The care team at the Complex Pelvic Pain Clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center understands how pelvic pain can interrupt your life. To help you find answers and reduce or eliminate that pain, we offer the latest diagnostic and treatment options, all provided by a compassionate team from different medical disciplines.

There isn’t a single answer to pelvic pain, so we’ll create a treatment plan that’s personalized for you. Depending on what’s causing your pain, your care team may include specialists from gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pain anesthesia, physical therapy, psychology and other medical fields, each dedicated to improving your quality of life.

What is pelvic pain?

Chronic pelvic pain refers to pain below the belly button that lasts for six months or more. This condition affects more than 10% of women, but the source of pain can vary by individual.

While it might take multiple visits with different doctors to determine the cause or causes of your own pelvic pain, we’ll work with you to find the best path forward.

What causes pelvic pain?

Some common contributors to pelvic pain include:

• Endometriosis
• Adenomyosis
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Vulvodynia
• Uterine fibroids
• Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome
• Pudendal neuralgia
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis)

Pelvic pain symptoms

If you’re suffering from complex pelvic pain, you may experience:

• Pain with periods
• Pain with urination
• Pain with bowel movements
• Pain with intercourse
• Non-menstrual pain
• Lower back pain

How is pelvic pain diagnosed?

To help us develop a treatment plan:

• We’ll review your medical and surgical history, with particular focus on your gynecologic history.
• We’ll evaluate for bowel, bladder, muscle and nerve problems and perform a physical exam if needed.
• Diagnostic testing may include ultrasound, MRI or other imaging.

Once we confirm the reason — or reasons — for your pain, we’ll partner with you to create a treatment plan.

Pelvic pain treatment

Because you have unique symptoms and personal health and lifestyle goals that may be different from anyone else, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan just for you. This may include medication, non-surgical treatment, surgery or pain management strategies.

Ohio State offers a range of innovative therapies for pelvic pain, including:

• Surgical evaluation and treatment of endometriosis
• Medical and surgical management of dysmenorrhea
• Pelvic floor physical therapy
• Trigger point injections of the abdominal wall or pelvic floor
• Botox injections for the pelvic floor
• Bladder instillations or hydrodilation for bladder pain
• Medical therapy for gastrointestinal symptoms
• Nerve blocks
• Neuromodulating medication

Why choose Ohio State Complex Pelvic Pain Clinic?

Our entire clinic team understands the impact chronic pelvic pain can have on your life, and we’re dedicated to helping you find solutions. We promise to partner with you and provide the empathy, respect and careful evaluation you deserve.

• Your treatment will be managed by a gynecologist who specializes in endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain and closely coordinated with other medical and surgical experts as needed.
• Every member of your team will know the details of your care, and we’ll plan the timing of various therapies so they’re most effective.
• We’ll also do our best to schedule multiple appointments for the same day so it’s more convenient for you.
• Because we’re part of one of the nation’s largest academic health care centers, we can also refer you to a wide range of other specialists across the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

Schedule an initial evaluation

Let’s work together to find options for reducing or eliminating your pain. To get started, call 614-293-3069 and request an appointment with Dr. Meenal Misal in the Complex Pelvic Pain Clinic.