For women, pelvic pain and back pain can indicate a gynecological disorder. It is important to identify symptoms of reproductive conditions, as they can cause chronic pain, decrease the quality of your life and interfere with your ability to get pregnant if you so choose.
Endometriosis
This is one of the most common pelvic disorders that affect women, and, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's website, one of the top three causes of female infertility.
Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of tissue that surrounds the uterus beyond this organ. The tissue may grow in a number of places, but it most often found on or around other organs and structures within the pelvis, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
As estrogen is released within the body to thicken the uterine lining in preparation for implantation, the tissues that have grown beyond the uterus also thicken and grow. When implantation does not occur and it is time to release the uterine lining in the menstrual flow, the tissues that have grown outside the uterus have no way to exit the body. The tissue that sheds may cause inflammation and scar tissue throughout the pelvis. The growing endometrial tissues can grow into the ovaries and cut off their connection to the fallopian tubes, interfering with fertility.
Common symptoms of endometriosis include:
Very painful menstrual cramps
Chronic pain in the pelvis and lower back
Pain during or after intercourse
Infertility
It is also possible, in some cases, to experience intestinal pain if the tissue growth or inflammation affects the intestines.
Endometriosis can be diagnosed by pelvic examination and ultrasound imaging. In some cases, a minor surgical procedure called laparoscopy may be needed to find endometrial tissue. The condition's cause is unknown, but could be related to genetics and hormone imbalance. The most prevalent treatment for the condition is hormone therapy. Lowering levels of estrogen in your body can reduce the growth and spread of endometrial tissue. You can help this process naturally by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and avoiding excess alcohol and caffeine intake.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that can grow from uterine tissue. The size and growth rate of fibroids vary from one woman to another. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 75% of women have fibroids at some point in their lives, but most don't know it as they can be asymptomatic. For some women, however, uterine fibroids can cause pelvic and back pain, bladder and bowel problems and infertility.
The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids are:
Heavy and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Pelvic pressure and pain, a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen
Frequent or difficult urination
Constipation
Backache
Painful intercourse
Your symptoms largely depend on the position of the tumor. Women with fibroids that grow into the uterus likely have menstrual and fertility problems; fibroids that stick out of the uterus may press on the nearby bladder or on the rectum and spinal nerves behind the uterus.
As with endometriosis, an exact cause of fibroids is not known. Theories indicate that genetic alterations could be responsible for the multiplication of cells that compose uterine fibroids. These cells also contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than healthy uterine cells, indicating that these hormones contribute to fibroid growth. Uterine fibroids are diagnosed by imagining tests, like ultrasound, the injection of dye in conjunction with X-rays or the use of a telescope inserted through the cervix. Hormone therapy is the most common treatment, but in severe cases surgery may be required to remove fibroids.
The above two causes of pelvic and back pain in women are usually not serious medical conditions and can be treated effectively with early detection. In Part 2 of this article, you can learn about two more causes of pelvic pain in women: adenomyosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
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