What is chronic pelvic pain?
Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the region from your navel down to your hips that goes on for a minimum of six months. This type of pain doesn't have to happen daily to count as pelvic pain as long as it’s relatively persistent for six months or more. It's actually common for pelvic pain to occur only at specific times, namely:
- The days leading up to your period
- During your period
- During ovulation
Although your pelvic pain may only happen during those certain times, sometimes women who suffer from pelvic pain also suffer from very long periods, which can extend the time they spend in pain considerably.
What causes pelvic pain?
There are many possible causes of pelvic pain. Your Georgia Center for Women doctor performs a pelvic exam and discusses your symptoms and history with you to determine the cause of your pelvic pain. Often, your doctor may perform a diagnostic ultrasound, and, if needed, a minimally invasive laparoscopy to take a closer look.
Some of the most common causes of pelvic pain are:
- Endometriosis, in which uterine tissue grows outside your uterus
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can cause very heavy periods and enlarged ovaries
- Fibroids, non-cancerous uterine growths
Intestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome or bladder issues like interstitial cystitis can also cause pelvic pain.
How is pelvic pain treated?
Often, noninvasive treatment can help with pelvic pain. For some patients, medication is helpful. For example, oral contraceptives may be effective in relieving endometriosis pain. Other hormones, including hormone replacement like BioTE®, may also be helpful. If your pelvic pain is connected to a lingering infection, like an STD, antibiotics can clear it up.
Sometimes, a minimally invasive procedure like a laparoscopy or myomectomy using the da Vinci® robotic surgery system can give you the pain relief you need without the significant downtime connected with traditional open surgery.
With da Vinci robotic surgery, incisions are much smaller, there's considerably less bleeding, and your pain during recovery is dramatically lower than it would be with open surgery.
Your doctor at Georgia Center for Women can help you find the pelvic pain solution that's best for long-term relief. Book online now or call the office nearest you.
