Table of Contents
Ruling out Conditions with Similar Symptoms
Many conditions cause pelvic pain. In many cases, the cause is unknown, and the condition often resolves on its own. However, some causes of pelvic pain can be serious and should be ruled out during a work-up for endometriosis.
Primary Dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is recurrent pelvic pain associated with menstruation. Dysmenorrhea is common in many women. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #100: Menstrual disorders.]
Adenomyosis. A condition called adenomyosis occurs when nodules (knots) of endometrial tissue develop within the deep muscle layers of the uterus. This disorder is often classified with endometriosis, but adenomyosis is a different disease. (Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows and functions outside the uterus.) Adenomyosis is a significant cause of severe pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities. It typically occurs in women who have uterine fibroids, women age 40 - 50, and women who have had children. Women who have had surgery for endometriosis, yet continue to suffer from menstrual and pelvic pain, may actually have adenomyosis.
Other Causes of Pelvic Pain. Many conditions cause pelvic pain that may or may not be related to menstruation. Some causes of pelvic pain that can be serious and should be ruled out include:
- Uterine fibroids
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (which is a result of infections in the pelvic area)
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy pregnancy (pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants in an area outside of the uterus, usually the fallopian tube.)
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Click the icon to see an image of an ectopic pregnancy. |
- Pelvic cancer (rare)
- Uterine polyps
- The use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception
Conditions that may mimic symptoms of endometriosis but which are unrelated to problems in the reproductive organs include:
- Severe kidney or urinary tract infections
- Celiac disease
- Appendicitis
- Interstitial cystitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Diverticulitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
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Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
