Perineal pain is transient and mild or sore and chronic. Women and men can experience it for some reason, trauma, infection, spasm, or neuropathic disease. Knowing the mechanism of perineum pain and being cautious enough about identifying signs in their initial stages helps to diagnose it quicker and easier with better results. This paper addresses what is perineum pain, why it occurs, how to treat it, and when to see a professional.

What is Perineum Pain?

if you are reading this article. It is any tenderness, soreness, or pain in the perineal area. In men, it is between the anus and scrotum. In women, it is between vaginal opening and anus. The pain is throbbing/stabbing, burning sensation in perineum, or ache. They develop swollen perineum in a few of them and tenderness on movement or sitting in others. The pain returns or continues for days or weeks based on the precipitating factor.

Common Causes of Perineum Pain

Perineum pain is extremely wide in etiology and depends on gender, health status, and life.

Injury or Trauma

  • Bruising or chronic perineal tenderness due to trauma, horseback riding, or bicycle riding.
  • Pain, swelling, or laceration of the skin can result from direct trauma.

Infections

  • Sexually transmitted infection (STI), urinary tract infection (UTI), and fungal infection may lead to inflammation of the perineum.
  • Tenderness with palpation, swelling, and erythema are caused by skin infections.

Childbirth-Related Causes (Female Perineum Pain)

  • Vaginal delivery will tear or stretch perineal tissue, resulting in sharp pain in perineum after delivery.
  • Delayed healing and chronic pain may result from epidurally trimmed episiotomies.

Prostatitis (Perineum Pain of the Male)

Male perineum pain and pain while urinating are typically caused by inflammation of the prostate gland.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Perineum pressure and perineum pain may result from pelvic floor muscle tension or weakness.

Skin Irritation or Allergies

Rubbing toilet paper, deodorant soap, or strong soap can cause rashes and inflamed perineum.

Nerve Issues

Pudendal nerve entrapment may cause burning perineum pain or numbness.

Operative Pain

Genital or pelvic surgery may cause acute or chronic pain.

Perineum Pain Symptoms

perineum injury symptoms will depend on the cause but may be:

  • Return of soreness or tenderness.
  • Burning with urination or perineum movement.
  • Swelling, redness, or bruising that is tender to touch.
  • Miserable perineum pain while sitting for extended periods involving the perineum.
  • Sexual discomfort.
  • perineal discomfort pain during micturition, i.e., pain in the perineum following micturition.
  • Evidence of trauma to the perineum in the nature of blood or open wounds in the event of trauma.

Read More: 10 Effective Menstrual Pain Remedies


Determination of the Cause of Perineum Pain

A doctor would typically take a systematic approach in trying to determine the causes of perineum pain:

  • Medical history: Taking history of recent trauma, childbirth, infection, surgery, or chronic disease.
  • Physical exam: Inspection for swelling, tenderness, bruising, or rash over perineal surface.
  • Lab work: Urine to rule out infection, STI cultures, and even blood test.
  • Imaging tests: Ultrasound or MRI in suspected complications of deep tissue or nerves.
  • Pelvic floor exam: Particularly if muscle tightness or weakness is a problem.
Precise diagnosis results in precise perineum pain treatment being administered.

Good Perineum Pain Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the etiology of pain, i.e., infection, injury, muscle spasm, nerve problem, or post-puerperal convalescence.

Minor Pain Home Treatments

  • Sitz baths warm – melt pain and promote healing.
  • Cold compresses – reduce swelling and inflammation.
  • Loose cotton briefs to protect against irritating agents.
  • Squeaky-clean cleanliness to avoid infection.

Medical Treatments

  • Antibiotic or antifungal drug – Bacterial or fungal infection.
  • Painkiller drug – Prescription or over-the-counter pain drug for pain alleviation.
  • Anti-inflammatory drug – Reduce swelling and ease perineum pain.
  • Physical therapy of the pelvic floor – To tighten to function better and with less effort.

More Advanced Procedures

  • Nerve blocks – For chronic sharp perineum pain due to nerve entrapment.
  • Restrictive surgery – In extremely rare chronic scarring or injury scenarios.

Postpartum Care

Sitz baths daily, perineal sprays, and foam pads alleviate women's perineum pain after childbirth.

Prevention of Perineum Pain

Some are inevitable but others can be prevented:

  • Wear dry cotton underwear.
  • Sit on padded bicycle seats to reduce perineum soreness.
  • Condition pelvic floor muscles using Kegel exercises.
  • Stay away from soap or scented cleansing agents that can irritate it.
  • Safe sex prevents infection.
  • Pregnant women must follow medical advice to avert perineal tearing during labor.

When to See a Doctor for Perineal Pain

See a doctor right away if you have:

  • Severe swelling or redness after injury.
  • Severe perineal burning fever.
  • perineum pain after urination or during bowel movement.
  • Pain that lasts for several days and increases.
  • Discharge, odor, or pus from the perineum.
They could be symptoms of infection, abscess, or other conditions that need early treatment.

Conclusion

Perineum pain is a potential for everyone and results from an interaction of etiologies from trauma and infection through healing after birth and nerve status. For perineum pain in a man from prostatitis or perineum pain in a woman from childbearing, or normal tension from usual activities of life, understanding the cause is more significant than curing perineum pain.

Detecting early warning signs of perineum like swelling, tenderness, or burning keeps you from taking the right steps at the right time. Taking proper hygiene, care, and pelvic floor exercises avoids pain. Absence of relief or increase in the same makes the consultation of a doctor help you achieve good perineum pain relief and avoid complications.

Please book an appointment with the best Urologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.