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Is Your Pelvic Pain Trying to Tell You Something? When to Seek Help

Is Your Pelvic Pain Trying to Tell You Something? When to Seek Help

Many women are familiar with pelvic discomfort because they experience period cramps, a common cause of pelvic pain in women. However, pelvic pain that isn’t related to your period might indicate a condition affecting your sexual and reproductive health. It can also be linked to your digestive or urinary system. 

Chetanna Okasi, MD, and the Women’s Wellness MD team offer premier gynecological care at their offices in Columbia and Greenbelt, Maryland. They can help you discover what your pelvic pain is trying to tell you about your health. 

Recognizing pelvic pain

Pelvic pain occurs in the region under your belly button and between your hips. It can vary in intensity and might come and go. Your pelvic pain might be dull, sharp, throbbing, continuous, or occasional.

Symptoms that appear with pelvic pain can offer insight into what might be causing your discomfort. Let Dr. Okasi know if you also experience:

When you visit Women’s Wellness MD with pelvic pain, our team starts with a comprehensive physical and pelvic exam before recommending more detailed tests. Blood tests, urinalysis, and minimally invasive laparoscopy can give us more information about your health status. 

When to call your doctor

Book an appointment at Women’s Wellness MD any time you experience new, worsening, or disruptive pelvic pain. 

Occasionally, pelvic pain is a sign of an emergency. Go to the emergency room if your pelvic pain:

If your pelvic pain isn’t an emergency, book an appointment. In the meantime, you might be able to alleviate your pain by taking over-the-counter pain relievers, applying heat to your pelvis, or practicing relaxation exercises. 

Common causes of pelvic pain in women

As an experienced OB/GYN, LDr. Okasi routinely diagnoses and treats the common causes of pelvic pain in women. Your pelvic pain might be a sign of:

An ovarian cyst

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled growths on your ovaries. They’re not cancerous. However, they can be painful, especially if they’re large or rupture. 

Pelvic inflammation

Pelvic inflammation can be due to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection affecting your reproductive organs. Sometimes, PID stems from an STD like gonorrhea or chlamydia. 

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in or on the uterus. 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that involves endometrial (inner uterus) tissue growing on organs or tissues outside the uterus. Pelvic pain from endometriosis tends to flare up just before or during your period. 

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus. This isn’t a viable pregnancy. Instead, it’s a condition that needs treatment as soon as possible. 

Pelvic pain can also come from issues outside of the reproductive system, such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, or a urinary tract infection. 

Find answers today

Do you experience pelvic pain that isn’t just a menstrual cramp? Contact Women’s Wellness MD today or schedule an appointment online.

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