What is pelvic pain?
If you feel an aching or sharp pain in your pelvic region, Dr. Dixon at Corpus Christi Women’s Clinic can help you find out what’s causing it and create a treatment plan to help you manage it. Your pelvic pain might include:
- Cramping
- Pressure
- Intermittent pain
- Steady pain or aching
- Pain during sex
- Pain when you sit for a long time
Pelvic pain is a common symptom among many conditions, especially those involving the female reproductive system.
If your pelvic pain lasts for six months or longer, you may have chronic pelvic pain. In some cases, chronic pelvic pain is its own condition and doesn’t come from another cause. Still, Dr. Dixon works with you to treat your pain and improve your quality of life.
What causes pelvic pain?
There are many possible causes of pelvic pain. Some are severe, while others are mild and may not require treatment beyond pain management. Your pelvic pain might come from:
- Menstrual cramps
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- A urinary tract infection
Other, less common conditions can also cause pelvic pain. In some cases, pelvic pain comes from conditions unrelated to your reproductive system, like appendicitis. Dr. Dixon asks about the features and location of your pain and may use diagnostic testing, like lab tests or ultrasound imaging, to find or rule out possible causes of your pelvic pain.
How can I relieve my pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain can disrupt your life, making it difficult to focus on work or the activities you love. At Corpus Christi Women’s Clinic, Dr. Dixon provides a variety of approaches to treat pelvic pain. If your pelvic pain comes from a condition like endometriosis or uterine fibroids, she treats the underlying condition to alleviate your pain.
As with other conditions, Dr. Dixon begins your pelvic pain treatment using conservative methods like medications and noninvasive therapies. Depending on the cause of your pain, she might recommend or prescribe:
- Pain relievers
- Hormone treatments
- Antibiotics (for pain from infections)
- Physical therapies (massage or stretching techniques)
- Minimally invasive surgery
Lifestyle changes can also help reduce your pain, especially if it’s chronic. Dr. Dixon might recommend choosing healthy foods for your diet or finding an effective stress relief strategy to use at home.
If the pain in your pelvic region is long-lasting or severe enough to disrupt your life, don’t hesitate to call Corpus Christi Women’s Clinic for an appointment or book one online today.
