
It is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A diagnostic procedure that allows the healthcare provider to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine. The colonoscope allows the healthcare provider to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further exam, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. In this test, the healthcare provider can view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. Electromagnetic energy used to produce images of bones and internal organs onto film.Ĭolonoscopy. Using the laparoscope to see into the pelvic area, the healthcare provider can determine the locations, extent, and size of any endometrial growths. A minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is inserted into an incision in the abdominal wall. A noninvasive procedure that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure. A CT scan shows details of the bones, muscles, fat, and organs, and any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary X-ray. This is an imaging test that uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed images of the body. A diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.Ĭomputed tomography (CT or CT scan). In addition to a complete medical history and physical and pelvic exam, you may have other tests including: Under what circumstances did the pain begin?Īdditional information about the timing of the pain and the presence of other symptoms related to activities such as eating, sleeping, sexual activity, and movement can also help your healthcare provider in determining a diagnosis. What does the pain feel like (for example, sharp or dull)? Is the pain related to your menstrual cycle, urination, and/or sexual activity? In addition, your healthcare provider may ask you questions regarding the pain such as: Tests will be done to determine the cause of the pelvic pain. May be a result of irritation in the lining of the abdominal cavity Pain aggravated by movement or during exam May suggest an accumulation of blood, pus, or intestinal contents

May be due to inflammation of the appendix or an intestinal obstruction May be caused by a temporary deficiency of blood supply due to an obstruction in the circulation of blood

May be caused by spasm in a soft organ, such as the intestine, ureter, or appendix Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. The following are examples of the different types of pelvic pain most commonly described by women, and their possible cause or origin. Other causes may be related to problems in the digestive, urinary, or nervous systems. Scar tissue between the internal organs in the pelvic cavity Uterine fibroids (abnormal growths on or in the uterine wall) Some of the conditions that can lead to chronic pelvic pain may include: Pelvic inflammatory disease (also called PID, an infection of the reproductive organs) Some of the more common sources of acute pelvic pain, or pain that happens very suddenly, may include:Įctopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that happens outside the uterus) Inflammation or direct irritation of nerves caused by injury, fibrosis, pressure, or intraperitoneal inflammationĬontractions or cramps of both smooth and skeletal muscles Pelvic pain may have multiple causes, including: This can make pain feel worse or actually cause a sensation of pain, when no physical problem is present. Pelvic pain may originate in genital or other organs in and around the pelvis, or it may be psychological. Pelvic pain that lasts longer than 6 months and shows no improvement with treatment is known as chronic pelvic pain. Pelvic pain can be categorized as either acute, meaning the pain is sudden and severe, or chronic, meaning the pain either comes and goes or is constant, lasting for a period of months or longer.
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Its nature and intensity may fluctuate, and its cause is often unclear. Pelvic pain is a common problem among women.
