Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is abdominal pain located below the level of the umbilicus including, frequently, lower back pain with or without radiation into the thighs. Such pain may be acute, chronic, or intermittent and may be simulated by gastrointestinal disease such as diverticulitis or by lumbosacral arthritis. Dyspareunia is pelvic pain associated with intercourse. Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation when the pelvic examination is normal. Secondary dysmenorrhea is diagnosed in the presence of gynecologic disease and is usually associated with such conditions as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.