Why do so many women live with chronic pelvic pain syndrome? Is this something that is “in their minds” or is it directly related to a common medical condition? Unfortunately, women are candidates for chronic pelvic pain for a large number of reasons. These can range from gynecological issues to problems with digestion.
The gynecological issues include:
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is a very mysterious issue due to the fact that it doesn’t often present symptoms until it has progressed to a somewhat destructive state. It is an infection of the reproductive organs including the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus. It is often the result of exposure to an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea that passes through the cervix and infects the surrounding tissue. If the disease should go undetected it may damage the fallopian tubes and make pregnancy very difficult to achieve. It can also cause great discomfort due to the swelling and irritation of the infected tissue.
Fibroid Tumors – These are non-cancerous growths that cling to the walls of the uterus and can remain very small or increase to the size of a baseball or larger. It is when they do become too numerous or too large that pain is presented.
Endometriosis – This is somewhat common and unfortunate issue because it causes severe pain and infertility. It is a buildup of tissue in the lining of the uterus which can spread to the ovaries and even grow outside of the uterus, connecting to the bladder, pelvic muscles and more. During menstruation this tissue behaves in the same manner as regular uterine tissue and swells and bleeds, causing tremendous pelvic pain and creating scarring that leads to more discomfort.
The digestive and other medically related issues that present pelvic pain include:
Interstitial Cystitis – This is a very painful bladder condition that causes the lining of the organ to remain inflamed and very tender on a constant basis. This inflammation can often lead to scarring due to tiny tears in the flesh, which leads to a stiff or rigid bladder. This rigidity causes some pain, and as time passes the condition worsens leading to more intense discomfort.
IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very well-known problem that affects millions of people. It is characterized by many symptoms that can range from constipation to diarrhea, bloating, gas, and pelvic pain.