Your pelvis houses two major systems: your reproductive system and a part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If something goes awry in one, it can affect the other. This is certainly true of several reproductive problems, which can cause pelvic pain and bowel issues.
To help you better identify the source of your symptoms, the team here at Advanced Endometriosis Center, led by Ulas Bozdogan, MD, compiled information on four women’s health issues that can cause both pelvic pain and bowel problems.
Since we specialize in endometriosis, we’re going to start with this condition, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. This tissue can create adhesions on your reproductive organs and on organs associated with your GI tract, such as your bowel, rectum, and bladder.
Pelvic pain is one of the more common symptoms when it comes to endometriosis, especially during periods. In addition to the discomfort, you may also experience problems with bowel movements, rectal bleeding, and bloating.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, which is an infection of the reproductive organs, is often caused by a sexually transmitted disease. If the infection causes inflammation in your reproductive organs, you may experience pelvic pain. This pain can be widespread, such as a dull ache, or occur only during certain activities, such as sexual intercourse or when you have a bowel movement.
Uterine fibroids are growths in your uterus, and they’re usually harmless. However, if they become large or numerous enough, you may experience discomfort in your abdomen. The discomfort can be anything from a feeling of heaviness and/or pressure to pain.
In addition to this discomfort, you may also experience constipation, which could increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids.
If the support structure for your pelvic organs — such as your uterus, bladder, or rectum — weakens, these organs can shift out of place and down into your vaginal canal. Depending on which organs have shifted and how far they’ve traveled, you may experience pain and trouble with your bowel movements.
As you can see by the list above, it’s important that we first identify the source of your symptoms. After a comprehensive examination, we will be better able to understand what’s causing your pelvic pain and bowel issues, and then we’ll develop a treatment plan to remedy them both.
If you’re experiencing pelvic pain and problems with your bowels, we urge you to book an appointment online or over the phone with Advanced Endometriosis Center today.
