Help & Advice
There are many digestive diseases, infections and conditions which can affect the normal function of your bowel, and the control you have over it. They often have similar symptoms, characterised by a change in your bowel movements. Pelvic pain often accompanies bowel problems, usually localised to the abdomen and rectum.
The following conditions affect a large population of people around the world. Often, due to the intimate nature of bowel problems, treatment is not sought early and people suffer for longer than they need to. To avoid any permanent damage occurring to your digestive system, it is important that you understand the different symptoms of bowel problems and the early warning signs that you are suffering from something more serious.
- Bowel cancer includes colon (80%) and rectal cancer (20%). It is one of the most common types, often diagnosed in over 60's. If caught early it can be cured by surgery to remove the cancerous tissue...
Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), also known as pelvic venous congestion syndrome, is where the veins in the pelvis widen (dilate) allowing excessive blood to stay in the area. In women this is mostly concentrated around the ovaries, and in men it occurs in the scrotum and is called varicocele. The affected veins are classified as varicose veins, often with weak valves that allow blood to flow backwards and pool in the pelvis, instead of moving up and away to the heart. The extra blood often causes painful pressure that gets worse when the pelvis moves or is touched.
PCS is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain in women, reports suggest it affects more than 1/3 of women. Most of which have had multiple pregnancies and are aged between 20-45. Varicoceles occur in 15% of men, and only 2-10% of them will have any symptoms. Not all women suffer with the painful symptoms of PCS, and some may not even be aware they have the condition as they show no symptoms (asymptomatic)...
Vaginismus is when the muscles of the pelvic floor, around the vagina, involuntarily contract when it is about to be penetrated. This prevents penetrative intercourse, gynaecological examinations, and the insertion of a tampon or menstrual cup. This is an involuntary reaction, often related to a fear of penetration rather than issues with muscle tone.
Vaginismus can be categorised by when it began to occur:
- Primary vaginismus is when you have never been able to have penetrative intercourse or, if you have, it has been extremely painful.
- Secondary vaginismus is when you have previously had comfortable penetrative intercourse, however that is no longer possible.
Vaginismus is not a common condition, reports suggest it affects only 0.5 - 1% of women globally. As with most intimate conditions, however, it is likely to be under reported as women do not always seek treatment for fear of embarrassment...
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common cause of pelvic pain and discomfort. It is caused by bacteria entering the urethra, which can also travel up to reach the bladder and kidneys. This results in a number of symptoms, including; burning or pain when you urinate, you may need to urinate more often, and you may feel generally unwell.
Types of UTI
- Cystitis - When only the bladder is infected.
- Urethritis - When only the urethra is infected.
- Kidney infection - When one or both kidneys is infected, which can lead to serious kidney damage if left untreated.
- Lower UTI - When both the bladder and urethra are infected.
- Upper UTI - When the bladder, urethra and one or both of the kidneys are infected.
The urinary tract stores urine for long periods of time. When it is healthy it has a tight...
Medically reviewed by Amanda Savage, edited 20/07/2023
Having a strong pelvic floor is essential for the support and functionality of your pelvic organs. However, like any other muscle, the muscles of the pelvic floor can become "tight" if they are overworked. Having tight pelvic floor muscles, or an ‘overactive’ pelvic floor, can be quite painful, and lead to the muscles not working well. As a result you can develop pelvic floor disorders such as an overactive bladder, orgasmic dysfunction, incontinence, prolapse or pain. Learn more about the role of the pelvic floor and why...
Poor Posture
A leading cause of chronic pelvic pain is bad posture, contributing to 85% of chronic pelvic pain cases. The human musculature and skeleton is reliant on each of its components to support and move your body. This means that if you have poor posture, some parts are overworked to compensate for others. This muscular unbalance creates areas of tension, often concentrated in the lower back and pelvic floor. This tension can be quite painful, and this starts a cycle where to reduce the pain you alter the way you stand and sit, creating further tension and pain. In addition, the muscles that are not worked, become weak and less able to support your skeleton and internal organs correctly.
