Pelvic pain is one of the most common complaints among women. While occasional menstrual cramps or gas are normal, your pelvic pain shouldn’t be so severe that it keeps you from doing the things you enjoy. Before your pain worsens, schedule an appointment with Women’s Healthcare Associates of Santa Monica. Their Santa Monica, California practice offers flexible scheduling, even for new patients. Call the office or schedule your pelvic pain screening online.
Between your reproductive system, lower digestive tract, and urinary system, you have a lot of organs that can be causing your pelvic pain. During your appointment, Dr. Blumenfeld gets a thorough medical background from you, finding out exactly what you’re feeling and when.
Expect to have Dr. Blumenfeld feel your abdomen and lymph nodes, and possibly perform a pelvic exam. Once Dr. Blumenfeld gathers information, runs some labs, and examines you, he can determine if your pelvic pain is caused by:
It depends on the cause. If your pelvic pain is a result of severe menstrual cramps, for instance, Dr. Blumenfeld might suggest starting a birth control regimen to lessen the severity of cramps. Pain that’s caused by an infection, like pelvic inflammatory disease, might require you to go through a round of antibiotics.
If your pelvic pain comes from fibroids, endometriosis, or another abnormality, you might need a laparoscopic surgery to correct the issue. This type of surgery is minimally invasive, and most patients go home the same day.
Possibly. A laparoscopy allows Dr. Blumenfeld to get a closer look at exactly what’s going on inside. While you’re under general anesthesia, he makes two or three small incisions, inserts the laparoscope, and examines your pelvic organs.
Dr. Blumenfeld sometimes needs to perform a laparoscopy to diagnose complex causes of pelvic pain, since MRIs or other images don’t always provide enough information. The beneficial part of going through a diagnostic laparoscopy is that if Dr. Blumenfeld sees something abnormal, he can take a biopsy or remove the problem while you’re under anesthesia. You might not even need a second surgery to correct an issue.
You should always feel comfortable making an appointment with Dr. Blumenfeld if you suspect something is awry in your body. When it comes to pelvic pain, come in right away if your pain is causing you to miss work, school, or regular daily activities. Consider scheduling an appointment if you also have:
