Pelvic pain is considered as any discomfort that is felt in the lower abdomen, below the belly button, including pain felt in the buttocks. It can be mild and last only a few days (acute), or could be debilitating and be continuous or recurrent for at least 6 months (chronic) - preventing you from continuing with your daily routine and needing medical treatment to resolve.

Chronic pelvic pain is as common, in the UK, as the occurrence of migraines, asthma and lower back pain. It can begin as a side effect of many various health conditions, however, it can become a condition in its own right once the original cause has resolved. Many of the causes of pelvic pain relate to the female genitalia, and therefore women are more likely to suffer from pelvic pain. 15% of women in America suffer, and 11% of GP visits from men are as a result of pelvic pain.

Working with your GP, you will design a treatment plan which treats the original cause(s) of your pain, if known. Alongside treating the symptoms of the pain with a combination of medical, social, environmental and psychological treatments.

Read on to learn more about the common conditions that lead to pelvic pain, and how to resolve them.

Pelvic pain is often a precursor or symptom of a more dangerous condition. Therefore, please speak to your GP or other healthcare professional if you are suffering.

Contents

  1. Symptoms and Types of Pelvic Pain
  2. Causes and Diagnosis of Pelvic Pain
  3. Pelvic Pain Treatment

    4. Sources

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    International Pelvic Pain Society. (2013). The International Pelvic Pain Society, INC. IPPS. Patient Education Brochure. [online] The International Pelvic Pain Society, 2013.

    NHS Trust (2016). Pelvic pain. [online] NHS Trust, 2016. [viewed 01/05/2018]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-pain/

    Ortiz, D. D. (2008). American Family Physician. Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women. [online] 77(11), p 1535-1542. [viewed 01/05/18]. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0601/p1535.pdf

    Paplanus, S. (2016). Male Pelvic Pain. [online] IPPS Annual Meeting, 2016. [viewed 01/05/18].

    UChicago Medicine. (2018). Frequently Asked Questions About Pelvic Floor Disorders [online] UChicago Medicine, 2018 [viewed 01/05/2018]. Available from: http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/pelvic/faq/pelvic-floor-disorders.html