Pelvic Pain

Pelvic Pain Q & A

What causes pelvic pain?

Acute, occasional pelvic pain may be the result of your menstrual cycle or gastrointestinal issues like constipation.

If you have chronic pelvic pain, it may be an indication that you have a more serious condition affecting your reproductive health. 

Some of the most common causes of persistent pelvic pain in women include:

• Endometriosis

• Ovarian cysts

• Uterine fibroids

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

You may have pelvic pain that’s constant or comes and goes, or you may experience pain during sex (dyspareunia).

Because some conditions that cause pelvic pain need medical attention, it’s important that you schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the doctors at Highland Park Ob-Gyn Associates if your pain becomes persistent. 

You also need an evaluation if you have pelvic pain that isn’t relieved by over-the-counter medications.

How is pelvic pain diagnosed?

The providers at Highland Park Ob-Gyn Associates can determine the root cause of your pelvic pain by reviewing your personal and family medical history and other symptoms you’re having.

During a pelvic exam, your provider checks for signs of infection, uterine fibroids, and other abnormalities. They may use ultrasound technology to identify ovarian cysts or endometriosis, a condition where the endometrial lining grows outside of your uterus.

In some cases, you may need a diagnostic laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that allows your provider to see your reproductive structures up close. 

This procedure involves a small abdominal incision. A camera is used to visualize your ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes as well as your abdomen and pelvis.

After they confirm your diagnosis, your physician works with you closely on a treatment plan to ease your pain and preserve your reproductive health.

How is pelvic pain treated?

The doctors at Highland Park Ob-Gyn Associates explain the results of testing to you directly. They customize your care plan, which may initially include over-the-counter or prescription medications to relieve pain and inflammation. If you have an infection, you might need a course of antibiotics to treat the infection.

Birth control pills can also be an effective treatment for conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS. The pills help regulate your reproductive hormones to shrink abnormal growths and prevent the need for invasive treatments like surgery.

However, if you have severe pain due to enlarged ovarian cysts, fibroids, or endometriosis, you may need surgery to remove the growths or excess tissue. The providers offer both minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgery and open surgery to meet your needs. We also offer ThermiVa, which is a non-invasive, non-surgical way to treat pelvic pain.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for unexplained pelvic pain, call Highland Park Ob-Gyn Associates or request an appointment today through the online booking system.