Gyn or Uro issue? Dealing with constant pelvic pain

Dear ladies of this forum, I have finally registered here because I am feeling quite desperate; I am hoping this community might hold someone who shares my struggles or at least understands them, as I find myself at a complete loss for what to do next.
I have been grappling with a significant issue for several months now, yet no one seems capable of identifying its cause. Honestly, I am exhausted from the endless cycle of visiting doctors, hospitals, and private clinics; the urologist sends me back and forth to the gynecologist, and vice versa, while my pain remains entirely unchanged.
It all started about a year ago when I suffered my first bladder infection. I was prescribed antibiotics, which wasn't a major ordeal, and I felt immediate relief once the course ended. Generally speaking, I am not a sickly person; I am quite careful about staying warm and avoiding being barefoot. However, a few months ago, the pain during urination returned. I consulted my doctor, who found bacteria in my urine and subsequently prescribed Ninur. I finished a week's worth of antibiotics, but the pain persisted regardless. It was a deep bladder ache, though not specifically localized to the act of urinating itself. I have undergone every swab and urine test available, and everything came back perfectly normal. My physician then referred me to a gynecologist because I noticed the most intense pain occurs during intercourse with my boyfriend—specifically in that area of the vagina near the G-spot where the pressure reaches toward the bladder. The gynecologist performed various swabs and an exam, yet again, everything appeared fine.
Following that, I sought out a urologist, who ordered an ultrasound, and the results were equally unremarkable.
My pains simply do not cease. This has been dragging on for months, and I am truly unsure where to turn. I am not experiencing any burning sensations during urination or those typical symptoms associated with a bladder infection, but that specific area is excruciatingly painful. I cannot even touch my lower abdomen—especially when my bladder is full—without experiencing a sensation akin to being sliced by a sharp knife. Furthermore, it is peculiar that the discomfort is most acute when there is direct pressure, such as when I apply pressure with a finger or during a pelvic exam.
What could this possibly be? What further steps should I take just to find some semblance of relief, and where can I go for actual answers? No amount of medication seems to touch this pain.

steelviper392 said:Hi everyone, I just joined this forum because I’m honestly grasping at straws here. I’m hoping there might be someone out there who has dealt with the exact same thing or something similar, because I am completely at a loss.
For the last few months, I’ve been dealing with this massive issue and nobody can tell me what's wrong. I am beyond exhausted from running between doctors, hospitals, and private clinics; my urologist sends me to the gynecologist and the gynecologist sends me back to the urologist, yet the pain just keeps coming.
About a year ago, I had my first bout of bladder inflammation. I was prescribed antibiotics, it wasn't a huge deal, and I felt better immediately after finishing them. Normally, I'm pretty healthy and I make sure to stay warm and dressed appropriately. But a few months ago, it started hurting when I pee. I went to the doctor, they found bacteria in my urine, and she prescribed N/A. I finished a whole week's worth of antibiotics, but the pain didn't go away. It felt like my bladder was aching, but not specifically during urination. I had all the swabs and urine tests done, and everything came back clear. My doctor referred me to a gynecologist since I noticed the most intense pain happens during sex with my boyfriend—specifically in the vaginal area near the G-spot where it feels like the contact goes straight through to my bladder. The gynecologist did the swabs and an exam, and again, everything looked perfectly fine.
Then I went to see a urologist. He sent me for an ultrasound, and the results were normal too.
My pain—it just won't stop. This has been going on for months. I don't even know where to turn anymore. I don't have any burning sensations while peeing or the typical symptoms of a bladder infection, but that specific area hurts like crazy. I can't even touch my lower abdomen (especially when my bladder is full) without it feeling like someone is slicing me open with a sharp knife. It’s also strange that the pain is most intense when I apply pressure, like using a finger or when the gynecologist performs an exam in that area toward the bladder.
What could this be? What else can I do just to make this pain stop, and where should I go next? No painkillers seem to touch this.

