Do not dismiss it as abdominal pain: pelvic pains
Pelvic pains are pains occurring in women in the pelvic region located in the lower part of the abdomen (inside the pelvis). In the pelvic region there are the ovaries, the uterus, the bladder and the bowels. For this reason, when a pain occurs in this area, these organs need to be assessed and the source of the pain found.
Why do pelvic pains occur?
In the occurrence of pelvic pains, problems relating to the organs located in the area play a part. For this reason it is more correct to examine the pains under four main headings. Pains linked to pregnancy, to gynaecological causes, and to bladder or bowel problems are the main pains arising in this area. In addition, muscle or bone pains occurring in the pelvic region are also examined in the category of pelvic pain.
Miscarriage, premature birth, a pregnancy forming outside the uterus and a corpus luteum cyst are among the causes of pelvic pain linked to pregnancy. In addition, the situation in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus earlier than expected also plays a part in the appearance of pelvic pain.
The disease of the chocolate cyst, cystitis, appendicitis, hernias occurring in the abdominal wall, adhesions arising after an operation performed in the pelvic region, nerve entrapments, an abnormal anatomical structure and so on can also cause pelvic pains to arise.
Pelvic pains also arise in situations such as infections occurring in the uterus and the ovary (pelvic inflammatory disease), fibroids, adenomyosis (the chocolate cyst disease involving the uterus), rupture of an ovarian cyst and, less frequently, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.
Especially in deep endometriosis, a special form of the chocolate cyst disease, the involvement of the bowel and the urinary tract can cause both the loss of a kidney and first a narrowing of the bowels and swelling of the abdomen, and later a bowel obstruction.
What should those with pelvic pain do?
The cause of pains that continue at certain intervals or continuously in the body must certainly be investigated. Pain never occurs for nothing; there is always a reason for it. If the person is pregnant, she should contact a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology without losing any time and have the necessary check-ups.
Treating most of the causes of pelvic pains both increases the person’s quality of life and prevents them from experiencing greater problems in the long term. Especially for women thinking of becoming pregnant, if they are experiencing the trouble of pelvic pain linked to the formation of a cyst or a fibroid, it should not be forgotten that, in terms of pregnancy, these formations need to be treated before becoming pregnant.