Chronic Pelvic Pain: What You Need to Know

If you’ve been dealing with chronic pelvic pain, don’t let it derail your life one day longer. Dr. Leonardo A. Longoria K. of Longoria OBGYN helps women just like you manage their pelvic pain and live their lives again. Here’s what you need to know.

What is chronic pelvic pain?

Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the pelvic area that has lasted for weeks or months. Sometimes it’s confused with abdominal pain since the areas of the body overlap. Your pelvic pain may be different than the next woman’s. It may feel dull and achy or sharp and stabbing. You may feel pressure or a fullness or like you have a bad case of cramps. 

It may also hurt when you sit for too long, go to the bathroom, or have sex, and this is how it starts to affect your quality of life. When you can’t enjoy an intimate relationship with your partner, work comfortably, or go to a movie with a friend because of your pelvic pain, it’s time to get checked out. There’s no reason to stay in bed with a heating pad when we can help you.

Chronic pelvic pain can be hard to diagnose

There are many different causes of chronic pelvic pain including fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Sometimes, it could even be a gastrointestinal issue. 

WIth so many different causes for pelvic pain, it’s often a challenge to diagnose. We know this isn’t what you want to hear, especially if pelvic pain is ruining your life. But as an experienced OB/GYN, Dr. Longoria is skilled in diagnosing chronic pelvic pain and finding the right treatment so you can enjoy your life again. 

Treatments for chronic pelvic pain

The treatment for chronic pelvic pain depends on its cause. For example, if you have endometriosis or fibroids, you may find relief with medications that manage pain and inflammation, or you may benefit from hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. 

For more severe cases, Dr. Longoria may perform a minimally invasive procedure to remove excess tissue or a hysterectomy to remove your uterus. 

On rare occasions, pelvic pain could be caused by cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer. In these situations, Dr. Longoria works closely with a patient’s oncologist to determine the best course of treatment.

If a sexually transmitted disease is causing your symptoms, antibiotics may be needed to clear up an infection. If your pain is caused by an ectopic pregnancy — where an embryo is growing in part of a fallopian tube — you may need surgery right away.

Symptom management

Sometimes, the cause of chronic pelvic pain can’t be pinpointed, even after a comprehensive health history, pelvic exam, blood tests, and diagnostic testing, such as ultrasound, is completed. In these situations, medications, hormones, and physical therapy may be used to manage symptoms and improve a woman’s quality of life.

If you’re tired of spending days in bed with a heating pad and watching your life go by, let Dr. Longoria help you. Request an appointment online or call our office in El Paso, Texas, at 915-201-1165 today.