Overview 

Pelvic pain can occur for various reasons, which is why it’s so important to attend a regular health check with your gynaecologist to determine the underlying reason for the pain. For example, pelvic pain may be a result of problems affecting the internal organs, infection or general pain radiating from the pelvic bones.

Signs

• Vaginal discharge or bleeding from the vagina
• Pain from your regular menstrual cycle
• Painful urination
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Pain in the hip or groin region

Causes

Pelvic pain may occur for a number of reasons related to sexually transmitted infections, tight pelvic muscles, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovulation,ovarian cysts, endometriosis, fibroids or certain types of cancer (uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer).

Whatever the cause, Dr Kalwiba will determine the reason for the pain by ordering blood or urine tests. In some cases, vaginal cultures are taken to rule out sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia and gonorrhoea).

Hysteroscopy is a widely performed procedure which aims to examine the inside of the uterus and determine the cause of pelvic pain. Apart from a hysteroscopy, other diagnostic procedures, such as laparoscopy, ultrasound and pelvic X-ray, may be carried out.

Treatment

Treatment for pelvic pain depends on how intense the pain may be, including the frequency of discomfort.

Common forms of treatment for pelvic pain include the following:

• Prescription medication such as antibiotics can temporarily relieve pelvic pain should the pain be a result of infection.
• A surgical procedure like a myomectomy is done to remove fibroids, a primary reason for pelvic pain.
• Laparoscopic surgery involves removing scar tissue, fibroids and endometrial implants by means of a slender tube (laparoscope) with a light and camera attached.
• Vaginal surgery involves treating pelvic organ prolapse through the vagina. Through the entrance of the vagina, the doctor can reposition the prolapsed organ in place.
• Hysterectomy is a procedure whereby Dr Kalwiba surgically removes the uterus. A hysterectomy is only considered when you suffer from severe symptoms of fibroids, endometriosis or adenomyosis. This surgical procedure should only be considered when you do not wish to have children and other treatment options have failed.

FAQ