Pelvic Pain Specialist

What is pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain is any discomfort in your lower abdomen. It’s common in women of childbearing age and can indicate a gynecological problem. If you experience new, severe, unusual, or long-lasting pelvic pain, see the experts at Collaborative Women’s Care for an evaluation.

What causes pelvic pain?

The many conditions that can contribute to pelvic pain in women include:

• Ovulation
• Menstrual cramping
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Pregnancy (including ectopic pregnancy)
• Miscarriage
• Ovarian cysts
• Ovarian, cervical, or uterine cancer
• Other kinds of cancer
• Appendicitis
• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Hernias
• Kidney stones
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Many of these conditions are highly treatable, especially when found early.

What are the risk factors for pelvic pain?

A lot of women develop pelvic pain at some point during their lives. Risk factors associated with it depend on what’s causing the discomfort. Your risk of having pelvic pain tends to rise with hormone problems, a family history of gynecological cancer, other genetic factors, and maintaining unhealthy lifestyle habits.

How does my specialist diagnose the cause of pelvic pain?

To figure out what’s causing pelvic pain and develop an effective treatment, your Collaborative Women’s Care specialist discusses your symptoms and medical history. They check your vital signs and complete a physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test if needed to screen for cervical cancer.

Your provider could recommend that you have blood tests, an ultrasound, CT scan, biopsy, or colonoscopy. Or they might recommend a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure called a hysteroscopy that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of your vagina, cervix, and uterus.

What are common treatments for pelvic pain?

Your personalized pelvic pain treatment plan depends on what’s causing your discomfort. Collaborative Women’s Care specialists could suggest:

• Healthy lifestyle changes
• Medications
• Hormone treatments
• Physical therapy
• Further diagnostic testing
• Minimally invasive procedures

They use the most advanced, cutting-edge OB/GYN technology and procedures to give you the best results and relieve discomfort. Your provider can refer you to a highly trained specialist if needed.

See the experts at Collaborative Women’s Care at the first sign of new or severe pelvic pain. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online.