Chronic Pelvic Pain
Let’s Talk About It
What is Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is pain in the lowest part of the abdomen and pelvis.
CPP is quite common, and more so in women than men:
- an Australian study of women aged 16-49 years found that 21.5% of women suffer from CPP, and
- studies estimate that CPP affects 5.7% to 26.6% of the population.
For women, the pain can be linked to one of the pelvic organs, including the bowel, bladder, uterus or ovaries.
For men, CPP often manifests as pain in a variety of areas including the perineum, rectum, prostate, penis, testicles and abdomen.
In other cases (for both women and men), the pain can be linked to the pelvic bones that lie next to these organs, or from nearby muscles, nerves, blood vessels or joints.
Pelvic pain can sometimes radiate to the lower back, buttocks or thighs.
Depending on its source, pelvic pain can be:
- dull or sharp
- acute (sharp and brief) or chronic (pain that has been present for six months or more)
- constant or intermittent (such as during urination or sexual activity), and
- mild, moderate or severe.
What Are the Symptoms?
Common symptoms that can indicate Chronic Pelvic Pain include:
- worsening of menstrual cramps or menstrual pain
- vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge
- blood seen with a bowel movement
- constipation or diarrhoea
- bloating or gas
- painful or difficult urination
- pain during intercourse
- fever or chills, or
- pain in the hip or groin areas.
If you’re not sure of the cause of your pelvic pain or the pain is severe, seek medical advice.
What Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic Pelvic Pain can be caused by a broad range of conditions, including:
- Pelvic floor disorder, including pelvic floor muscle spasms or chronic tension
- Bladder disorders including Interstitial Cystitis, or urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Injuries such as nerve damage, hernia, broken pelvis, and other musculoskeletal injuries or problems (such as Fibromyalgia)
- Kidney infection or kidney stones
- Intestinal disorders or obstruction
- Bowel-related issues such as chronic constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Diverticulitis
- Illnesses or diseases such as appendicitis, colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis
- Sexually transmitted diseases, or
- Past physical or sexual abuse,
In addition, women can experience pain due a number of other reasons, including:
- pregnancy-related issues such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, premature labour, or placental abruption, and
- gynaecological problems related to ovulation (e.g. period pain, menstrual cramps), Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), ovarian cyst or other ovarian disorders, endometriosis, fibroids, or uterine or cervical cancer.
For men, Prostatitis can also be the cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Chronic Pelvic Pain Can Be Treated
While Chronic Pelvic Pain is quite common, it’s not ‘normal’. The good news is that it can often be successfully treated.
At the Coregood Institute we can offer a full range of non-surgical treatment options, and tailor a treatment plan to suit your particular situation and needs.
We focus on treating the underlying problems that cause pelvic pain, rather than simply treating the symptoms.
We employ an extensive range of non-surgical treatment options to diagnose and treat pelvic pain. Our methods can help patients avoid surgical or drug-related treatment altogether, or assist with the recovery from other treatments such as surgery (both pre- and post-surgery).
Alongside traditional pelvic physiotherapy treatment options and advice on correcting pelvic floor function, we also offer patients treatment using the world’s most advanced and successful non-surgical technology – the PelviCenter.
We’re also able to offer effective natural solutions and nutritional advice to treat and help you better manage some of the underlying chronic conditions that can lead topelvic pain.