Pelvic Pain: Q & A Forum

Please Help my Daughter
I have a 13 year old daughter who started her menstrual cycle last year. She has already undergone a D&C but without a scope. Since then her heavy bleeding and pain has continued. She has been placed her on OVcon-50 birth control pills. The bleeding is now under control, but for the past 3 months the day she starts or the day before, she is in excruciating pain to the point that she vomits. I don't know what else to do, she has been to the doctor so many times she almost hates the fact that she is a female all together now. Can you tell me anything to do for the next step?

Answer:
I would certainly defer to the physician caring for your daughter. You may want to ask if the pill might be switched to a lower dose formulation over time, since 50 microgram pills can be associated with increased side effects. As far as an explanation for the pain, that is something that also best comes from her own doctor. There are many reasons why there can be significant pain associated with the beginning of a period in a teenager, and additional consultation from a pediatric/adolescent gynecologist may be helpful in some cases.

Vaginal Pain in a Teenager

I have a 14 year old daughter who has had 3 incidents of severe vaginal pain.  My wife states that her vaginal area becomes very inflamed.  It is so bad that she screams with pain every time she uses the bathroom.  Simply moving will cause her to burst into tears.  It appears that it occurs immediately after an illness such as the flu.  She has been to see her pediatrician on two of those occasions.  The first time she tested positive for vaginal strep and negative for genital herpes.  On her second visit the Dr. indicated that she believes our daughter has genital herpes.  We are still waiting for the test results; however, my daughter has come to me several times, very upset, and indicated that she has not had any sexual partners.  Our Dr. simply feels that our daughter is not being truthful.  We have a very good relationship with our daughter, and I truly feel that she is being truthful.   Can anything else cause these problems?  Can genital herpes be passed by any other method?  She had the chicken pox vaccine, could there be any side effects from this?  Any help would be appreciated, Thank you.

Answer:
I think that it remains unclear what is going on, such as whether or not this is herpes, so I would defer to the clinical judgment of your daughter's doctor. In addition, consultation with a gynecologist, and even a pediatric/adolescent gynecologist, might be useful if the situation remains unclear. Please discuss this further with your daughter's physician.

Persistent Pain 

I am a 37 yr. old woman and have had a history of alcohol and narcotic use for ten years. I am now clean but have had persistent knife like pain on the right side half way down my back, I have all the appropriate tests and the results say I have a mal-rotation of the kidney and my ovary is enlarged with a cystic lesion. What can be done for this; it is has been 7 months and the pain is worse. Please help me, I cannot take the pain any longer.  I am also having a lot of frequent urination and releasing a lot of urine, which is very abnormal for me, I never even felt this during my 2 healthy pregnancies.

Answer:
Please consult your doctor as soon as possible to establish what the “cystic lesion” is on the ovary. It is important to determine if this should be managed by repeat ultrasound in a few weeks, or surgery. The plan of action requires more detailed knowledge of your ultrasound, and that is best managed by your own doctor.

 

David B. Toub, MD,
OBGYN.net Editorial Advisor Pelvic Pain, Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy, Hysterectomy and Alternatives