As a woman, you may have experienced the monthly pain that comes along with having your period, and may even have experienced premenstrual syndrome that can make the week or so before your period especially painful as well. However, if you experience chronic pelvic pain that lasts all month or comes at random odd times, then you may be dealing with something more than your standard PMS or period pain. Get to know some of the reasons that you might be experiencing this pelvic discomfort. Then, you can schedule your appointment with a gynecology professional to help you determine the reason or reasons behind your pelvic discomfort.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain in women. The condition involves a person experiencing abnormal growth of the inner lining of the uterus. Instead of growing within the uterus, this tissue begins to grow outside its walls.
During the menstrual cycle, the exterior uterine tissue begins to thicken, and then it will break down and bleeding will begin. The problem is that this tissue cannot exit the body like the inner uterus lining does and has nowhere to go. This can cause severe pain and can lead to fibroids and cysts that can cause further chronic pain.
If you have noticed that you have pain all the time, but that during your period, your pain becomes even more excruciating, the cause of your pain might be endometriosis. Diagnosing endometriosis can be challenging and might involve several tests including a pelvic exam, an MRI, an ultrasound or a few ultrasounds, and even exploratory minimally-invasive surgery.
PTSD from Sexual Abuse
Another potential cause of pelvic pain is actually psychological. If a woman has been sexually abused or assaulted, she may have PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a mental health condition that can cause extreme anxiety, panic attacks, and depression following trauma. This can last for several years or can be a lifelong struggle.
Sexual assault can cause serious psychological trauma which may lead your brain to create a chronic pelvic pain issue. The pain is related to the mental experience of reliving trauma and being trapped in anxiety and depression (which can in and of themselves cause physical pain even without trauma. Treatment for the psychological traumas including medication and therapy can help to resolve associated pelvic pain. However, physical exams and tests will need to be performed by a gynecologist first in order to rule out a physical cause.
Now that you know a few of the conditions that could cause your chronic pelvic pain, you can contact your doctor as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
