HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Hi I Have Had Pelvic Pain For The Past 5

default
Posted on Thu, 7 Feb 2019
Question: hi I have had pelvic pain for the past 5 days. it starts later in the day and then stops until the middle of the next day. I am 38 years old and female.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Can you please provide the following info - then I can advise you better, thanks:

1. Is your pain like menstrual cramp pain?
2. Is the pain in the area of your ovaries, and is one side more than the other?
3. Can you describe the pain - is it crampy? throbbing?
4. Where in your menstrual cycle are you today (if you count the first day of last period as Dy 1)?
5. Are you sexually active, and are you on any birth control?
6. Any risk of STDs (ie unprotected sex with a new partner)?
7. How severe is the pain at it's worst (scale of 0 being no pain, 10 being maximally severe)?
8. Are you having any digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation)?
9. Any history of pelvic surgery?

Awaiting...


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (58 minutes later)
hi

the pain is a bit like menstral cramps, there is pain more on my left ovary, but the pain radiates like electrticity everywhere in my pelvis including my lower back. taking an Advil helps alot. its a crampy sharp stabbing and shooting pain, that sometimes feels like trapped gas. I should be getting my period in a week from now. not sexually active, no std's, no history of surgery. pain is about a 6 or 7. I was just on a cross country trip and was having digestive issues, constipation, but that has since cleared up.

I have had this happen before about 2 years ago and the pain lasted about a week and then resolved with my period. my dr. thought it was a cyst? or a fibroid, but we never really knew.

the pain has been everyday for the past 5 days. in starts later in the day, like in the afternoon. mornings are fine.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Ok, thanks for the additional information.

Here are some thoughts:

Fibroids can be estrogen sensitive and grow during the reproductive years - and can cause crampy menstrual pain. Depending on the location, they also can cause heavy periods.

The ovaries can make functional cysts where the egg pops off during ovulation, and cause pain in the latter half of the menstrual cycle (counting day 1 as the 1st day of the period). They usually resolve on their own if they are smaller (<3 cm) but if larger, they need to be evaluated.

I would lean more toward guessing this is a functional cyst but really can't say for sure.

An ovary can also twist on its attachment, usually due to a growth on it (usually benign, such as a large cyst) but this usually causes an abrupt onset of severe pain, rather than a daily cycle of pain.

Gastrointestinal pain can move around more than gynecological pain because of the gas and motile nature of the intestines.

GI problems can have a pattern of being worse at certain times of the day based on eating. But ovarian cyst pain can hurt more at certain times due to more hormone (follicle stimulating hormone) being released at various times and stimulating the cyst.

I think it's time to go in to be seen. On exam, if the doctor palpates over an ovary and it is tender, that will give good information as to what is going on as will hearing excessive bowel sounds (GI) with the stethoscope.

And... unless the doctor is sure this is GI, a transvaginal ultrasound can definitively sort it out.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Hi I Have Had Pelvic Pain For The Past 5

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, Can you please provide the following info - then I can advise you better, thanks: 1. Is your pain like menstrual cramp pain? 2. Is the pain in the area of your ovaries, and is one side more than the other? 3. Can you describe the pain - is it crampy? throbbing? 4. Where in your menstrual cycle are you today (if you count the first day of last period as Dy 1)? 5. Are you sexually active, and are you on any birth control? 6. Any risk of STDs (ie unprotected sex with a new partner)? 7. How severe is the pain at it's worst (scale of 0 being no pain, 10 being maximally severe)? 8. Are you having any digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation)? 9. Any history of pelvic surgery? Awaiting...