Pelvic pain can be mild or severe and can make your pelvic area feel tender. Generally, pelvic pain is quite common in women and is usually caused by menstrual cramps, ovulation, or gastrointestinal problem such as food intolerance. However, there are times when pain in the pelvis is caused by something more serious.
If you are experiencing long-term pelvic pain, you should try and see your General Practitioner (GP) as soon as possible. However, sometimes this isn’t possible with heavy workloads and kids to take care of, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your symptoms because the chances are, they won’t be going away any time soon.
A solution that will put you in front of the GP quickly is ‘Consultdoc’. This is an online service that can connect you to a GP at the touch of a button from the comfort of your own home or office.
Are You Experiencing?
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- Sudden, unexpected acute pelvic pain
- Long-term chronic pelvic pain
- If so, you need to get a medical opinion because over-the-counter shop-bought painkillers may not be very effective!
Sudden and unexpected pelvic pain is referred to as acute pain and is generally caused by either:
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- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic Inflammatory disease
- Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea
- Peritonitis
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- And less common causes such as:
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- A pelvic abscess
- Endometriosis
- Painful periods
- Long-term Pelvic Pain
- If you have been suffering from the effects of long-term (6 months or more) pelvic pain, where the pain either comes and goes or is continuous, this is known as chronic pelvic pain and needs to be treated.
Chronic pelvic pain affects about 1 in 6 women and is more painful than ordinary period pains. You might be suffering from Endometriosis
The main symptoms of endometriosis are:
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- Pain in your lower stomach or back (pelvic pain) that will usually worsen during your period.
- Severe and very uncomfortable period pains that stop you from doing your normal activities
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain when peeing or pooing during your period.
- Feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in your pee during your period.
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Endometriosis can affect women of any age. It is a condition where tissue similar to the womb’s lining starts to grow in areas like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This excessive tissue behaves in the same way as the tissue in your womb, which means it will also bleed during your period. However, there is no place for this blood to go; endometriosis cells cause inflammation, scar tissue, and a heck of a lot of pain! Endometriosis does not have a cure but can be treated to help ease the symptoms. There are different treatment options that a GP can recommend if they think you have the condition.
For some women, endometriosis can have a massive impact on their lives; it can cause long-term stomach pain and sometimes very heavy periods. It can also lead to depression in some women.
For a correct diagnosis of endometriosis, you will need an ultrasound scan referral to a specialist unit; this can all be sorted out for you quickly and efficiently through an online consultation with Consultdoc.
Conclusion
If you are suffering from the long-term effects of chronic pelvic pain and over-the-counter shop-bought painkillers just aren’t getting rid of it, you need to consult a doctor. An online consultation is quick and can be done through Consultdoc, where you get to choose the time you call; it is as simple as that, so even if you have a busy schedule, Consultdoc is just a click of a button away. They can arrange an ultrasound scan referral to a specialist unit and even prescribe painkillers that will work! And if this does not work well to ease your symptoms, Consultdoc can refer you to a women’s health specialist also known as a gynaecologist who will be able to do further tests and treatment.