“Oh period pain is normal”
“The pain is all in your head”
“You’ll be alright”

Pelvic pain can be a complex scenario for some individuals as well as health professionals. Because the pelvis contains many different structures and provides attachment different muscles, pain can arise from any one of these parts. Certain medical conditions specifically to the pelvic region can be a source of pain.

Some of the medical conditions that can cause pelvic pain can include:

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Interstitial cystitis
• Painful bladder syndrome
• Pudendal neuralgia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pelvic infections
• Vulvodynia.
  
  

Pelvic pain can affect both genders and can present in a variety of ways and each person will have different symptoms. Usually as a result, the pelvic floor and/or surrounding hip and back muscles can tighten up as a protective measure to try to reduce your pain.

Common symptoms of pelvic pain can be:

• For females pain with penetration such as with intercourse, pap smears and tampon use
• Vaginal pain
• Is your pain severe enough it is impacting your relationship and libido
• Or is there severe pain with periods that required you to take time off work or school?
• For males erectile pain, pain around the penile/scrotal region and pain with ejaculation
• Pain with wearing tight clothing
• Pain with filling or emptying of the bladder or bowels
• Rectal pain
• Pain at the tailbone, lower back, abdominal, groin and/or hips
  
  

Pelvic pain can extend beyond the physical symptoms and can affect or be influenced by your emotional and mental wellbeing as well.

The psychological impact can be hard for you and possibly your partner. Pelvic pain can be debilitating and can impact sometimes the most basic things in life.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be helpful with one given you a program designed to help with reduce and manage your pain, by providing and finding the strategies that help you the most.