Pelvic pain is pain that is localized below the navel and above the beginning of the thighs. They can be associated with different conditions. Sometimes pelvic pain does not pose any danger and goes away on its own after some time, sometimes it indicates certain diseases, and in some cases it signals that you need to urgently go to the hospital.
Sexually transmitted infections
Characteristic signs of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): pain during urination, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding between periods. The most common types of STIs are gonorrhea and chlamydia. The final diagnosis can be made by a doctor after laboratory tests. If you are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease, your partner should also be tested.
To prevent ovulatory syndrome, doctors advise:
- avoid lifting heavy objects;
- avoid long walks;
- minimize stress;
- refrain from active sex.
A contrast shower has undeniable benefits for women's health. To do this, first direct a stream of warm water onto your body, and after a couple of seconds switch to cool water. There should be at least five to six such alternations in one session. Remember that cold and hot douches are prohibited during menstruation.
Article source: www.medbooking.com
Obstetrician-gynecologist in Khabarovsk
Ovarian cyst
The ovaries contain follicles - sacs in which eggs mature. A mature follicle ruptures during ovulation and releases an egg. If this does not happen, it turns into a cyst. Such ovarian cysts are usually harmless and can go away on their own, but they can cause pain and an enlarged abdomen. When the cyst is torsioned, a threatening condition occurs - severe acute pain should force you to immediately consult a doctor. Ovarian cysts are detected during a gynecological examination and ultrasound.
Ovulatory
Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity under the influence of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. And this usually happens 14 days before the start of menstruation.
Most often this moment passes unnoticed, but sometimes it is accompanied by discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and lasts from a few minutes to 48 hours.
The appearance of such pain in the middle of the cycle is called ovulatory syndrome.
According to statistics, every second woman has experienced such pain at least once in her life and every fifth experiences it in every menstrual cycle.
The reasons for the appearance of such pain are not fully understood, but foreign researchers have identified several theories:
- “Growing follicle” - each ovary at the beginning of the menstrual cycle contains 10-15 follicles, each of which contains an immature egg. But only one follicle reaches the required size, i.e. becomes dominant. And according to some researchers, during the growth of this follicle, the ovarian capsule stretches, which leads to such pain.
- “Follicle rupture” - on a certain day of the cycle, under the influence of a peak release of LH (luteinizing hormone) produced by the pituitary gland, the wall of the dominant follicle ruptures and the egg is released into the abdominal cavity. It is this moment of wall rupture that some women, according to researchers, feel.
- “Contraction of the fallopian tubes” - after leaving the ovary, the egg enters the fallopian tube, which begins to peristalt (contract), pushing it into the uterine cavity. These contractions can also cause discomfort and pain.
- “Smooth muscle cell spasm” - it has been proven that under the influence of the release of LH into the blood during ovulation, the level of prostaglandin F2-alpha indirectly increases, which in turn causes contraction of smooth muscle cells, both in the ovary itself and in the ovarian ligament itself.
- “Irritation of the peritoneum” - normally, during each ovulation, a small amount of fluid, and sometimes blood, enters the abdominal cavity, which is one of the diagnostic signs of ovulation using ultrasound. Sometimes this fluid irritates the peritoneum, causing pain. Gradually, this fluid is completely absorbed by the beginning of the next menstrual cycle.
Thus, we can distinguish the criteria for ovulatory syndrome:
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- More on the right or left, depending on which ovary ovulation occurred in
- Occurring two weeks before menstruation
- May vary in severity from mild discomfort to severe pain
- Lasts from a few minutes to 48 hours
Sometimes women notice the appearance of spotting in the middle of the cycle, which is also considered a symptom of ovulatory syndrome. The reason for this is that on the eve of ovulation there is a slight drop in hormones. This leads to the fact that the endometrium begins to shed as during menstruation. But since this decline in hormones is short-term and after ovulation the hormones begin to rise, the rejection stops.
Therefore, if there is any discharge in the middle of the cycle, it is insignificant and disappears within 2-3 days.
Sometimes other serious diseases and conditions can occur under the guise of ovulatory syndrome:
- Inflammation of the appendages
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts
- Appendicitis
- Cystitis
- Perforation of gastrointestinal ulcer
Therefore, if the pain lasts more than 2-3 days, does not go away after taking analgesics, is accompanied by an increase in body temperature above 37.5, dizziness, vomiting blood, or loss of consciousness, you must seek emergency help.
When diagnosing ovulatory syndrome, first of all, all diseases that cause pain in the pelvis are excluded. This includes inflammation of the uterine appendages and ovarian apoplexy, which requires emergency surgical intervention.
Therefore, the most informative diagnostic method is an ultrasound of the pelvic organs, which reveals signs of ovulation that have occurred and excludes other pathologies.
