Women generally learn that some level of pelvic pain is normal. We all have menstrual cycles, and those often come with cramps (medically speaking, dysmenorrhea). However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore discomfort in your lower abdomen, assuming it’s something you need to bear. 

If you’re dealing with acute pelvic pain — meaning it came on suddenly and feels fairly severe — visit Medha Amin, MD, FACOG, Ramya Narayanan, MD, FACOG, and Shamita Bansore, MD, FACOG. At Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd in Downers Grove, Illinois, we offer same-day appointments five days a week. This way, you can take steps to move quickly toward the relief you deserve.  

When to visit our team for pelvic pain

Generally, experts say you should see a doctor if any of these three things are true about your pelvic pain:

• It’s new (the pain doesn’t feel like normal cramps, for example)
• It disrupts your daily life
• The pain is getting worse

While we’re primarily focusing on acute pelvic pain here, you shouldn’t have to live with chronic pain, either. If you have persistent pain, even if you think it’s something normal like menstrual cramps, visit us. 

The big takeaway is this: If your pelvic pain is making it harder for you to go about your day, it warrants a trip to the doctor. Our team can help you determine what’s causing the pain and,  just as importantly, work with you to move toward relief. 

Getting to the root of your pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is such a common issue for women because it can come from so many different sources. As one study summarized, common causes include:

• Adnexal torsion (twisting in your fallopian tube/ovary)
• Appendicitis
• Dysmenorrhea (cramps)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Myofascial pain in your pelvic floor
• Muscle strain
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pyelonephritis, a kind of urinary tract infection (UTI)
• A sexually transmitted infection
• A ruptured ovarian cyst

And that’s to name a few. You could also be dealing with endometriosis, pelvic adhesions (scar tissue), adenomyosis, or uterine fibroids. 

Because so many different factors could be in play, we often use the gold standard in first-line diagnosis for pelvic pain: an ultrasound. This procedure provides a safe and painless way to see clearly what’s going on inside your pelvis. 

Then, our team develops a plan to ease your discomfort. Knowing what’s causing it allows us to target the pelvic pain with treatment, making it easier to soothe. 

With our same-day appointments, you could be getting an ultrasound later today to start getting to the root of your pain. If you’re dealing with acute pelvic pain, call Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd at 630-852-3762 and request a same-day appointment.