Endometriosis treatment | Sydney gynaecologist Dr Anu Mahadik

Endometriosis
and pelvic pain

Pelvic pain | Sydney gynaecologist Dr Anu Mahadik

What is chronic pelvic pain?

Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the pelvic area that lasts longer than 6 months. This pain occurs below your belly button and between your hips. This pain can be caused by many different things – it can be a symptom of another disease or a condition in and of itself. Treating the underlying medical problem may eliminate your pelvic pain. However, sometimes there is no single cause and treatment will focus on reducing your pain and symptoms to improve your quality of life.

What causes chronic pelvic pain?

As mentioned earlier, chronic pelvic pain can be the result of several conditions, including multiple at once. Some causes include:

Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
Fibroids
Irritable bowel syndrome
Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome)
Musculoskeletal problems
Pelvic congestion syndrome
Ovarian remnant after the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes are removed and a remaining piece has developed into a painful cyst
Endometriosis

How is chronic pelvic pain managed?

Managing chronic pelvic pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach. The following will be performed:

Investigations to look for any primary problem
Tests to exclude pelvic infection including a pelvic Ultrasound
In some patients may be offered laparoscopy( Keyhole surgery) to exclude endometriosis
Treatment involves treating the cause
Hormonal treatment, antispasmodics may be offered in some patients
Pain control medications

Endometriosis treatment | Sydney gynaecologist Dr Anu Mahadik

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue from the uterus lining grows outside of the uterus. These tissue deposits still respond to your hormones and bleed with a period. As this happens outside of the uterus the blood and tissue cannot exit through your vagina. Endometriosis can cause severe pain during periods. Fertility problems may also result. As this then remains in the abdomen it can lead to painful cysts and scar tissue (adhesions). Endometriosis usually develops a few years after your first period. It may improve temporarily with pregnancy and may go away after menopause.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Besides pelvic pain, endometriosis can cause:

Heavy and painful periods
Pelvic pain not associated with periods
Painful Intercourse
Pain whilst opening bowels
Fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea during periods
Infertility. A third to half of women with endometriosis have difficulties falling pregnant as it may obstruct the tube and keep the egg and sperm from meeting or damage the egg or sperm

KeyHole Surgery may be needed to confirm the presence of endometriosis.

How is endometriosis treated?

You may be prescribed hormones to manage your symptoms or surgery to ease pain and treat the scar tissue to improve fertility.

Sydney Obstetrician Norwest and St George Private Hospitals

Consulting at Norwest and St George Private Hospitals

My consulting rooms are at Burbank Place, Norwest which is near Norwest Private Hospital. If you are preparing for your antenatal care and looking for the best and most suitable solution, you can count on my practice to help you. If you live northwest of Sydney CBD, or near the M2 or M7, you may find my practice in Norwest suitable for your antenatal care consultations.

If you live in the Sydney CBD, or south of Sydney, you may be best served by coming to my rooms in Kogarah, at St George Private Hospital Medical Suites.

I come from a family of doctors and it has always been my intuitive first choice to become an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. I basically grew up in it, with my father being one of the co-founders of a series of IVF clinics in India. Care for mothers and the babies they are expecting has always been my first nature and I am grateful for being able to serve my patients in their journey.
So if you are in that phase where you are not sure how to choose a private obstetrician in Sydney, let’s have a chat so we can plan your antenatal care together.