Health Topics
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Healthy Living
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February 2012
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| 10 Causes of Pelvic Pain |
| Pratyusha Sen |
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Any pain or discomfort in the area below the belly button can be classified as pelvic pain. This pain can manifest in either sex though it is more common in women and may be caused by any number of reasons.Pelvic pain alone is hardly a cause for concern; however, it is often an indication of a serious condition.
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Endometriosis – Pelvic pain is often a symptom of endometriosis, a condition which results when the tissue of a woman’s uterine lining grows outside the uterus. During the menstrual cycle this extra lining is not dispelled and it leads to cysts and scar tissues that cause pain in the pelvis.
Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – This is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It can be caused by untreated sexually transmitted diseases and affects the overall health of your body. Women with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease suffer mild to severe pelvic pain from their condition.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – People suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS experience cramping or pain due to constipation or frequent diarrhoea. IBS is one of the most common intestinal symptoms that cause pain in the pelvic region.
Kidney Stones – Stone formation in the kidney causes sharp and severe pain in the pelvis. Such pain usually necessitates immediate medical attention.
Uterine Fibroids – Fibroids are growths which build up in the uterus. With time these fibroids put pressure on the lower abdomen causing a lot of discomfort and pain. Fibroids are a non-cancerous growth but can be very bothersome.
Urinary Tract Infections – Infection in the urinary tract is very painful and a serious medical condition. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the bladder and kidney and causes severe pelvic pain.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially chlamydia and gonorrhoea, cause immense pain in the pelvic region for men.
Prostatitis – Inflammation of the prostate gland known as prostatitis causes pelvic pain accompanied by painful urination in men. Prostate gland enlargement can either be due to cancer or a common condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Pelvic Joint Instability – During childbirth the ligaments of a woman’s pelvic joint get stretched in order to accommodate the baby. Post delivery these ligaments become weak and make the joint unstable causing pain in the pelvic girdle.
Cramps – The age-old bother, menstrual cramps are the number one reason why women suffer from pelvic pain. It is a very discomforting situation and the pain can range from a dull ache to severe radiating pain in the abdomen during menstruation and in the days leading up to it.
Even though some cases of pelvic pain are not serious, it should not be neglected and you should always check with your doctor to make sure it is not a result of some serious underlying condition. |
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