Did the gynecologist perform an ultrasound? You only mentioned being examined. Certain things can only be caught via a transvaginal ultrasound.
Go seek out a specialist hospital evaluation.

steelviper392 said:Dear ladies of this forum, I’ve just registered because I'm feeling pretty desperate. Honestly, this community feels like my last hope of finding someone dealing with the same thing—or at least someone who has actually found an answer—because I am completely lost.
I've been dealing with this massive issue for several months now, and absolutely nobody can tell me what's wrong. I am beyond exhausted from bouncing between doctors, hospitals, and private clinics. It’s a total loop: the urologist sends me to the gynecologist, the gynecologist sends me back to the urologist, and meanwhile, I’m still in constant pain.
About a year ago, I had my first bout of bladder inflammation. I was prescribed antibiotics, nothing too crazy, and I felt better immediately after finishing them. Generally, I'm not a sickly person; I'm careful about staying warm and avoiding being barefoot in the cold. But a few months ago, the pain during urination started up again. I saw my doctor, they found bacteria in my urine, and prescribed Ninur. I finished the whole week-long course of antibiotics, yet the pain just wouldn't quit. My bladder hurt, but it wasn't specifically while I was peeing. I’ve done all the swabs, all the urine tests—everything came back perfectly normal. Then my doctor sent me to a gynecologist since I noticed the most intense pain happens during sex with my boyfriend—specifically in that vaginal area near the G-spot where it feels like it's hitting my bladder directly. The gynecologist did the exams and swabs, and once again, everything looked fine.
Then I went to see a urologist. They sent me for an ultrasound, and the results were totally clear.
But the pain? It isn't stopping. This has been going on for months. I have no idea where to turn. I don't have the typical burning sensation when I pee or the classic symptoms of a bladder infection, but that specific area hurts like crazy. I can't even touch my lower abdomen—especially when my bladder is full—without it feeling like someone is slicing me with a sharp knife. It's also strange that the pain is most intense when I apply pressure, like using a finger or when my gynecologist performs an exam in that area toward the bladder.
What could this be? What else can I possibly do just to make the pain stop, and where do I go next? No pills seem to touch this pain.

steelviper392, I’ve dealt with almost identical symptoms and pain myself. I spent two years running in circles from one specialist to another just like you. In the end, it turned out to be an inguinal hernia that was pressing on the nerves near my bladder and vagina. I suggest checking out the Vulvodynia thread over on the women's health board. It might not be your exact issue, but it's worth looking into. Good luck!🙂

I had a similar experience starting with bladder pressure—though for me, it was accompanied by a burning sensation and elevated blood pressure. Intercourse was incredibly painful, too. During my pelvic exam, even light pressure against the vaginal wall caused intense pain. After months of fighting with doctors who wouldn't listen, it turned out I actually had bilateral hernias pressing on the nerves in my pelvis and causing muscle spasms. You might want to take a look at the Vulvodynia thread to compare symptoms; it could be what you're dealing with. Best of luck!

It is quite unfortunate, really; none of the physicians I have consulted ever saw fit to mention that possibility... This might be the first time I am even hearing that it could be the culprit. 😲 Furthermore, I underwent an ultrasound recently and everything appeared perfectly normal, though my research online suggests such issues should manifest on both ultrasounds and CT scans... Perhaps my understanding is flawed, but I find myself at a complete loss as to what else this could be. All I know for certain is that my entire life is being dismantled by this pain; I am simply not the person I used to be, and yet no one seems capable of providing actual assistance. 😢

Amanda Taylor44, how are you managing the treatment for this?

No one actually brought that possibility up to me—I had to dig through the internet to figure it out myself. Looking at this thread, there are already quite a few women dealing with similar issues, and I have to emphasize that absolutely no one suggested to them, or to me, that we might be looking at a hernia here in the States. Instead, we’ve all been traveling abroad to see specialists for hernias because the specific expertise we need isn't readily available locally. If I recall correctly, about seven of us here have had some form of hernia confirmed. It isn't something you "treat" with medication; it requires surgery—there is simply no other way out. I strongly suggest you join the discussion in that thread and do some reading; if it weren't for that community, I’d still be wandering aimlessly from doctor to doctor today.

