Pelvic Pain

Ongoing pelvic pain affects women and men, draining their energy, interfering with daily life, and taking a toll on their relationships. Kiarash Michel, MD, and his team of board-certified urology experts at Comprehensive Urology in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, have helped many patients overcome pelvic pain and regain optimal health. They offer advanced diagnostics and numerous treatments that they customize to meet your needs. Don’t ignore pelvic pain, call the office to schedule an appointment or book online today.

What causes pelvic pain?

Many people associate pelvic pain with women’s reproductive health and gynecological problems. But pelvic pain affects men and women because it arises from all the organs and structures in your lower abdomen, including your gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.

Pelvic pain in men most often develops due to prostatitis. Non-gynecologic pelvic pain in women typically arises from interstitial cystitis. Both men and women can have pelvic pain from urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis occurs when you have an inflamed and swollen prostate gland. This condition may develop from a bacterial infection, an injury, or damage to the nerves that supply the prostate.

When you have prostatitis, you’ll experience symptoms such as:

• Trouble urinating
• Frequent urination
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Pain with ejaculation
• Difficulty ejaculating
• Pain in your bladder, testicles, and penis

The most common prostatitis, called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, develops due to inflammation in the prostate or nerve irritation, not an infection.

What is interstitial cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the bladder, urinary tract, and immune system. Men and women may develop interstitial cystitis, but it most often affects women.

Symptoms of interstitial cystitis include urinary urgency, urinary frequency, pain when your bladder is full, and general pelvic pain. You may also experience pain during intercourse.

Though the cause of interstitial remains unknown, researchers believe it may develop from a variety of problems. For example, irritants in your urine, bladder trauma, mast cell activation, and hormone fluctuations are all potential causes.

How do urology experts diagnose and treat pelvic pain?

The Comprehensive Urology team offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities in the office in addition to urine tests, blood work, and diagnostic imaging. A few examples of their advanced testing include urodynamics, video-cystoscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

After your provider determines the underlying cause of your pelvic pain, they provide comprehensive therapeutic options, including:

• Pelvic floor therapy
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Biofeedback
• Intravesical instillation therapy
• Dietary management
• Nutraceutical supplements
• Medical therapy

The medication you receive depends on the underlying condition causing your pelvic pain. For example, many patients need anti-inflammatory medications, while patients with bacterial prostatitis often take antibiotics.

If you suffer from pelvic pain, help is available at Comprehensive Urology. Call or schedule an appointment online today.