Possible Causes for Your Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain may be related to an acute infection that responds quickly to antibiotics or a chronic disorder affecting your urinary, digestive, or reproductive system. Either way, understanding what’s causing your pain is the first step in effective treatment. You can rely on the family and emergency medicine specialists at MyDoc Urgent Care to relieve pelvic pain by accurately diagnosing and treating the underlying cause of your symptoms. Read what our team wants you to know about five common causes of pelvic pain.

Understanding pelvic pain

Pelvic pain can occur anywhere in the lower abdominal area and may be related to conditions affecting the following:

• Kidneys
• Urinary bladder
• Female reproductive system
• Colon
• Appendix
• Spine
• Pelvic bones

Weakened or damaged muscles and ligaments that help support and hold pelvic organs in place can also lead to pelvic pain.

Five common causes of pelvic pain

There are dozens of possible causes of pelvic pain; five of the most common are:

1. Bacterial infection

Bacterial infections are a common cause of pelvic pain. The discomfort varies depending on the organs involved. For example, a kidney infection can result in severe pain that may start in the lower back and wrap around the lower abdomen. A bladder infection may cause significant burning with urination, frequent urination, and discomfort in the mid-pelvic region. Appendicitis pain typically occurs in the lower right abdomen but may spread throughout the pelvic area as the infection worsens. Bacterial infections require treatment to prevent sepsis, ruptured appendix, and other life-threatening complications.

2. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease is often related to an untreated sexually transmitted infection that spreads to the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Symptoms of PID include pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, fever, and lower abdominal bloating. In addition, without treatment, PID can cause scar tissue that may interfere with fertility.

3. Gastrointestinal disorders

Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions affecting your digestive system can cause pelvic pain. Symptoms may include abdominal bloating, excess gas, rectal bleeding, and cramping pain that comes and goes.

4. Hernia

A hernia develops when an internal organ protrudes through the muscular wall that usually holds it in place. Inguinal hernias are the most common type and affect more men than women. These hernias occur when fatty tissue or part of the intestine pushes into the inguinal canal at the top of the inner thigh.

5. Conditions affecting the female reproductive system

Conditions that can cause pelvic pain in people designated female at birth include:

• Ectopic pregnancy
• Ovulation
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Ovarian cysts

Cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer can also cause pelvic pain that may worsen as the disease progresses. Don’t ignore pelvic pain. Instead, take advantage of MyDoc Urgent Care’s walk-in services, or schedule a same-day doctor visit by calling the nearest office or requesting an appointment online.