Understanding Pelvic Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Pelvic pain can affect patients of all genders and sexes. Thankfully, an OB-GYN can identify and treat the cause to relieve symptoms. For chronic conditions, these healthcare providers can assist in managing pelvic pain to minimize its impact on the patient’s life.

What qualifies as pelvic pain?

The pelvis is the lower part of the abdomen, the region below one’s belly button between the hips. Any pain in this area can be referred to as pelvic pain. It can feel like a sharp, stabbing pain or a dull, aching one. Other times, it feels similar to cramping. Some patients describe it as a feeling of pressure within the pelvic area.

Related symptoms

Pelvic pain may occur at rest or only while exercising or engaging in sexual intercourse. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as the following in patients assigned female at birth (AFAB):

• Fever
• Chills
• Bloating
• Menstrual pain
• Groin or hip pain
• Vaginal or rectal bleeding
• Bowel issues, such as constipation or diarrhea

Symptoms of pelvic pain can range from mildly uncomfortable to severely painful. They can interfere with daily activities and sleep patterns. There is no need to suffer through it, however. An OB-GYN will work to relieve pelvic pain by first identifying its cause.

Causes of pelvic pain

According to the Mayo Clinic, for AFAB patients specifically, pelvic pain can be a symptom of many conditions, such as:

• Nerve irritation
• Pulled muscles
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Kidney or urinary tract infections

In pregnant patients, pelvic pain can indicate complications such as ectopic pregnancy, preterm labor, or miscarriage. For nonpregnant patients, it can simply be a symptom of menstruation or ovulation. 

Note that there are causes of pelvic pain common among both patients who are AFAB and who are assigned male at birth (AMAB). Examples include appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis. While OB-GYNs focus their practice on treating AFAB patients, some also treat pelvic pain in AMAB patients.

Diagnosing the cause

An OB-GYN can conduct several tests to diagnose the cause of a patient’s pelvic pain. They generally start with blood, urine, pregnancy, and STI tests. If there is blood in the stool, the OB-GYN will likely order a stool sample to check for bowel-related causes. Other common diagnostic tests include abdominal X-rays and ultrasounds, such as to check for uterine fibroids and ectopic pregnancies.

How an OB-GYN can treat pelvic pain

For short-term conditions

An OB-GYN will treat the underlying cause to alleviate pelvic pain. For instance, if a urinary tract infection or treatable STI like chlamydia is the issue, a course of antibiotics should clear up the infection and stop the pain. Physical therapy can help with pelvic pain from pulled muscles and irritated nerves. For more severe cases, such as pelvic pain from uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts, an OB-GYN will likely need to perform surgery to remove the mass.

For long-term conditions

Chronic pelvic pain, such as from endometriosis, typically requires long-term treatment. An OB-GYN can discuss pain medication, hormone therapy, and other ways to manage these conditions effectively.

Get the relief you need from pelvic pain

With so many potential causes, it is best to consult an OB-GYN to learn what pelvic pain treatment may look like for a particular case. If you have been experiencing pelvic pain, reach out to our Tomball team today. We will help you explore all avenues of pain management and treatment.

Request an appointment here: https://eckhardtobgyn.com or call Donald Eckhardt Jr., M.D. , Kari Eckhardt W.H.N.P., C.N.M. at (346) 201-4716 for an appointment in our Tomball office.

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