Chronic pelvic pain

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Definition Symptoms Causes When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Treatments and drugs Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

Chronic pelvic pain refers to any pain in your pelvic region — the area below your bellybutton and between your hips — that lasts six months or longer. If you were asked to locate your pain, you'd be more likely to sweep your hand over that entire area rather than point to one spot. Chronic pelvic pain can be a symptom of another disease, or it can be designated as a condition in its own right.

Determining what's causing your discomfort may be one of medicine's more puzzling and frustrating endeavors. Indeed, no physical cause may ever be discovered. Many women who experience chronic pelvic pain never receive a more specific diagnosis.

If your doctor can determine the source of your chronic pelvic pain, then treatment can focus on eliminating that cause. If no cause can be found, then treatment for chronic pelvic pain focuses on managing the pain.

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Symptoms