Your risk of suffering from poor posture and related pelvic pain is higher if you are pregnant, as the change in weight affects your spine and pelvis. If you have an office job, you may slump in your chair, or crane your neck to look at a screen which is too low. If you...
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection that affects the female upper genital tract; including the endometrium lining and tissue around the uterus (womb), ovaries and fallopian tubes. It can even reach the lining of the abdomen. Men cannot suffer from PID, but they can carry and transmit the bacteria to future sexual partners.
PID mainly affects sexually active women between the ages of 15-24 in the UK. In America, this equates to 4.4% of the sexually active female population.
If left untreated, PID can quickly result in pelvic tubo-ovarian abscesses in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This can irreparably scar the tubes, making them too narrow for eggs to pass into the womb. This can lead to fertility issues, and makes you 6 times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy (where the pregnancy is in the fallopian tubes rather than in the womb). Occasionally...
The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for your posture, the function of your bladder and bowel, and intimate sensations. Pelvic floor dyssynergia is a loss of coordination between these muscles and others in the pelvis. Often leading to issues in the way your bladder and bowel work, issues with the related muscles and bones in your hips and back, and pelvic pain as a result. Pelvic floor dyssynergia is an unintentionally acquired behavioural issue, often referred to as a functional issue rather than a structural (i.e. damaged muscle), neurological (i.e. disease of the brain) or pathological issue (i.e. disease).
The most common outcome of pelvic floor dyssynergia is issues with defecation. For an efficient bowel movement, there are a number of complex voluntary and involuntary movements that need to occur. The puborectalis sling muscle (involuntary) and the anal sphincter muscles (voluntary) need to relax. At the same time the abdominal muscles push down. This changes the ano-rectal...
The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system. Sitting either side of the uterus (womb), they release an egg once every 28 days as part of the menstrual cycle. Once an egg is released, the follicle in which it formed bursts and shrinks ready for the next cycle to begin. If the follicles do not correctly shrink after the egg is released, a fluid filled sac, called a cyst, can develop in the ovary. 1 in 10 ovarian cysts also involve growth into the fallopian tubes and other nearby organs. Ovarian cysts can also form on the outside of the ovary, from a group of abnormal cells that would otherwise create the eggs, which is less common.
Ovarian cysts are often non-cancerous (benign), cause no symptoms, and disappear without the need for treatment. However, this is not always the case. They can be painful and grow up to the size of a large melon before they rupture (burst) or begin to shrink. They can block the blood supply to the ovaries, or cause internal...
Fibroids (uterine leiomyomas) are non-cancerous growths that grow in and around the uterus (womb). They are very common, developing in 1 in every 3 women. Most women have no symptoms, however, they can cause heavy periods (menorrhagia) and pelvic pain if they grow large enough.
Fibroids can be categorised by where, on the uterus, they grow:
- Intramural fibroids – The most common type of fibroid, they develop within the muscle wall of the uterus.
- Subserosal fibroids – Develop on the outside of the uterus, and grow into the pelvis. If they are connected to the uterus only by a narrow piece of tissue, they are then known as pedunculated subserosal fibroids.
- Submucosal fibroids – Develop in the muscle layer beneath the inner lining of the uterus, and grow into the uterus. They can also be connected to the uterus only by a narrow piece of tissue, making...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common conditions that results in pelvic pain. It is a lifelong intestinal disorder that prevents the large bowel from functioning correctly. Resulting in abnormal bowel movements which are often uncomfortable and occasionally painful. The symptoms can come and go as they are aggravated by certain activities and foods.
IBS can be categorised by the most common bowel habit:
- IBS-D - Diarrhoea.
- IBS-C - Constipation.
- IBS-M - Both diarrhoea and constipation together.
- IBS-A - Alternating diarrhoea and constipation.
IBS is quite common, affecting 10-20% of the population and twice as many women as men. Most people are diagnosed before they are 20, and it rarely develops in later life.
Although often painful and inconvenient, IBS is not related to other health problems and...
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