Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Pain occurs in the lower abdomen area. The pelvic area is the area below your below your belly button and above your hip. If the pelvic pain is chronic in nature, then it could last for about six months or more. The pain that occurs in this area can be both continuous and intermittent. The pain could be both dull and sharp. But whatever is severity of the pain is, it is surely hamper your daily physical activities.
In women, pelvic pain may occur during periods. They may also witness pain during sex. Pelvic pain is a sign that there is some problem in the pelvic area, such as, uterus, ovaries, vagina, and fallopian tubes. It could also be a symptom of infection or a problem with the urinary tract or muscles and bones. In men, pelvic pain mostly occurs from some problem in their prostate.
Pelvic Pain: Overview
Pelvic pain can be both acute & chronic. The conditions which cause pelvic pain are varied. The causes for pelvic pain also vary from in women & men. Some of the pelvic pain causes have been mentioned below:
Pelvic Pain Causes for Women:
● Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a problem with the lining of the uterus. Tissue fro lining of the uterus moves through the fallopian tubes & reaches ovaries, pelvis, bladder & other areas in the body. During periods these tissues swells up & bleeds & cause the pelvic area to pain.
● Pelvic inflammatory disease: PID occurs in the female reproductive organs. The cervix in women normally prevents the bacteria in the vagina spreading up into these organs. However, if the vagina is exposed to any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) such as gonorrhea or Chlamydia, the bacteria may travel into the internal reproducing organs (uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes) causing them to swell up & pain. This problem can be a serious threat to a woman’s reproductive capacity.
● Ovarian Remnant: During a surgery to remove the ovaries (hysterectomy), some part of it may get left behind. Later on, it may develop cysts causing the pelvic area to pain.
● Fibroids: Fibroids are benign growths in the muscular wall of the uterus. These growths can be both tiny and large. These growths of fibroids causes pain the pelvic area of a woman.
● Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Although IBS can happen to both men & women, it is more common to women. In IBS the intestines squeeze too hard or not hard enough & it results in the food moving too quickly or too slowly through the intestines.
● Any kind of past sexual abuse may also cause the pelvic area to pain.
Pelvic Pain Causes for Men:
● Prostatitis: Pelvic pain in men is usually caused by Prostatitis. It results in inflammation & pain in the prostate gland.
● Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids refer to swollen veins in your anus or inside your rectum.
● Nerve problems: Any compression or damage to the nerves in the pelvic area may cause pelvic pain. Compressed nerves may happen due to a tight muscle, scars or fascia tissues.
● Pelvic floor muscle problem: Pelvic floor muscles help support the hips and hold the pelvic organs in their places. If these muscles become short or tense, pain may occur in the pelvic area. It happens when we hold the need to urinate for a long time.
● IBS also causes pelvic pain in men.
● Anal fissure may cause pelvic pain in men.
● Other reasons for pelvic pain in men could be various bacterial infections & any side effects past surgeries done in the pelvic area.