Why You Shouldn't Ignore Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pain should always be taken seriously, especially when it’s chronic and debilitating. Pelvic pain can occur for a number of reasons, yet many people find themselves unable to find proper diagnosis and relief. 

At Women’s Health Care Center of Houston, with two locations in Houston, Texas, our team of women’s health and reproduction specialists can diagnose the cause of your chronic pelvic pain and formulate a plan to give you relief.

Common causes of pelvic pain 

Pelvic pain is distinct from abdominal pain, located below the belly button but above the groin. It’s more common in women, since the pelvic area contains reproductive organs like the uterus, ovaries, and cervix. 

While some instances of pelvic pain can be caused by menstrual cramps or ovulation, chronic pelvic pain can indicate a problem. Chronic pain is defined as pain that continues for longer than six months. It might manifest as a dull, constant ache or recurring cramps. 

Women can develop chronic pelvic pain for a number of reasons, including: 

• Hernias
• Endometriosis 
• Uterine fibroids
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Interstitial cystitis 
• Ovarian cysts
• Cancer

Unfortunately, pelvic pain is often blamed entirely on the menstrual cycle. Even if you’re experiencing chronic pelvic pain due to period cramps and ovulation pain, you shouldn’t ignore it. At Women's Health Care Center of Houston, our team has the equipment and experience to help.

Getting a diagnosis

To get an accurate diagnosis, we recommend that you record your symptoms before your consultation with us.

Try keeping a calendar, journal, or note on your phone that tracks your menstrual cycle, when you’re in pain, and the nature of your pain. Is it constant or intermittent? Does it worsen during sex or menstruation? Have you found any relief? 

This information will help your practitioner at Women's Health Care Center of Houston get a better idea of your condition. From there, they’ll review your medical and family history before performing further diagnostics, such as: 

• Pelvic examination 
• Urine test (for pregnancy and UTI)
• Transvaginal ultrasound 
• Hysteroscopy 
• STI test

Depending on the root cause of your pelvic pain, our team might recommend anything from birth control to reduce cramping and bleeding to laparoscopic surgery to address more serious issues like cysts, fibroids, or endometriosis.

Struggling with chronic pelvic pain? To learn more about possible causes and begin exploring treatment options, call Women's Health Care Center of Houston at 713-365-2900 or visit our contact page for more information.