Some Common Reasons You May Be Having Pelvic Pain

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Many women experience pelvic pain. Although the frequency and severity of the discomfort varies, finding the exact cause of pelvic pain is often difficult.

Dr. Rachel Spieldoch and our team at McDowell Mountain Gynecology in Scottsdale, Arizona, specialize in women’s gynecological health and have helped many women struggling with pelvic pain get the answers and relief they need. To give you an idea of what may be behind your pelvic pain, we wanted to review some of the most common causes.

Common causes of pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is a broad term that refers to any discomfort you feel in your lower abdominal area. This area of your body is home to your reproductive organs, urinary system, and intestines, and the pain you feel may be related to one or more of these organ systems.

Some of the most common gynecological causes of pelvic pain include:

Endometriosis
Fibroids
Vulvodynia
Ovarian cysts
Ectopic pregnancy
Twisted or ruptured ovarian cyst
Miscarriage
Menstruation

Though gynecological causes of pelvic pain are common, you may also experience discomfort in your lower abdominal area if you have a urinary tract infection, irritable bowel syndrome, or diverticulosis.

Given the range of causes, you may not be all that surprised about how difficult it is to diagnose the condition responsible for your pelvic pain.

Should I be concerned about pelvic pain?

Pain is a signal your body uses to let you know something is wrong. Though pelvic pain isn’t always a serious health issue, you should seek an evaluation if your pelvic pain disrupts your daily life or seems to be getting worse over time. This includes pelvic pain you feel all the time or intermittently in connection with your menstrual cycle.

Emergency medical care may be needed if your pelvic pain is severe and unexpected. Severe pelvic pain may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or ruptured ovarian cyst, all of which require immediate medical intervention.

Getting the right diagnosis for pelvic pain

Your pelvic pain may not be a serious health concern, but it can affect your quality of life, as well as your emotional and mental well-being. Getting relief from your pelvic pain requires the right diagnosis. When you come to our office seeking help, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation to identify the cause of your pain.

During your exam we ask detailed questions about your symptoms, your personal medical and gynecological history, your sexual history, and your family history. To confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis, we may run diagnostic tests, such as:

Blood or urine tests
Ultrasound testing
MRI or CT scan

In some cases, a diagnostic laparoscopy is needed to accurately diagnose the cause of your pelvic pain. During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Rachel Spieldoch uses a laparoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and a camera, to examine your internal organs without the need for a large abdominal incision.

If we discover that your pain is due to a gynecological condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts, Dr. Rachel Spieldoch performs the necessary procedure to treat the condition and help relieve your pain.

You don’t have to suffer in silence. If your pelvic pain is affecting your life and you can’t get the answers you need, let us help. Contact us by calling our office or using the online booking tool.