Knowing When Your Pelvic Pain is Serious – When to Seek Help from a Reproductive Health Specialist
One of the main reasons for seeing a Memorial City pelvic pain specialist is determining its cause and devise a suitable treatment plan. Your decision to book an appointment with the Memorial Women’s Specialists team depends on how long you have had your pain and how intense it has become. Since your pelvic region hosts organs such as the ovaries, bowel, and uterus, it would be best to find out if your pain is normal and when to seek help.
Why are you having pelvic pain?
Describing pelvic pain can be daunting, primarily if it occurs in episodes and does not seem to subside despite taking pain relievers. It feels like an intense pinch or cramping. Sometimes, you might develop pain even when resting or engaging in physical activity. Fortunately, gynecologists can determine the cause of your pain by performing physical exams along with other imaging tests.
Your pelvic pain could be due to the following conditions:
- Period cramps or pain
Some women have painless periods, while others experience pain that gets more intense as long as the periods last. Women facing the latter can manage their pain using pain relievers. However, period pain could be a symptom of a chronic condition such as endometriosis. The only way to clear your doubts is by seeing a gynecologist for an accurate diagnosis.
- Endometriosis
If a doctor diagnoses you with endometriosis, it means the cells covering your womb grow in other parts of your reproductive organs or bowels. During your periods, blood will come out through your vagina. However, the cells lining other parts of your body stay where they are. Over time, the cells become toxic, leading to chronic pelvic pain. If you experience pain before, during, or after your period, see a reproductive health specialist. Pain during and after sex is also an indicator of endometriosis. Please do not wait until it gets to that point.
- Fibroids
Fibroids are malignant growths that can induce pelvic pain. While they are noncancerous, they can still increase your risk factors for chronic reproductive health-related conditions. Fibroids are hard to detect mainly because they rarely cause pain unless they are removed. When left untreated, fibroids can decrease your chances of getting pregnant.
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Studies suggest that one in two women will experience UTI at some point in their life. UTIs can cause pelvic pain. If you experience pain when urinating or develop an urge to pass urine even if your bladder is empty, you could be having UTI. Seek treatment for UTI to reduce your pelvic pain.
See a gynecologist to diagnose your pelvic pain
Pelvic pain can be life-threatening when left untreated. The more you delay seeing your doctor, the higher your chances of worsening the underlying condition you could be having. Even if the pain comes and goes, do not assume it is normal. Find a qualified gynecologist near you to find out if you could be having reproductive issues. To learn more about conditions that cause pelvic pain, schedule a visit to your gynecologist today.