Why Are You Experiencing Pelvic Pain?

A person is said to have pelvic pain if they are suffering discomfort in the region below their belly button and above their thighs. Several diseases and disorders can result in pelvic pain, while chronic pelvic pain could be due to multiple health problems.

Discomfort in the pelvic area may indicate problems in the gastrointestinal, reproductive or urinary systems. While there are several benign reasons for pelvic pain, some are serious enough to require an emergency visit to a specialist or hospital.

Pelvic Pain Causes and Their Symptoms

• Appendicitis: Symptoms include vomiting, lower right abdominal pain and fever. Appendix infection may require surgery. If it bursts, the infection can spread, causing severe problems.
• Broken or damaged pelvis: Pelvic fracture symptoms include difficulties urinating, numbness or tingling in the groin or legs, and discomfort in the groin, hip, abdomen and lower back when walking or moving your legs.
• Endometriosis: Some women grow uterine-like tissue outside the uterus. It can affect the fallopian tubes, ovaries, intestines and bladder. Usually, these tissue clumps break down when menstruating, but the tissue gets stuck in this case.
• Fibroids: These are uterine tumors. They are noncancerous and severe problems are rare. However, some women report heavy periods, stomach discomfort, difficult intercourse, low back pain or trouble conceiving.
• Hernia: You may notice groin or scrotum swelling and soreness. The bulge grows over time, causing lifting pain, fullness or bowel obstruction.
• Kidney infection: Chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, pus or blood in urine, a burning feeling or pain when peeing, urinating often and a prolonged urge to urinate are classic symptoms.
• Miscarriage: Common symptoms include vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge and lower abdominal cramps and tenderness.
• Nerve damage (nerve compression syndrome or pudendal neuralgia): You may feel a burning, shooting, prickling or crushing sensation that develops suddenly or gradually. Sometimes the discomfort worsens when sitting and improves when lying down or standing.
• Ovarian disorders such as cysts: Sometimes follicles do not release eggs during ovulation, or it recloses and swells—a cyst forms as a result. While usually harmless, they can cause bloating, swelling, pressure and pain.
• Sexually transmitted infection: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common. You may experience pain when urinating, irregular discharge and bleeding between periods.
• Uterine or cervical cancer: Usual signs include abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding.

Bear in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of causes of pelvic pain, just the most common ones. The only way you can know the exact reason you are experiencing pelvic pain is to visit a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Seeking Treatment for Pelvic Pain

Our specialists use the most up-to-date technology to locate where the pain is coming from and create a unique treatment plan for each patient. We may prescribe various therapy options simultaneously depending on the degree and source of your pelvic pain. For example, medication, lifestyle changes, hormone therapy and surgery are all possibilities.

If you feel pain in the pelvic region, please contact our New York City medical office to schedule an appointment immediately.