Around 15% of childbearing-age women in the United States experience pelvic pain in any six-month period. And it’s not a pain you should ever ignore because although it can be harmless, it could also be a symptom of a severe health concern. The experienced board-certified team at Poplar Avenue Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, diagnoses, treats, and manages the causes and symptoms of pelvic pain. Call today to schedule an appointment or book online.
Pelvic pain occurs in the part of the body that sits below the belly button and between the hips. It can be both a condition of its own or a symptom of some other health concern, making it sometimes challenging to identify its root cause.
Poplar Avenue Clinic’s team of experienced gynecologists works with you to identify, treat, and manage your pelvic pain.
The symptoms of pelvic pain from person to person. It can be dull or sharp, constant or intermittent, depending on the root cause of your pain. You may experience one or more of the following:
Take note of your symptoms, when they started, and how frequently they occur so that your provider at Poplar Avenue Clinic can most accurately diagnose your condition and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.
Multiple factors can cause pelvic pain, and some are easier to treat than others. These are some of the things your provider at Poplar Avenue Clinic considers during your exam:
Pregnancy-related pain
If you’re pregnant, aches around the pelvic area are normal as your uterus grows. However, occasionally they can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
Menstruation pain
It’s common to experience pelvic cramps during menstruation and when you ovulate.
Fibroids
Fibroids (non-cancerous uterine growths) can cause heaviness and pressure in the lower abdomen.
Cystitis
Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder and can make you feel like you keep needing to urinate. As your bladder fills, the pain becomes worse.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is when the tissue found inside the uterus starts to grow outside it too. It still breaks down each month but, because it has nowhere to go, it remains in your abdomen, causing painful adhesions.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
Untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections can scar your pelvic organs and cause further infection and sometimes infertility.
You can never be too cautious when it comes to your health. If you have pelvic pain that gives you cause for concern, call Poplar Avenue Clinic and schedule an appointment or book through the patient portal.
