Pelvic Pain

Although I specialise in the treatment of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, there are of course, other causes of pelvic pain!

Other Causes of Pelvic Pain

Infection (commonly called “PID”).  Caused by Gonococcus and Chlamydia being present.

Renal Colic (kidney stones). Pain travels from the area of the kidney down towards the bladder in line with the course of the ureter.

Bowel related pain – Irritable bowel, constipation, Giardia infection (difficult to diagnose but can be diagnosed by a faeces sample), and adhesions  

Ovarian Pain – ovulation, bleed into the ovary at the time of ovulation and ovarian cysts

Functional (meaning part of the function of the body such as an egg cyst) 

Functional (meaning part of the function of the body such as an egg cyst)

Pathologicial (not part of the normal function of the body) 

In particular a torsion or twist in the ovary on its blood supply stalk causes extreme pain from the region of the bladder back upwards to the kidney (reverse renal colic).  This severe pain is often associated with faintness and vomiting.

Tubal pain can be due to tubal endometriosis – ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, hydrosalpinx when the tube is greatly distended and tubal adhesions 

Adenomyosis

Sometimes there is even an ADENOMYOMA – similar in many ways to an Endometrioma, but instead of being encapsulated with the ovary, these “tumours” are present within the muscle of the uterus.  Very often, but not always, these “benign lumps” are associated with Endometriosis, as well and they are sometimes confused with uterine fibroids by radiologists.

Even the great Professor Carl Wood, now sadly departed, with his esteemed colleague, Professor Peter Maher, was unsure about how this condition should be treated.  Hysterectomy is an easy answer, but does not suit everyone.  Often excision, along with pain relief is all that could be offered to young woman.  We now of course, have the Mirena devise and also Zoladex.  Someone with Adenomyosis may need two Mirenas and Zoladex at the same time.

Other reasons for pelvic pain refer to; Appendicitis, grumbling appendix, or Ureteric Endometriosis and Ureteric Catheterisation.