Although misconceptions surround pelvic pain, particularly concerning your periods, sometimes you can be in pain for reasons other than menstruation. Do not worry, the Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley, a McAllen gynecology and obstetrics center, has you covered. Fernando Otero, MD, can diagnose your condition and help you understand why you are experiencing the pain. This is the first step towards effective management of your condition. Here are some of the reasons why you might be experiencing pelvic pain.
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Pelvic Muscle Pain
This condition can make you experience pain that feels like cramps in your pelvic area. The pain can also be stabbing or sharp and can shoot up through your vagina or rectum. Sometimes this condition can occur with sex or when you are using tampons and can last for a while. The pain can worsen with exercises such as pilates, crunches, sit-ups, and other core-strengthening exercises.
You can get some relief by lying in a fetal position, doing pelvic muscle stretch exercises, or using a heat pack. However, the baseline should be seeking expert care from your doctor.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Although this condition’s cause is not yet clear, one thing for sure is that it causes typical pelvic pain. The condition is believed to involve the bowel muscles becoming sensitive and contacts unevenly, leading to pain and bloating. Although the pain can improve after a bowel movement, other symptoms such as blood in stool or diarrhea may indicate something more beyond the pain, and you should seek expert help. If some foods are suspected to be triggers, you can avoid them to improve this condition. Stress can also be a trigger and should be avoided when possible.
Endometriosis
This is a common condition affecting your reproductive organs and is a typical cause of pelvic pain. This is a condition where you develop growths outside the uterus, particularly in the pelvic area. When the growths develop on your bladder, bowel, or ovaries, you are more likely to experience pelvic pain. Although this condition can cause pain during your periods, it can also cause pain before your periods or during and after sex. You can also experience the pain while you pass stool, urine, or in your back or stomach area.
Adenomyosis
This condition is similar to endometriosis, only that the cell growths develop into your uterine muscle wall. However, the symptoms are similar to endometriosis, including painful periods, heavy bleeding, and pain during or after sex.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Bladder Pain
These are common complications affecting over 50% of women at some time in their life. UTIs are notoriously known to cause pelvic pain alongside a burning sensation, particularly when you pass urine. Although UTIs are common, they can lead to serious kidney infections if untreated. That is why you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible if you experience pelvic pain to clear them.
These are a few of the reasons you might be experiencing pelvic pain away from periods. Reach out to the Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley to explore more and learn the treatment options that can benefit you.