One endometriosis symptom is having chronic pelvic pain. Pain in the area of the pelvis may occur for many reasons. Typically, it is not long-term, but acute. In order to be considered as chronic, it is to remain for a minimum of three months.

Causes

Aside from cases of endometriosis, a host of other medical reasons can lead to pelvic pain. Please keep in mind that causes mentioned here may not necessarily be linked to the chronic type, but just discomfort in this region in general. They may be associated with either acute or chronic pelvic pain, or both. Furthermore, not every potential cause is mentioned on this page.

Ovarian cysts

These cysts are among the reasons that can cause someone -- only a woman in this case -- to experience chronic pelvic pain. They occur within the woman's ovaries. They can range dramatically in size, with some being even greater in size than an orange. Overall, most of these that develop are not malignant (cancerous), but rather benign. Despite this, they can still cause plenty of symptoms. Exhaustion is one possibility. The patient may get headaches. She might put on some extra weight. In some cases, infertility may occur.

Typically, options such as a CAT scan or ultrasound are used for diagnosis. Cysts that remain for more than a couple, or a few, of the woman's menstrual cycles should be checked as they may point to a more severe underlying illness. If they have not stayed that long, and no cancer is noted, then some of the options a doctor might recommend include analgesics (pain killers), warmth, and restricting intense physical activity. Surgery may be performed in some instances.

Dysmenorrhea

Another one of the reasons that chronic pelvic pain may occur is dysmenorrhea. This condition is where the patient has menstrual pain that is severe enough to get in the way of doing everyday tasks. However, some people use the term merely to refer to any kind of menstrual-related pain, or that which is unusually strong. The pain is usually gathered together in the lower abdominal region, but it can also be felt in other locations.

Other symptoms may be present along with the pain felt in dysmenorrhea. For instance, the one who is experiencing it may have nausea. She may also vomit. Bowel issues can include both constipation and diarrhea. Exhaustion is a possibility. She may feel dizzy, and could even faint. Diagnosis is generally given based on the woman's history of pain as described for this condition.

The main page contains other endometriosis symptoms.