Look, I’ve dealt with this firsthand with my own kid. In his case, there was this thing that kept coming and going, so I asked a surgeon if he could run an ultrasound to see what was actually happening. He told me no—we were trying to delay surgery anyway because of some neurological risks—so he said he could only check it by physical exam.
Now 🤷
He also mentioned that certain types of pelvic hernias can actually be pushed back in with just a bit of pressure. Honestly, it might be better to just get a referral to a surgeon to have them take a look at you right away. They'll give you a straight answer. With my son, you can't feel a thing, yet apparently, he still has one.

Well, I suppose I should finally check in here and give you all an update.
It turns out my situation wasn't quite as simple as just gaining a few pounds...
After spending this entire week spiraling through every possible search engine and medical forum imaginable, it has been determined that I am dealing with a severe bladder infection; I actually had to undergo a cystoscopy just yesterday—which, frankly, was easily the most grueling and unpleasant experience of my entire life—and it appears the inflammation had progressed to such an extent that the bacteria actually damaged the lining of both my bladder and urethra. I have been prescribed a course of antibiotics to take for the next month, and now, I can only sit here and hope for the best...

steelviper392 said:Alright, I’m checking in to give you guys an update.
For me, it wasn't just a little weight gain or something minor...
This week has been an absolute gauntlet of endless testing, and it turns out I'm dealing with a severe bladder infection. I actually had to undergo a cystoscopy yesterday—honestly, that was hands down the worst thing I’ve ever had to endure. The inflammation got so bad that the bacteria actually damaged the lining of my bladder and urethra. Now I'm stuck on a month-long course of antibiotics, so fingers crossed everything works out...

Oh my God, thank goodness it didn't spread to your kidneys or enter your bloodstream. You were inches away from sepsis.🙄
Go grab some D-Mannose and make sure you stay on top of probiotics, because your immune system is going to tank, and those heavy doses of antibiotics will almost certainly trigger a Candida breakout.

steelviper392 said:Alright, I’ll jump in here and give you my two cents.
It turns out it wasn't a hernia for me after all...
I spent this entire week going through every single test imaginable, and it turns out I have a severe bladder infection. I actually had to undergo a cystoscopy just yesterday—honestly, one of the most miserable experiences of my life. Apparently, the infection progressed so far that the bacteria actually damaged the lining of my bladder and urethra. I’ve been prescribed a month-long course of antibiotics, so now I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best...

I truly hope what you're dealing with is genuinely just a "heavy" bladder infection.

But let me tell you, I went through an almost identical ordeal. Since I was feeling pain in and around my bladder area, I went to see the "top" private urologist in town. He used an ultrasound to confirm inflammation and told me my bladder wall had thickened. Then he insisted a cystoscopy was the only way to be absolutely sure. I should mention that my urine tests and cultures came back perfectly fine—totally sterile.

So, naturally, I agreed to the cystoscopy. Let me tell you, I saw stars while they were doing it; the pain was absolutely excruciating. He did find some changes inside—white patches on the bladder wall—and claimed the bacteria had caused damage. Of course, he prescribed antibiotics. They didn't help one bit. Then he claimed my specific bacteria was resistant to them, suggesting that because I was taking them orally, they might not even be reaching the bladder??? So, he recommended this incredibly expensive medication from Germany that they would administer directly into my bladder via the urethra for ten straight days. It felt like undergoing a new cystoscopy every single day. Even that didn't work. Eventually, I realized he was basically just guessing at this point, so I stopped seeing him altogether.

All those heavy-duty antibiotics absolutely trashed my immune system, and predictably, I ended up with a yeast infection that dragged on for months. It took forever to feel human again.

Once I finally discovered I actually had a hernia two years later and got it surgically repaired, the bladder pain vanished completely. Not once since then.

The bladder pain I dealt with before the surgery felt similar to a UTI (I've had several, so I know the drill), but there was one glaring difference. With a UTI, it burns and hurts from the moment you start peeing until the very end. With my issue, the sharp pain occurred exclusively at the very end of urination.

Later on, when I actually caught a real bladder infection, I realized they were two entirely different types of pain.

I really hope it's just a bladder infection for you, but if you don't start feeling better, my honest, well-meaning advice is to head to New York City to see a top-tier hernia specialist. Don't waste your time or money wasting it here locally.

Good luck!🙂