Chronic Pelvic Pain
It is not uncommon for women to experience non-menstrual pelvic pain severe enough to require an office visit. The pelvic region is the area below the bellybutton and between the hips. The pain may vary from mild to severe and may be described as:
- Severe and steady
- Intermittent (comes and goes)
- Dull aching
- Sharp or cramping
- Pressure or heaviness deep within the pelvis
- Occurring during passage of a bowel movement
- Associated with urinary frequency and urgency
- Triggered by deep or superficial penetration during sexual intercourse
- Worsened by bending, twisting or leg lifting
- Aggravated by the onset of menses
What Causes Pelvic Pain?
Determining the precise cause of pelvic pain can be very challenging. Rather than considered a gynecologic condition, long-standing (chronic) pelvic pain is usually a result of disturbances in bowel, bladder or pelvic muscle function. In some cases, the cause of pain cannot be identified and treatment focuses on comprehensive pain management.
Common gynecologic conditions that may cause long-standing pelvic pain include:
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Severe pelvic adhesions from prior surgery or infection
- Endometriosis
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Minimally Invasive Surgical Options for Pelvic Pain
Minimally invasive surgical procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic causes of chronic pelvic pain include:
- Laparoscopic myomectomy
- Hysteroscopic myomectomy
- Laparoscopic supracervical or total hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy (remove the cyst but not the ovary) or removal of the ovary
- Laparoscopic removal of endometriosis
- Laparoscopic removal of pelvic adhesions
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