Most often, ovulatory syndrome does not require special treatment; for many women, it is enough to take an analgesic or a warm compress on the stomach. When pain occurs in every menstrual cycle and is painful, adequate treatment is to take hormonal contraceptives that completely suppress the ovaries, preventing ovulation and, as a consequence, pain.
Pelvic organ prolapse
With age or during pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic floor muscles may weaken, causing the uterus, vagina and bladder to move downwards. This is not a dangerous condition, but it leads to a feeling of discomfort and makes sexual intercourse painful. Special Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Varicose veins of the pelvic veins
Varicose veins can occur not only on the legs. Dilatation of the pelvic veins leads to pain, which intensifies when the woman sits or stands. When lying down, symptoms decrease or disappear. Varicose veins of the pelvic veins are treated surgically.
Symptoms
Often the discomfort does not last long and completely disappears after a couple of hours. But there are times when symptoms persist for several days.
Unpleasant sensations intensify when performing sports exercises or during physical activity. In addition, some girls experience weakness, irritability, dizziness, nausea and even vomiting.
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)
Quite often, the source of pelvic pain is the muscles and ligaments. This condition is called myofascial pain syndrome and has the following causes:
- muscle and ligament sprains;
- bruises;
- frequent minor muscle injuries, for example, during heavy physical work or sports;
- overstrain of the pelvic muscles, when you have to maintain an uncomfortable position for a long time;
- Sometimes the cause is hypothermia and frequent stress.
There can be many causes of pelvic pain. Sometimes it is difficult for a doctor to determine the cause of this condition without additional examinations. If you are worried about pelvic pain, make an appointment with a gynecologist at ProfMedLab, our phone number: +7 (495) 120-08-07.
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How is diagnostics carried out?
In addition to interviewing the patient and in-person examination, smears will be required. The gynecologist will also give you a referral for an ultrasound examination. Modern ultrasound machines will help identify various anomalies in the initial stages.
Additionally, tests are prescribed to check hormone levels. To track their dynamics depending on the phase of the cycle, repeated examinations will be required.
Experts also recommend measuring basal temperature from the day the menstruation stops until the start of a new one. The procedure must be carried out every morning immediately after waking up. To do this, use a regular thermometer, the tip of which should be placed in the anus. The obtained data must be depicted in the form of a graph.
If all indicators are normal, then the gynecologist diagnoses “ovulatory syndrome.”
What to do if your ovaries hurt?
So, what to do if your ovaries hurt. When pain occurs in the pelvic area, rest is necessary. It is necessary to limit yourself from stress, both physical and emotional. It is also worth reconsidering your diet; you may need to go on a diet. In your diet, you should limit yourself from salty and excessively fatty foods. It is recommended to consume more dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Folk remedies for such a symptom are absolutely not advisable. But after consulting a doctor, you can take mud baths and salt baths. Medicinal decoctions should also be taken in consultation with your gynecologist. An experienced doctor will also tell you what to do if your ovaries hurt.
If acute pain occurs, you must call an ambulance. You should not try to figure out the reasons on your own, even if this has been observed and successfully eliminated before.
Abortion as a cause of pain in the ovaries
An incorrectly performed abortion procedure can cause pain in the ovaries due to infections or damage to the ovaries when the fetus is removed. Both ovaries can hurt at the same time. This is one of the few reasons why the left ovary hurts, since in most cases the pain radiates to the right. Typically, such symptoms appear exclusively in the first week after the procedure. In addition, the abortion procedure can lead to disruption of menstrual processes and the functioning of endocrine organs. But most of all, the organs of the woman’s reproductive system suffer from this procedure, mechanically or otherwise. Therefore, after an abortion, the risk of infertility is very high.
Treatment of pain during menstruation
Pain is considered severe if it interferes with your daily activities, and such pain affects about 10% of women and is called dysmenorrhea. Remember, this is a serious symptom that is common to many conditions, including endometriosis or fibrosis, which means consulting a doctor is required.
Below are some ways to relieve period pain:
Regular physical activity and generally staying physically fit can reduce period pain. Pain relievers that reduce the effects of prostaglandins may help with menstrual pain. These painkillers include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs for short). Relaxation techniques, bed rest and simple measures such as applying heat to the lower abdomen (in the form of a warm water bottle or heating pad) can be very effective.
The role of the ovaries in the female body
In size, they are no larger than a peach pit. When there are no pathologies in the body, the left one is always somewhat smaller in size compared to the right one. This organ is a composite organ and is represented by a cortex and connective tissue. Disruption of these components causes general malaise and problems with the functioning of other organs of the female body.
Reproductive function of the ovaries
This paired organ plays a major role in the process of reproduction. After all, they are the ones who produce eggs, which, after fertilization by male sperm, give rise to the birth of a new embryo. They are located on both sides of the uterus, in the pelvic region. Immediately after fertilization, the ovulation process stops and the ovaries begin to produce a temporary protective layer for the future fetus - yellow bodies. However, this layer disappears after the formation of the uterine placenta. Usually replacement occurs after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
