In the US alone, pelvic pain that lasts for at least six months affects 15% of women of childbearing age. In other countries, the reported rates range from 14% to 32%.

Note, however, that while women are more likely to get pelvic pain, men can experience it too.

Either way, pain in the pelvic area can be so debilitating it can make patients miss work. Moreover, psychological disorders are more prevalent in people with chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

For those reasons, it's vital to learn more about pelvic pain so that you can get prompt, proper treatment. We'll discuss the essential facts you need to know in this guide, so please read on.

What Is Pelvic Pain?

Pelvic pain is pain that affects the pelvic area. The pelvic area, in turn, is the lower part of the torso and sits between the abdomen and legs. It supports the intestines and contains the bladder and reproductive organs.

What About Chronic Pelvic Pain?

In most cases, the term chronic pain refers to pain conditions that persist after 12 weeks. By contrast, acute pain is pain that lasts for less than 12 weeks.

However, for pelvic pain to be chronic, a patient must have had it for at least six months. In women with CPP, the pain must not be due to pregnancy, either.

What Are the Symptoms of Pelvic Pain?

In men and women, pain in the hip and groin areas is one of the most common symptoms related to pelvic pain. Pain during sex can also signal problems with the pelvis or the internal organs it houses. Difficult or painful urination, bloating, fever, and chills usually accompany these signs.

In women, menstrual cramps and pain can also be signs of pelvic pain. Females may also experience bleeding, spotting, or unusual discharge from the vagina.

What Causes It?

In both genders, pelvic pain can be a symptom of infections, such as those afflicting the kidney. In addition, kidney stones, affecting an estimated 9% of men and 11% of women in the US, can cause pelvic pain.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also infections that give rise to pelvic pain. These are diseases caused by pathogens, including bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

Nerve conditions, such as pinched spinal nerves, can also lead to pelvic pain. In this case, the affected nerve may sit somewhere in the lower spinal region.

A hernia may also be a culprit behind pain in the pelvic region. A hernia occurs when a body part or an internal organ protrudes through a muscle or tissue that contains it. Hernias are most common in the abdomen or pelvic area, as these areas are prone to becoming squeezed.

Intestinal disorders, such as colitis or diverticulitis, may also result in pelvic pain. The same goes for damaged pelvic bones or pelvic conditions, such as spasms in the pelvic muscles.

Are There Causes Specific to Women?

Yes, seeing as the pelvic area in women contains female reproductive organs. By contrast, most parts of the male reproductive system are outside the male body.

As such, pelvic pain in women usually indicates an issue with the reproductive system. One example is endometriosis, affecting an estimated 11% of women in the US aged 15 to 44. This condition causes not only pain in the pelvic area but also in the lower back.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can also lead to pelvic pain. PID is an infection of one or more of the female reproductive organs. It usually arises as a complication of untreated STDs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and normal pregnancy can lead to pelvic pain, too. In some cases, just the ovulation process can give rise to pain in the pelvic area.

What Treatments Are Available?

Pelvic pain treatments aim to minimize the symptoms and enhance one's quality of life. However, if there's a specific cause found, such as an infection, then your doctor will treat that first. For cases with no identifiable causes, a doctor can administer pain management techniques.

Antibiotics and Antivirals

Antibiotics can cure many STDs caused by bacteria and parasites. Antivirals are effective in managing viral infections, but they don't always cure.

Either way, removing the infection can reduce or, in some cases, eliminate pelvic pain.

Antibiotics are also valuable in treating urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs often give rise to pelvic pain, too, so treating the infection usually addresses the pain as well.

Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter pain medications can provide some relief for pelvic pain. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe more potent prescription pain drugs.

Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants can sometimes provide pain-relieving effects for pelvic pain. Some of these include amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Women with CPP, but not depression, may find relief from the use of these medications.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation is a type of neuropathic or nerve pain treatment. It involves the use of a device designed to block nerve pathways that carry pain signals. Blocking these pathways may help ease pain since pain signals won't reach the brain.

If a spinal nerve causes your pelvic pain, this treatment may be a valuable tool to help manage it.

Injectable Medications

Some patients may also be good candidates for injectable pain treatment. An example is a celiac plexus block, which can help ease severe abdominal and pelvic pain. It's a medication injected into the celiac plexus.

The celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves found in the abdomen. These nerves send signals from the digestive system organs to the brain and spinal cord. As such, problems with the digestive system can make the celiac plexus send pain signals all the time.

A celiac plexus block helps ease pain by blocking the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. It might be a viable treatment if other treatment options don't work for you.

Take Control of Your Pelvic Pain Now

Please note that around 26% to 52% of people with chronic pelvic pain also have depression. In addition, as many as four to seven in 10 people with CPP also have anxiety. What's more, both conditions are often seen together in patients with CPP.

That's all the more reason to address pelvic pain as soon as possible.

If you'd like to learn more about pelvic pain treatments, we here at Elite Pain & Spine Institute can help. Contact us today for more information on our science-based approaches.