When to Seek Help for Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can be a symptom of many conditions for men and women, from constipation to diverticulitis to appendicitis. Furthermore, pelvic pain can be a symptom of conditions that affect the female reproductive system.

In this blog, the providers at Generations Family Practice in Cary, North Carolina, discuss some of the conditions that can be associated with pelvic pain and when you should seek treatment from your doctor.

Pelvic pain is a common symptom of many conditions

When it comes to pelvic pain, it can be difficult to tell what’s a simple digestive issue and what’s an emergency situation. Let’s start this discussion by looking at two categories of conditions that can cause pelvic pain: issues that affect the digestive system and issues that affect the female reproductive system.

Digestive system conditions

Pelvic pain is a key symptom of conditions that can affect the digestive system, such as constipation and appendicitis. Other conditions that can cause pelvic pain include the following:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diverticulitis
• Ulcerative colitis
• An intestinal obstruction
• Crohn’s disease
• Colon cancer

Female reproductive system conditions

With women, pelvic pain can result from pregnancy complications or problems with the reproductive organs, such as the following:

• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage

 If you’re a woman who’s suffering from pelvic pain, we can perform a physical examination and diagnostic testing to get to the root cause. Then we can design a treatment plan to help you get well.

Guidelines to help understand the seriousness of pelvic pain 

When it comes to getting help for pelvic pain, there are three factors that may help guide you as to what’s an emergency and what’s a less-urgent situation.

Location

Pain coming from the left side of the abdomen can be connected to urinary or kidney problems, gastrointestinal conditions, and ovarian and testicular complications. If you feel pain on the left side, call Generations Family Practice so we can schedule an appointment for you and find out what's going on.

 However, if you feel pain on the right side of your abdomen, this is a common symptom of appendicitis, which is a medical emergency and needs to be treated right away. If your appendix gets infected and isn’t treated, it could burst, and the infection could spread to other parts of your body.

Sudden, severe, or lingering pain

Another factor that could be a sign that your pelvic pain is something more serious and should be checked out right away is if the pain comes on suddenly and without warning or is so severe that you can’t stand up straight.

In some cases, pelvic pain may not be severe or sudden, but it may be a constant, lingering pain. A good rule of thumb is, if you suffer from pelvic pain for at least two weeks, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Signs of infection

Another sign that your pelvic pain might be something more serious is if your pain is accompanied by common symptoms of infection, such as fever, inflammation, vomiting, or nausea. If you suspect an infection, you should get medical help right away.

If you’re suffering from pelvic pain, we can get to the bottom of what’s going on. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Generations Family Practice today.