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What Could Be Causing Pain In Your Pelvis?
Pain in your pelvis could be caused by a variety of conditions, including urinary tract infection, kidney stones, hernia, or digestive issues. Pain in the right side may indicate appendicitis, which is a medical emergency.
Your pelvis is the area below your belly button and above your thighs. Anyone can experience pain in this part of the body.
Pain in your pelvis is often a sign or symptom of an issue related to your:
Some causes of pelvic pain, like menstrual cramps, are normal and nothing to worry about. Other causes of pelvic pain may be more serious and require a visit to a doctor or the hospital.
Check your symptoms against this guide to help figure out what's causing your pelvic pain. Then see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
We will often use "women" and "men" in this article to reflect the terms that have been historically used to gender people. But your gender identity may not align with why your body is having pelvic pain. Your doctor can better help you understand how your specific circumstances will translate into diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.
A wide variety of conditions can cause pelvic pain. Some conditions can affect anyone, while other conditions are specific to male or female-related issues.
Let's take a closer look at some general conditions that may cause pain in the pelvis.
1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection in your urinary tract. This includes your urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. UTIs are very common, especially in people with a female reproductive system. About 50 to 60 percent of women will experience a UTI in their lifetime, often in the bladder.
You'll typically have pelvic pain with a UTI. The pain is usually in the middle of the pelvis and in the area around the pubic bone.
Other symptoms of a UTI often include:
2. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)Gonorrhea and chlamydia are bacterial infections that are transmitted through sexual activity.
In 2019, more than 616,000 cases of gonorrhea were diagnosed in the United States. In the same year, more than 1.8 million people contracted chlamydia in the United States. Most cases of these STIs affect people ages 15 to 24.
In many cases, gonorrhea and chlamydia won't cause symptoms. Women may have pain in their pelvis, especially when they urinate or have a bowel movement. In men, the pain can be in the testicles.
Other symptoms of gonorrhea may include:
Other symptoms of chlamydia may include:
A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the muscles of your abdomen, chest, or thigh. This can create a painful or achy bulge. You should be able to push the bulge back in, or it will disappear when you lie down.
Hernia pain gets worse when you cough, laugh, bend over, or lift something.
Other symptoms include:
The appendix is a thin tube that's attached to your large intestine. In appendicitis, the appendix becomes inflamed.
This condition affects 5 to 9 percent of people at some point in their lives. Appendicitis is more common in teens and people in their early 20s, but it can happen to people of all ages, including older adults.
Appendicitis pain starts suddenly and can be severe. It's usually centered in the lower right part of your abdomen. Or, the pain can start around your belly button and migrate to your lower right abdomen. The pain often gets worse when you breathe deeply, cough, or sneeze.
Other symptoms of appendicitis can include:
5. Kidney stones or infectionKidney stones form when minerals like calcium or uric acid clump together in your urine and make hard rocks. Kidney stones are usually more common in people with a male reproductive system.
Most kidney stones don't cause symptoms until they start to move through the ureters (the small tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Because the tubes are small and inflexible, they can't stretch to move the stone through, and this causes pain.
Pain can also be caused by the ureter reacting to the stone by clamping down on it to try and squeeze the stone out. This can cause a painful spasm.
If the stone blocks the flow of urine, it can back up into the kidney, causing pressure and pain. This pain can be severe.
The pain usually starts in your side and back, but it can radiate to your lower belly and groin. You can also have pain when you urinate. Kidney stone pain comes in waves that get more intense and then fade.
A kidney infection may develop if bacteria get into your kidneys. This can also cause pain in your back, side, lower abdomen, and groin. Sometimes people with kidney stones also have a kidney infection.
Other symptoms of a kidney stone or infection include:
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder that's usually caused by an infection of the urinary tract. It causes pain or pressure in your pelvis and lower belly.
Other symptoms include:
IBS is a condition that causes intestinal symptoms like cramps. It's not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes long-term inflammation of the digestive tract.
About 12 percent of U.S. Adults have been diagnosed with IBS. IBS affects about twice as many women as men, and it usually starts before age 50.
The abdominal pain and cramps of IBS usually improve when you have a bowel movement.
Other IBS symptoms can include:
The pudendal nerve supplies feeling to your genitals, anus, and urethra. An injury, surgery, or growth can put pressure on this nerve in the area where it enters or leaves the pelvis.
Pudendal nerve entrapment causes nerve pain. This feels like an electric shock or deep aching pain in the genitals, the area between the genitals and rectum (perineum), and around the rectum.
