If you have chronic pelvic pain during your period or at different times of the month, it is vital that you see a doctor as soon as you can. There are many different conditions that could be responsible for the pain. Some of those conditions are more serious than others. No matter what the cause, you should not have to deal with pelvic pain that can make your life miserable for days at a time.
However, if you have never talked to your doctor before about this issue, you may not know where to begin or what to ask. The most important thing to remember is that you should ask your doctor any questions you have. Do not leave the doctor’s office without getting those questions answered. If you need some help in determining what to ask, listed below you will find common questions that women need answered about chronic pelvic pain, their treatment options, and what it means for their life.
Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Why do I have pelvic pain? This will need some testing and a diagnosis before your doctor can determine the cause.
- Can I take pain relievers? Your doctor will most likely suggest you take NSAIDs (over the counter anti-inflammatories) to help manage your pain.
- What can I do at home to ease my pain? Your doctor will be able to give you home care instructions that will make your pain a little more tolerable before it can be diagnosed and treated.
- Will my treatment be permanent or will the pain come back? There are some conditions that could come back and will need to be treated at a later date. Surgery could provide a permanent solution if you wish to avoid the chance of recurrence.
- Are you going to refer me to a specialist? Depending on the type of doctor you see, you may need to see a specialist to have the proper treatment.
- Will treatment for pelvic pain cause infertility? This is an important question to ask especially if you are young and have not yet had children. In some severe cases, the best avenue for treatment could be surgery. For those cases, there could be a fertility issue to keep in mind.
- Do I have other treatment options? In some cases, you may actually have more than one treatment choice. You will want to discuss each of them with your doctor to determine which one is best for you.
- What is my expected outcome? Depending on your cause of pelvic pain, you could have different types of outcomes. You need to discuss this with your doctor before starting any treatment.
Pelvic pain can be very disruptive to your lifestyle. This is a condition that you do not want to live with on a regular basis, especially if there is a more serious underlying cause. Be sure to get all of your questions answered before you start any treatment option for your pain.