The pelvic region is located between your thighs and your abdomen, and mainly contains the lower part of your stomach. If you ever feel pain in this region, it could be due to a number of health concerns such as urinary, reproductive, or intestinal problems.
Depending upon the source of pelvic pain, it may manifest as dull or sharp. You may face the pain consistently, or it may occur in intervals. If it develops into chronic pelvic pain, it can take up to six months to experience relief. In those six months, patients are sometimes confined to complete bed rest. In this article, we will discuss the possible causes of pelvic pain for both men and women.
Hernia: A Possible Cause of Pelvic Pain
A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that is holding it in place. This can occur due to aging, damage from an injury or surgery, engaging in strenuous exercise or lifting heavy objects, being overweight, or chronic coughing.
Most hernias aren’t immediately life-threatening, but they don’t go away on their own. It is common that hernias require surgery in order to prevent dangerous complications.
Symptoms of a hernia may include: noticing a bulge on your side where your groin meets your hips, which then disappears when you lay down; nausea; vomiting; fever; and intense pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult with a doctor right away.
Pelvic Pain Causes in Men
There are many possible causes for pelvic pain in males. Some of them are listed below:
Urinary Tract Infections
The urinary tract, or urinary system, produces urine and expels it from our body. A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria overgrows in any part of the system (kidney, ureters, bladder, or urethra). Most urinary tract infections take place in the bladder.
Cystitis is another infection caused by a UTI. In cystitis, inflammation of the bladder occurs, which may cause pelvic pain. Here are a few reasons why cystitis may occur:
- A reaction to a particular medication
- In response to the chemicals of different products you use
- Long-term radiation treatment
Cystitis symptoms include painful urination and there may be blood in the urine.
Pelvic Pain Causes in Females
Sometimes, pelvic pain in females indicates an infection in the reproductive system or other organs in the surrounding area.
Menstrual Pain & Cramps
In females, the most common reason for pelvic pain is menstruation and the pain associated with it. A majority of women report facing severe pain and cramps during menstruation. When a female menstruates, she can experience extreme pain for 1 to 2 days – or more – during her cycle. In order to combat some of the pain, you can sit with a warm heating pad resting on your abdomen. This will help you decrease the intensity of period pains and cramps. If you suffer from unbearable and severe pain, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that occurs in the womb. It can cause damage to the surrounding tissues of the uterus and can occur if bacteria from the cervix enters the womb. This disease increases the rate of infertility in women: recent research revealed that 2 out of 10 women suffering from PID face various problems when trying to get pregnant.
Other Groin & Pelvic Pain Related Blogs:
–Everything You Need to Know About Femoral Hernias
–How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing an Inguinal Hernia