“Pain that is felt in your lower belly
and above your legs
is called pelvic pain”.1

Umbrella
What may the Pelvic Pain Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Pelvic Pain
  • Pudendal Neuralgia

Pelvic Pain

What is pelvic pain?

DotS the definition of pelvic pain may vary. The Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s (JH) definition is:

“Pain that is felt in your lower belly and above your legs is called pelvic pain”.2

The (United Kingdom) NHS definition is:

“Pelvic pain is felt in the lower part of your tummy. The type of pain varies, and it may be sudden and severe (acute pelvic pain) or last 6 months or longer (chronic pelvic pain)”.3

Chronic Pelvic Pain

What is chronic pelvic pain?

DotS the definition of chronic pelvic pain may vary. In Chronic Pelvic Pain In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the area below your bellybutton and between your hips that lasts six months or longer”.4

Women

Is pelvic pain more common in women?

In Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Pain In Women the NHS elaborate on:

“Pelvic pain is more common in women and common causes include:

  • Period pain
  • Conditions affecting female reproductive organs, such as an ovarian cyst or endometriosis
  • Pelvic pain in pregnancy

Rarely it could be something more serious, like an ectopic pregnancy, womb cancer or ovarian cancer”.5

Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

DotS the definition of endometriosis or “endo” may vary. In Endometriosis the JH elaborate on:

“Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when cells similar to those that line the uterus are found in other parts of the body”.6

In Endometriosis: Symptoms & Causes – How Do You Know If You Have Endometriosis? the JH note:

“About three out of four women with endometriosis have pelvic pain and/or painful periods”.7

Pudendal Neuralgia

What is pudendal neuralgia?

In Pudendal Neuralgia: Summary the (United States) Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center elaborate on:

“Pudendal neuralgia occurs when the pudendal nerve is injured, irritated, or compressed. Symptoms include burning pain (often unilateral), tingling, or numbness in any of the following areas: buttocks, genitals, or perineum (area between the buttocks and genitals). Symptoms are typically present when a person is sitting but often go away when the person is standing or lying down. The pain tends to increase as the day progresses. Additional symptoms include pain during sex and needing to urinate frequently and/or urgently”.8

Look for A Pattern

Bowel Incontinence PatternCan keeping a record of the symptoms help?

In Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain the JH note:

“3. Keep track of your symptoms in a form that is easy and accessible for you. Jean Hailes has an excellent Period pain & symptom diary that you can download for free. Writing down your symptoms and treatments can be helpful when talking to different health professionals. It can also help you to work out if you are making progress”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have pelvic pain?

If you think you have pelvic pain, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Chronic Pelvic Pain In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor the Mayo Clinic explain:

“With any chronic pain problem, it can be difficult to know when you should go to the doctor. In general, make an appointment with your doctor if your pelvic pain disrupts your daily life or if your symptoms seem to be getting worse”.10

In Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain the JH elaborate on:

Pelvic Pain

  1. “If you feel you are not being heard by your doctor or health professional, do not be afraid to seek a second opinion.
  2. A multidisciplinary team (one made up of experts in different fields) has been shown to be the best for managing persistent pelvic pain. Chronic pain is not just the immediate pain, but also involves and affects a number of areas of health and life, so approaching it from different angles and treating the whole person is crucial. The multidisciplinary team can include a specialist women’s health GP, a gynaecologist, a a pain specialist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a sexual counsellor, a naturopath and other complementary therapists”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Pelvic Pain?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 24 August 2022 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 20 December 2022
  2. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 24 August 2022 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 20 December 2022
  3. Pelvic Pain. Page Last Reviewed: 17 March 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-pain/ Accessed: 20 December 2022
  4. Chronic Pelvic Pain In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 17 July 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-pelvic-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20354368 Accessed: 20 December 2022
  5. Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Pain In Women. Page Last Reviewed: 17 March 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-pain/#sudden-unexpected-pelvic-pain Accessed: 20 December 2022
  6. Endometriosis. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/endometriosis Accessed: 20 December 2022
  7. Endometriosis: Symptoms & Causes – How Do You Know If You Have Endometriosis? Last Updated: 04 June 2021 | Last Reviewed: 15 May 2019. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/endometriosis/symptoms-causes Accessed: 20 December 2022
  8. Pudendal Neuralgia: Summary. Last Updated: 08 November 2021. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10713/pudendal-neuralgia Accessed: 20 December 2022
  9. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 24 August 2022 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 20 December 2022
  10. Chronic Pelvic Pain In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 17 July 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-pelvic-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20354368 Accessed: 20 December 2022
  11. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 24 August 2022 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 20 December 2022
Topic Last Updated: 20 December 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 20 December 2022

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