Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is pain that occurs over a long period of time. It can either come and go or be constant. Chronic pain that comes and goes often has a distinct cause. Constant chronic pain may be caused by more than one problem in more than one area of the body. In all cases, careful tracking of your symptoms and openly talking with your doctor will help uncover the cause of your pelvic pain.

Dyspareunia

When you feel pain while having sexual intercourse, it is called dyspareunia. Painful sex is fairly common; nearly two out of three women have it at some point in their lives. The pain can range from mild to severe. You can feel pain in the vaginal region or deep inside your body.

Painful sex can have both physical and emotional causes. Different types of pain can have different causes. It's important to find the cause of your pain because you may have problems that need medication, surgery, or counseling. The doctors at Capital Women's Care will work with you to understand your pain and develop a treatment plan that allows you to enjoy your sex life.

Dysmenorrhea

Although mild pain is common during your menstrual period, some women have pain severe enough to keep them from their normal activities. This type of menstrual pain is called dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea is pelvic pain that is the result of having your period. It begins soon after you start menstruating. Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that has another cause in addition to menstruation. Pain often begins earlier in the menstrual cycle and usually lasts longer than normal cramps. Some common causes of secondary dysmenorrhea are endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

There are effective ways to treat dysmenorrhea. Your doctor can prescribe or suggest medications that can help relieve your discomfort.

Endometriosis

If menstrual cramps get worse over time or remain strong beyond the first one or two days, they may be caused by endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the tissue lining of the uterus is found outside the uterus, most often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures. This condition can cause pain before and during the menstrual cycle and, if severe, can lead to infertility.

The treatment for endometriosis depends on the extent of your condition, your symptoms, and whether or not you want to have children. Your doctor can determine whether medication, surgery, or both are needed.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis occurs when the lining of the uterus extends into the muscle wall of the uterus. It can cause painful menstrual cramps, pressure and bloating in the lower abdomen before menstrual periods, and more bleeding during periods. Your doctor can help you control your symptoms with medication and surgery in some cases.

Mittelschmerz or Ovulation Pain

Pain that is felt around the time you ovulate is sometimes called mittelschmerz (German for "middle pain"). This pain can range from a mild pinch or twinge to something more severe. In some women, it occurs every month and in others, it occurs only once in a while. Over-the-counter medications can usually help relieve your ovulation pain.