Pelvic Pain Specialist

What does it mean to have pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain refers to any pain that occurs below your belly button and between your hips. You may experience pain that’s severe and sharp, a dull ache, cramping, or a feeling of pressure inside the pelvic area.

Pelvic pain can become a constant presence or come and go. Some women feel pelvic pain after sitting for a long time, during a bowel movement, or after intercourse.

What causes pelvic pain?

Dr. Mahller specializes in diagnosing the precise cause of pelvic pain, which is important for women because pelvic pain arises from many possible health conditions. However, endometriosis is one of the most frequent causes of pelvic pain.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside wall of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Within the uterus, this tissue thickens during each menstrual cycle, then breaks down to produce menstrual bleeding. Endometrial tissue outside the uterus also goes through the same cycle, but when it breaks down it causes inflammation, pain and scar tissue (adhesions) within the pelvis.

Other common causes of pelvic pain include:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease: an infection of the pelvic organs often caused by a sexually transmitted disease
• Uterine fibroids: noncancerous growths in the uterus that may cause a feeling of pressure or heaviness
• Ovarian or fallopian tube cysts: fluid-filled sacs that develop inside and on the outside of the ovaries and fallopian tubes
• Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome): a full bladder causes pelvic pain
• Urinary tract infection: may cause pain in the center of the pelvis
• Gastrointestinal disorders: IBS, lactose intolerance, Celiac disease
• Pelvic Nerve pain

How is pelvic pain treated?

Treatment for pelvic pain focuses on relieving the pain and healing its underlying cause. Dr. Mahller will perform a thorough history and physical exam and may need to perform an ultrasound or diagnostic procedures, such as a hysteroscopy or laparoscopy, to get a direct look at organs and structures inside the uterus and abdomen.

Minimally invasive surgery may be used to remove fibroids, cysts, and excess tissue due to endometriosis when they are the cause of the problem. Several types of medications help relieve pain, and antibiotics are used to cure an infection. When pelvic pain is related to hormonal changes, Dr. Mahller may recommend birth control pills or other hormonal medications.