Introduction
About Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain can impact women in many different ways and the pain women experience is described in different ways. It can be constant, sharp pain, a dull ache, cramping, or deep pelvic pressure. Women may experience pain during intercourse, while having a bowel movement, when urinating or sitting for an extended time. The severity of the pain varies from woman to woman and may also vary during different times. In many cases, the pain prevents women from living a fulfilling life.


What causes chronic pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain can be caused by a number of different conditions or combination of conditions. A thorough medical examination will assist us in pinpointing the cause of the pain so we can develop a care plan for you.

Generally speaking, these conditions can cause or contribute to chronic pelvic pain:

  • Endometriosis
  • Tension in your pelvic floor muscles
  • PID - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • And more


Heather DeJarnett, CNM, describes our approach to chronic pelvic pain and effective treatments.

In Her Own Words
Chronic pelvic pain: Treatment at Minnesota Women's Care

This Minnesota Women's Care patient offered to share her experience with chronic pelvic pain in case other women have questions about the condition. Here's how she answered our questions:

What was your initial reason for seeking help at Minnesota Women's Care?
I have suffered from chronic pelvic pain my entire life. I have been to many different doctors and heard many different reasons for the pain, but have never had any solution. Someone recommended Dr. Ashford to me and I thought I would try again to find some relief.

What was your initial experience?
Actually, it was entirely different from anything else I've ever experienced. Dr. Ashford asked questions and really listened to my answers. When I had questions, he provided complete answers. He continued to explain things until I really understood what he was saying.

How did your course of treatment come about?
Dr. Ashford made a recommendation to me based on my symptoms. He determined that the source of my pain would respond well to a non-surgical option and I wanted to give it a try. I was hopeful it would work.

What was the therapy like?
There was no pain from the actual treatment. I have always had some tender pelvic areas that are hyper-sensitive and fully expected it to be painful. In those particular areas I felt some tenderness, but it was not painful.

How long did it take before you could feel a difference?
I'm not sure if this is common for most women, but within 30 minutes I could feel the impact of the therapy. It was the first time I'd ever been free of pelvic pain in my adult life. It felt like the pain just melted away.

Did it wear off?
No! I was able to have sexual intercourse without pain for the first time in my entire adult life. It literally changed my life. I cannot believe the difference. I know that it's common to have several treatments for my kind of pelvic pain and that is the plan for my care, but the difference after just one treatment was amazing.

Anything else?
"Dr. Ashford is the most thorough, compassionate and knowledgeable doctor I've ever encountered. He actually takes care of the problem. I owe him my life and my health."

C.B. - Minnesota Women's Care Patient