During your consultation, the doctor will ask you questions about your pelvic pain. How long have you had it, when did it start, & what kinds of things seem to trigger it? They will also likely perform a physical examination, & may recommend further testing, such as blood tests, urine tests, or STD tests, in order to underst& what’s wrong. Once they have a diagnosis, they will speak with you about the best options for treatment. Any prescriptions or referrals to specialists are included in the cost of your consultation.
Symptoms
Pelvic pain can be caused by a range of health issues, & so it can manifest in different ways. You may notice that it is worse before or during your period, during sex, or after eating. It can be chronic (persisting for many weeks or months), or you may have it suddenly out of nowhere. The pain might be a dull ache, a sharp pain, & it may move to other parts of the body such as down the thighs (shooting pain).
Some symptoms that may accompany your pelvic (lower abdominal) pain include:
- A change in your menstrual cycle (heavier or lighter bleeding, irregular periods)
- Increased urinary urgency or frequency
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Cloudy urine or blood in your urine
- Lower back pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
In all cases of pelvic pain we recommend that you make an appointment to come in & speak to one of our specialists, but if the pain is acute (sudden), do not hesitate. We are available six days a week, with the same day & walk-in appointments available.
Some possible causes of pelvic pain include:
- Endometriosis – these conditions causes severe lower abdominal pain during the time of your period, which may spread to other parts of the body.
- Ovarian cysts – fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. A high number of these indicates PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
- Urinary tract infection – if your pain is accompanied by urinary symptoms such as painful or urgent urination, you may have an infection in the urinary tract or bladder.
- Appendicitis – the pain with this condition is usually concentrated in the lower right side of the abdomen.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – a bacterial infection of the female reproductive system, which can develop as a complication of long-term STD infection.
- Digestive health issues – food intolerances & allergies, stress, & changes in diet can create digestive problems, which can cause pelvic pain, cramps, & spasms.