Chronic pelvic pain: how to recognize it?
The chronic pelvic pain is not a simple problem to frame, as confirmed by its generic definition, according to which it would be a condition characterized by the presence for at least 6 months of painful symptoms localized to the pelvic region. It suffers in each case about 10/12% of women of childbearing age - with a ratio of about 9: 1 compared to men - but to arrive at a correct diagnosis it can also take 4 years, in which 8 different Specialists are consulted on average.
A really too long path to identify a pathology with important repercussions on well-being and on quality of life for women, but somehow justified by the fact that the problem can be caused by ailments of a very different nature from each other and from one nonspecific symptomatology.
An aid is represented by physical activity, or rather, intimate gymnastics, which includes a series of ad hoc exercises, perfect for training the pelvic floor adequately and allowing you to relieve discomfort. Here is a video that explains the benefits and the most important exercises. effective of intimate gymnastics!
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The causes of pain
Characterized by pain spread throughout the pelvic floor and in the lower urinary tract, but also of the genital tract, with superficial or deep pain during intercourse, chronic pelvic pain is a kind of defensive response to an irritative stimulus that may originate from gynecological and urinary, gastrointestinal or muscular problems. The Prof. Stefano Salvatore, Specialist in Urogynecology at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, explains however in this regard that the true nature of the disorder is not actually yet understood: it is thought that there could be a relationship with the production of estrogen, but triggering mechanisms are not yet clear.
What if it's interstitial cystitis?
In all this, it must be borne in mind that, in the case of chronic pelvic pain, the possibility of interstitial cystitis or, as it is called today, painful bladder syndrome. This pathology, characterized by a high urination frequency - even up to 20 times in 24 hours - affects a significant percentage of people affected by chronic pelvic pain, and heavily interferes with the quality of daily life and night rest.The best help to clarify the nature of the problem, recalls Prof. Salvatore, is represented by the so-called voiding diary, on which the patient must record for 2-3 days the quantity of liquids taken and the volume of each urination act: the painful bladder syndrome in fact causes a much higher urination frequency than other pathologies. more accurate endoscopic examinations, such as the cystoscopy, with which it is possible to inspect the lower urinary tract, checking the condition of the mucous membranes and the absence of any malformations that may be the cause of the painful symptoms.
What therapy
The best approach to pelvic pain is first of all eating habits: a diet free of foods that can be irritating to the lower urinary tract, such as those, is recommended spicy or fried, but also chocolate, carbonated drinks, etc...
As for a real therapy, it is possible to intervene using molecules that act on the inflammatory process but, in the case of bacterial or interstitial cystitis, the novelty comes from treatments aimed at restore the urothelium coating film which protects the inner bladder wall. This therapeutic option consists in the use of interstitial cystitis, thanks to the restoration of the urothelium obtained in this way, the benefit for the patient can reach, according to some studies, to extend up to 3 years from the end of therapy. innovative treatment called sacral neuromodulation which involves the insertion of particular electrodes in the peripheral nerve endings and is able to "reset" the sending of the painful message, reducing the disturbance.
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