What is chronic pelvic pain?

Chronic pelvic pain is discomfort in the region below the belly button and between the hips that persists for six months or more. More than one cause can produce chronic pelvic pain. It might be a sign of another illness, or it might be an illness by itself.

If chronic pelvic pain appears to be caused by another medical condition, fixing the underlying cause may eliminate the pain. However, tests cannot always identify a cause for chronic pelvic pain. If that happens, treatment aims to reduce pain and other symptoms. That might improve your quality of life.

What are the symptoms of chronic pelvic pain?

Abdominal and pelvic pain is the common symptom of chronic pelvic pain, but the intensity and character of the pain can be extremely diverse. It could be sharp and severe and localized in one area, or it could be a diffuse, boring ache. It might be constant, or it might recur.

For a few women, pain occurs inside the body (an ache within the uterus, say); in others, the pain is outside (a tender pelvic region). Vaginal bleeding or discharge and fever, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and/or dizziness are also possible. Some women feel pelvic pain during urination or when they get up from sitting

What causes chronic pelvic pain?

Numerous conditions (and often a mix of several different conditions) are linked to chronic pelvic pain. For instance, a woman may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis, both of which result in pelvic pain. Occasionally, however, the cause is unknown.

"There are a lot of reasons for chronic pelvic pain, and a patient isn't always going to know where the pain is coming from," says Dr. Fan. "Different organs are so close together and the sensory nerves overlap at times. It takes a professional to determine where the body parts hurt, and it might be caused by a number of different causes."

The following conditions are commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain:

• Endometriosis: When tissue that usually lines the inside of your uterus grows somewhere outside the uterus (on the ovaries, in the back of the uterus, on the bowels, or in the bladder), it can lead to pain in your abdomen and pelvic region, among other issues.
• Adenomyosis: In this condition, tissue from the endometrium invades the uterus's muscle wall, resulting in pain and excessive bleeding.
• Pelvic adhesions: Also referred to as scar tissue, infection adhesions, endometriosis, or previous surgery adhesions are a cause of pain.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Pain may be generated by IBS, a gastrointestinal disorder with recurrent constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Pelvic pain also can result from chronic constipation and diverticulitis (formation of small, bulging patches on the digestive tract).
• Interstitial cystitis: This is a condition most prevalent in women that causes inflamed or irritated bladder walls, leading to bladder and pelvic pain.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Infection of the reproductive tract; PID is most often the result of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Pain may persist despite treatment of the infection.
• Uterine fibroids: These growths on the uterus are noncancerous but can be a source of pelvic pain.
• Pelvic floor disorders: When the muscles and connective tissue that hold up the pelvic organs are damaged or weakened (usually during childbirth), you may develop issues such as incontinence and pain due to muscle cramping.

How is chronic pelvic pain diagnosed?

If you have pelvic pain, your health care provider will start by asking you questions about your symptoms and medical history and performing a complete physical exam.

Specifically, he or she will want to know whether the pain is immediate or intense. These symptoms might mean appendicitis, ovarian torsion (when the ovary twists around the ligaments that hold it in place), ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg can only implant somewhere else outside the uterus), or other conditions that need emergency surgery. Your doctor will also want to ensure that you do not have a fever, which may be a symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease, or an infection of other kinds.

Your doctor will lightly touch your abdomen and the muscles, organs, and tissues in the pelvis to look for pain and tenderness. He or she will also do a pelvic exam to examine the vagina, cervix, vulva, ovaries, and uterus.

The test, combined with your described symptoms, assists your physician in evaluating which organs are involved, whether there is a possible infection, and what further tests and examinations are required. These can be as follows:

• Lab work, such as urinalysis to search for bladder infection, STIs, kidney stones, or pregnancy. If you are pregnant, your physician will perform an ultrasound to search for an ectopic pregnancy. Blood tests might also be requested to examine your blood cell count for evidence of infection.
• Pelvic ultrasound, which employs sound waves to make images of your pelvic organs to search for cysts (fluid-filled sacs), growths, or other issues.
• Laparoscopy, where a surgeon creates a small incision by your belly button and feeds in small instruments and a laparoscope (with a light and camera on the end) to search for the cause of your pain.
• Pelvic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of your pelvis. Computed tomography (CT) scans and computerized X-rays can also be performed.
• Cystoscopy is a technique that employs a thin tube with a camera to look inside your bladder. A colonoscopy is a long, flexible device that takes pictures from within your colon.

How is chronic pelvic pain treated?

Once your physician diagnoses the cause of your chronic pelvic pain, he or she will develop an effective treatment regimen. For instance, if you have endometriosis, your physician will prescribe hormonal therapy (for example, an oral birth control pill) to cause menstrual suppression, which leads to pain. Surgery is also a possibility for endometriosis and other disorders, such as fibroids.

If your cause of pain can't be determined, your doctor will concentrate on the following treatments that will reduce your symptoms and enhance your overall quality of life:

• Pain medicines are usually in the form of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. Muscle relaxants can also relieve your symptoms. "We don't rely on opioids or medication alone by any means," says Dr. Fan.
• Hormone therapy, which can relieve menstruation-associated pain. Medication may be taken by pill, injection, or intrauterine devices.
• Lifestyle modification, such as improvements in diet, improved posture, and regular exercise, may provide relief.
• Heating pads, rest, or pelvic floor physical therapy may relieve muscle pain.

Counselling or speaking with a mental health clinician may be able to assist you in learning coping strategies for your pain. Chronic pain can also cause depression, sexual issues, and relationship concerns, all of which talk therapy can assist you in addressing as well.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Chronic Pelvic Pain treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Chronic Pelvic Pain treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced gynecologists and pain management specialists, known as some of the best doctors for women’s pelvic health care. We provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and diagnostic tests, personalized medical management, and surgical treatment when required. Our Gynecology team has decades of experience in successfully treating Chronic Pelvic Pain in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Chronic Pelvic Pain treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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