Chronic pelvic pain is a medical condition that commonly affects women. While most of its causes are because of problems in the reproductive organs of a woman, it may also affect men as well, although because of other causes. Chronic pelvic pain is characterized by a pelvic pain that lasts up to 6 months or more. The part of the body that this condition upsets is the area below the belly button. The severity of the pain may differ from each person because of the various root causes of chronic pelvic pain. Some people may experience recurring mild aches while others experience intense debilitating pain.

As mentioned earlier, chronic pelvic pain has a variety of causes. One of the main causes of chronic pelvic pain is anomalies within the female reproductive system thus the high occurrence rate among women. Some of these conditions of the female reproductive system are primary dysmenorrhea, cervical stenosis, vulvodynia, pelvic infection, endemetriosis, pelvic congestion syndrome, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and pelvic joint instability.

Another cause of chronic pelvic pain is the existence of scar tissue following an infection or surgery. Psychological trauma may also cause chronic pelvic pain as women who have undergone physical or sexual abuse often have this condition. In a few cases, the causes of chronic pelvic pain are not restricted to women and this includes conditions of the urinary tract or bowel like irritable bowel syndrome or interstitial cystitis. Furthermore, patients who have been through a treatment for the underlying condition of their chronic pelvic pain may still undergo neuropathic pain wherein the affected nerve still continues on sending pain signals.

The treatment for chronic pelvic pain also varies from case to case as it aims to address the underlying cause. Birth control pills and hormone therapy are used in treating chronic pelvic pain that involves the patient’s hormones or menstruation. Doctors may also conduct a surgery to remove a growth, cyst, or tumor that is causing the chronic pelvic pain. Drugs are also employed for treatment like antibiotics for infection, or pain relievers to help in easing the pain.