Women's health issues can sometimes be hard to discuss openly with just anyone. To ensure that you are not experiencing any serious problems, you should go to your urogynecologist as soon as you start having pelvic pain. The pain could be caused by any of the organs in the abdominal and pelvic area. If you are experiencing pelvic pain in Naperville, IL and the surrounding area, Chicago Center for Women's Health can provide a customized care plan that can relieve your pain.
What Could Be Causing Your Pelvic Pain?
The pelvis and abdomen are areas with a lot of different systems at work, so there are a variety of problems that could be causing your pain. The pelvis area includes the ovaries, uterus, Fallopian tubes, vagina, cervix, vulva, rectum, anus, and pelvic floor muscles.
If the problem is in your uterus (and not a bladder problem), you could be suffering from any one of the following health issues:
Adenomyosis: In this condition, the uterine lining grows through the uterus's muscle wall. Symptoms include pressure in the lower abdominal area, painful menstrual cramps, and bloating before your period starts.
Adenomyosis can cause your period to last longer or your flow to be heavier.
Endometriosis: This is a painful inflammatory disorder in which the tissue on the inside of the uterus grows in places outside the uterus. This uterine tissue can be on the Fallopian tubes, ovaries, or intestines, creating pain and irregular menstrual cycles.
Tumors: A tumor in the uterus can be benign or malignant. The symptoms of a tumor include pelvic pain or pressure, vaginal bleeding after menopause, heavy menstrual periods, periods that last longer than seven days, bleeding between periods, backache, constipation, and needing to urinate more frequently. Uterine cancer generally starts in the lining of the uterus.
Prolapse: When the uterus is in prolapse, it means that it has descended in the direction of or inside the vagina. This usually occurs when the muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor weaken enough that they can't support the uterus. Women with a prolapsed uterus often feel like they are full, even when they haven't eaten, pain in the lower back, pain during sexual intercourse, trouble urinating or having a bowel movement, or feel like there is something protruding from the vagina.
Infection: A uterine infection can cause many of the same symptoms of a general infection, such as chills, fever, headache, and decreased appetite. If you have an infection in your uterus, you often have a rapid heart rate, and could suffer from abdominal or pelvic pain.
Painful Menstrual Cycle: Women often experience some pain during their menstrual cycle, which is normal. What isn't normal is extremely sharp pain that is accompanied by pain in the lower back that radiates down your legs, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, or weakness. If you are having any of these symptoms on top of your pelvic pain, it is wise to visit your women's health center as soon as you can.
Treating Your Pelvic Pain
With so many potential causes for pelvic pain, it is fitting that there are several approaches to treating your pelvic pain. Depending on what the cause is, available treatments at Women's Health Center of Chicago could include:
● Hormone Therapy
● Physical Therapy
● Antibiotics
● Medication for Pain and Inflammation
● Minimally Invasive Surgery
Don't ignore your pelvic pain in Bedford Park, Oak Lawn, and Naperville, IL. Contact Chicago Center for Women's Health for more information about their services.
