Uterine cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Pelvic adhesions (scar tissue)
- Adenomyosis
As mentioned above, there are other kinds of conditions that could be causing your pelvic pain that are not related to your reproductive organs.
Non-reproductive health causes could include:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Nerve conditions
- Bladder disorder
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Hernia
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Appendicitis
- Pelvis disorder
- Broken pelvis
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Diagnosis of Pelvic Pain
Your doctor will have an initial consultation with you to find out more about your symptoms. Some conditions will be simple to diagnose whereas others might take several tests. You’ll discuss your medical history and family history of certain health conditions. Then you might need to do blood or urine tests. Your doctor might also schedule an x-ray, an ultrasound, or MRI to get a visual of the inside of your pelvis. Once your symptoms and a screening reveal what is causing the pain, your doctor will help you decide what treatment options are best for you.
Treatment of Pelvic Pain
Treatment for pelvic pain comes in all shapes and sizes, depending on what is causing your pain. You might take prescribed medicine, see a physical therapist, have diet or lifestyle changes to make, or need surgery. At Central Maine Healthcare, our healthcare providers offer the most supportive care and minimally-invasive techniques to help you get back to feeling healthy and pain-free again.
