The actual reasons behind pelvic pain

Lower abdominal pain can be due to a variety of reasons, ranging from simple dysmenorrhoea to something as serious as an ovarian tumor.

Here is a list of all the possibilities of a lower abdominal pain:

1. Dysmenorrhoea- This is the most common cause. You may feel this as a gripping pain that comes on a day prior to the onset of your period. It may last for a couple of days and it usually eases off, as your period ends. Usually bearable, it doesn’t usually incapacitate a woman. Most women manage this pain with over-the-counter medicines.
2. Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases- These are infectious diseases of the pelvic region. High grade fever with foul smelling vaginal discharges and pain during intercourse are the symptoms seen here.
3. Urinary Tract Infections- UTIs, as they are popularly known, are characterized by high grade fever with chills and a severe burning sensation while passing urine.
4. Appendicitis- This pain is felt typically on the right side of the lower abdomen. Along with this, is the characteristic vomiting that accompanies the appendicitis pain. Fever and nausea are also experienced.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - If you suffer from on and off diarrhea with a cramping pain in the abdomen, along with a bloated sensation, you may be suffering from IBS. The diarrhea here, may be bloody and often alternates with constipation.
6. Ovulation Pain- This pain is a short pain that is felt around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, during ovulation. Ovulation is the process by which the egg is released from the ovaries. The egg, before it is released, causes the outer protective membrane to stretch, leading to pain. Along with the egg, a small amount of fluid is also released, which further adds to the discomfort. This pain doesn’t last long and doesn’t require much attention.
7. Ectopic Pregnancy- This is a kind of pregnancy where the embryo grows outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes. The pregnancy is expressed as a sharp shooting pain on one side, accompanied by nausea, dizziness and vaginal bleeding. If detected early, it can be treated. In case the fallopian tube ruptures and there is internal bleeding, this condition becomes a serious medical emergency.
8. Ovarian Cysts- Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, blister-like structures on the surface of the ovaries. They are formed when the developed egg fails to get released from the ovaries. The symptoms include irregular and painful menses, pain during intercourse and sharp pains during the estimated ovulation period. Most cysts resolve on their own, while some large ones require intervention in the form of hormonal medications and surgical removal.
9. Uterine Fibroids- Fibroids are tumors of the uterus, found in the inner lining. Most of them are benign, while some, depending on their location, can turn potentially malignant. Fibroids come in different sizes and interfere with a woman’s capacity to conceive. They cause severe bleeding during menses, with pains that range from mild to severe.
10. Vulvodynia- This is the pain that a woman feels during sexual intercourse. The nature of the symptoms varies in each woman, with burning pain and cramp like lower abdominal pain being the most common. This type of pain is also partly psychological in nature. The patient is afraid of the pain that will occur during intercourse and most cases have a history of sexual abuse.
11. Renal Colic- Pain due to a moving kidney stone is also one of the causes of lower abdominal pain. Typical boring pain in the lower back, along with vomiting and pain while passing urine, are the differentiating factors of a renal colic.