Symptoms

Female pelvic pain symptoms can include:

• Pain that ranges from mild to severe.
• Pain that ranges from dull to sharp.
• Severe cramping during periods.
• Heavy or irregular vaginal bleeding.
• Pain during sex.
• Pain when you urinate or have a bowel movement.

Depression symptoms are commonly linked to chronic pain. Signs of depression include:

• Sleep problems.
• Appetite changes.
• Feelings of emptiness and sadness.
• Slowed body movements and reactions.

For the best chance of recovery from pain, depression must be treated along with any known physical causes of pain.

What Happens

It can sometimes be hard to know how long pelvic pain will last and how best to treat it. It's a little different for every woman. But in general:

• When a cause is found and treated, such as an ovarian cyst, the pain will most likely go away.
• When it's hard to find a cause, your doctor can do a number of tests and try certain treatments to see if they work.
• When a cause is found but is hard to treat, such as endometriosis, it may be harder to say how soon your pain will go away.
• For pain that is still a mystery after a lot of testing, you and your doctor can consider several ways to help you feel better.

The role of menopause

Symptoms often go away without treatment when menopause occurs and the ups and downs of hormone levels settle down.

If you are close to menopause (usually around age 50) and your symptoms are likely related to hormones, your best option may be home treatment and medicine while you wait for menopause.

The hormone changes of menopause may get rid of your chronic pain, but the pain may come back if you use hormone replacement therapy. If you are nearing menopause, talk with your doctor about your options.