What is pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain can be sharp or dull, constant or come and go, and may be linked to your menstrual cycle. Pain that lasts six months or longer is called chronic pelvic pain. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, so the first step is finding the cause.
What can cause pelvic pain?
- Endometriosis or adenomyosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic infections, including pelvic inflammatory disease
- Scar tissue (adhesions) from prior surgery or infection
- Bladder, bowel or pelvic floor muscle problems
How is the cause diagnosed?
Your provider will ask when the pain started, what it feels like and what makes it better or worse, then perform a pelvic exam. Testing may include lab work, cultures, ultrasound or other imaging. When the cause is still unclear, diagnostic laparoscopy lets the surgeon look directly at the pelvic organs.
How is pelvic pain treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. It may include pain medication, hormonal treatment, antibiotics for infection, physical therapy for pelvic floor muscles, or surgery to remove cysts, fibroids, endometriosis or scar tissue.
When is pelvic pain an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for sudden, severe pelvic pain, especially with fever, vomiting, fainting, heavy bleeding, or if you could be pregnant. These can be signs of a ruptured cyst, ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy or serious infection.
Schedule a consultation in Fort Lauderdale
To make an appointment with Women’s Surgical Specialists, call (954) 771-8888, Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm. Our office is at 2800 East Commercial Blvd, Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, and we accept Medicare and most major insurance plans.
This page is general information, not medical advice. For a medical emergency, call 911.