What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain Slideshow Pictures Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Slideshow Pictures Ovarian Cancer Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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When to Seek Medical Care

A health care practitioner should be contacted if the following symptoms occur:

• Fever
  
  
• Abnormal pain or tenderness in the abdominal or pelvic area
  
  
• Nausea or vomiting
  
  
• Weakness, dizziness, or fainting
  
  
• Pallor or anemia (possibly from loss of blood)
  
  
• Abnormally heavy or irregular menstruation
  
  
• Abdominal swelling or unusual increased abdominal girth
  
  
• Abdominal pain if blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) are taken
  
  
• Increased facial hair similar to a male pattern
  
  
• High or low blood pressure unrelated to medications
  
  
• Excessive thirst or urination
  
  
• Unexplained weight loss
  
  
• A noticeable abdominal or pelvic mass

A woman with the following symptoms should go immediately to a hospital's emergency department:

• Weakness, dizziness, or feeling faint, especially from standing
  
  
• Fainting
  
  
• Persistent fever
  
  
• Severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain
  
  
• High or low blood pressure unrelated to medications
  
  
• Excessive thirst or urination
  
  
• Unexplained shoulder pain combined with abdominal pain
  
  
• Persistent nausea and vomiting