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Gynecologic Cancer Symptoms: Pelvic Pain

What Can Pelvic Pain Mean?

By Lisa Fayed, About.com

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Pelvic pain can be the symptom of many things including gynecologic cancer. Pelvic pain may just be the result of the normal functioning of reproductive organs, a disorder, or cancer. Pelvic pain associated with menstruation is not considered to be a symptom od cancer.

With gynecologic cancer, pelvic pain is most commonly associated with:

What is Considered to be Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is a pressure or pain occurring below the navel. It may be dull or sharp and last hours or arrive intermittently throughout the day. It is important to take note of when your pain occurs and how often. This can help your doctor with diagnosing your pelvic pain.

If Pelvic Pain is Not Cancer, What Else Could It Be?

There are a number of reasons why pelvic pain is experienced in women, such as:

  • constipation
  • endometriosis
  • fibroid tumors
  • ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Ectopic pregnancy

There are many other ailments that present pelvic pain as a symptom. Report any pelvic pain to your doctor.

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