Table of contents:
- Pelvic pain at a glance
- Various drugs to treat pelvic pain
- Medicines to control hormones
- Medication to control pain
Pelvic pain medications given by doctors are different for each patient. This depends on the cause, how intense the pain is, and how often the pain occurs. Generally, medication does not completely cure pelvic pain, but it can help control the pain and keep it from getting worse and chronic.
Pelvic pain at a glance
Pelvic pain is an internal disease of the lower abdomen, the area below the navel (umbilicus) and pelvis. Pelvic pain often refers to pain in the region of the female internal reproductive organs, but pelvic pain can also appear in men.
In men, this pain is usually caused by inflammation of the bladder, problems with the prostate, drug abuse, to damage to the nerves in the pelvic area.
Whereas in women, pelvic pain can be a sign that someone is having problems with one of the reproductive organs in the pelvic area (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, or vagina).
Various drugs to treat pelvic pain
Depending on the cause, your doctor may suggest a number of pelvic pain medications that are appropriate for your condition, such as:
Medicines to control hormones
Some women experience pelvic pain when the body is under hormonal fluctuations, namely during menstruation or ovulation. If this is the root of the problem, then hormonal treatment may be an option for controlling pain.
- Family planning pills
- High doses of progestins, sometimes prescribed for pain associated with endometriosis.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists are used to reduce pain caused by pelvic pain due to endometriosis. It works by stopping the production of hormones that make endometriosis worse. This medication can also relieve pelvic pain that comes in the menstrual cycle but is not associated with endometriosis and pelvic pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Medication to control pain
- Antidepressants. Several types of antidepressants can help to reduce chronic pain in other areas of the body. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor) and others, have pain-relieving effects and act as depression medication. This medication can also help improve chronic pelvic pain, even in women who are not depressed.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This class of drugs is used to help relieve pain caused by inflammation or menstruation. These painkillers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Anticonvulsant drugs, such as gabapentin or pregabalin are sometimes used to treat chronic pelvic pain.
- Pain relievers from the opiate class, such as codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone. This class of drugs is usually recommended as the last resort for treating severe pelvic pain.
- Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine, venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine
- Antibiotics. If your pain is due to an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to relieve it.
You must consult a doctor before deciding which treatment you will take. Your doctor will recommend the best pelvic pain medication for your condition. Call your doctor if medication doesn't help or you experience an allergic reaction after taking the medicine.
