-
Pain, no matter where it is located, can be either acute or chronic. Pelvic pain is no different. Acute pelvic pain begins over a short period of time, anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, and often serves as a warning sign that something is wrong and requires further investigation. Chronic pelvic pain, on the other hand, is long-term and may be either constant or intermittent.
Whatever type of pelvic pain you are experiencing, determining the causes for pelvic pain is paramount to your comfort and overall health. -
There are many conditions that may cause pelvic pain. Acute pelvic pain is often associated with infection but does not necessarily mean that the infection is related to the organs of reproduction. For example, an infection in the bladder, bowel or appendix can easily cause pelvic pain, as can kidney or bladder stones. Acute pelvic pain may also be related to a sexually transmitted disease, a vaginal infection, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or an ectopic pregnancy.
Chronic pelvic pain may be caused by something as simple as menstrual cramps, or something more serious, such as fibroid tumors or endometriosis. Sometimes, chronic pelvic pain can start off being intermittent and, as the condition worsens, it may become constant. Both types of pelvic pain usually require some type of intervention for relief to be possible. - Because of the large number of possibilities, a process of elimination is sometimes used when trying to determine the causes for pelvic pain. Treatment is then based upon diagnosis. For example, pelvic pain due to an infection may be treated with antibiotics or other types of medications. Menstrual cramps may be relieved by taking an anti-inflammatory, such as Motrin. Hormones and oral contraceptives are sometimes used to treat certain causes of pelvic pain, while some may respond to heat therapy or relaxation exercises. When conservative measures fail, however, surgical intervention may be necessary.