The pain tends to get worse when you sit and improves when you stand up or lie down.
Other symptoms often include:
Adhesions are bands of scar-like tissue that make organs and tissues in your abdomen stick together. You can get adhesions after you have abdominal surgery. About 90 percent of people who have abdominal surgery develop adhesions afterward.
Adhesions don't always cause symptoms. When they do, belly pain is most common. Sharp pulling sensations and pain are often reported.
While adhesions usually don't cause a problem, if your intestines become stuck together and get blocked, you can have severe abdominal pain or symptoms such as:
See your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.
Some causes of pelvic pain may be due to conditions that are specific to the female reproductive system.
10. Ovary pain (mittelschmerz)It's not unusual for some people to experience ovary pain during regular ovulation each month. Also known as mittelschmerz (German words for "middle" and "pain"), this pain is felt in the lower belly and pelvis region.
It happens during ovulation when an egg is released from the fallopian tube. It usually occurs about halfway through your menstrual cycle — hence the word "middle."
The pain you feel from ovulation typically:
You may also have unexpected vaginal bleeding or discharge around the same time you feel the pain.
Pain from ovulation isn't usually serious, but let your doctor know if the pain doesn't go away, or if you have a fever or nausea with it.
11. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual crampsMany people get cramps in their lower abdomen just before or during their menstrual period. The discomfort comes from hormone changes, and from the uterus contracting as it pushes out the uterine lining.
Usually cramps are mild, but sometimes they can be painful. Painful periods are called dysmenorrhea. About 10 percent of people who have periods have pain severe enough to disrupt their daily life.
Along with cramps, you might have other symptoms before or during your period, such as:
12. Ectopic pregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus — usually in the fallopian tubes. As the egg grows, it can cause the fallopian tube to burst, which can be life threatening. Between 1 and 2 percent of all pregnancies in the United States are ectopic pregnancies.
Pain from an ectopic pregnancy comes on quickly and can feel sharp or stabbing. It may only be on one side of your pelvis. The pain can come in waves.
Other symptoms include:
Call your OB-GYN if you have these symptoms. An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency.
13. MiscarriageA miscarriage refers to the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. About 10 to 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. Even more people probably miscarry before they realize they're pregnant.
Severe cramps or pain in your belly is one sign of a miscarriage. Other symptoms of a miscarriage include:
If you're pregnant and have moderate to severe cramps or abdominal pain, consider following up with your doctor to get checked out.
14. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection in the female reproductive system. It starts when bacteria get into the vagina and travel to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other reproductive organs.
PID is usually caused by an STI like gonorrhea or chlamydia. About 4.4 percent of women in the United States get PID at some point.
The pain from PID is centered in the lower belly. It can feel tender or achy. Other symptoms include:
See a doctor if you have these symptoms. If left untreated, PID can lead to infertility.
15. Ovarian cyst rupture or torsionCysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form in your ovaries. Most women get cysts, but they usually don't cause any problems or symptoms.
However, if a cyst twists or breaks open (ruptures), it can cause pain in your lower belly on the same side as the cyst. The pain can be sharp or dull, and it may come and go.
Other symptoms of a cyst may include:
See a doctor right away if the pain in your pelvis is severe, or if you also have a fever together with the pain.
16. Uterine fibroidsUterine fibroids are growths in the wall of the uterus. They're common during your reproductive years, and they usually aren't cancerous.
Fibroids can range in size from tiny seeds to large lumps that make your belly grow. Often, fibroids don't cause any symptoms. Larger fibroids, though, may cause pressure or pain in the pelvis.
Other symptoms of uterine fibroids may include:
17. EndometriosisWith endometriosis, tissue that normally lines your uterus grows in other parts of your pelvis. Each month, that tissue thickens and attempts to shed, like it would inside the uterus. But tissue outside of your uterus has nowhere to go. This can cause pain and other symptoms.
Endometriosis affects more than 11 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. It's most common during the 30s and 40s.
Endometriosis causes pelvic pain before and during your period. The pain can be severe. You may also have pain when you urinate or have sex.
Other symptoms may include:
With pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), varicose veins develop around your ovaries. These thick, ropy veins are similar to varicose veins that can form in the legs. The valves that normally keep blood flowing in the right direction through the veins no longer work. This can cause blood to back up in your veins, which swell up.
Men can also develop varicose veins in their pelvis, but this condition is much more common in women.
Pelvic pain is the main symptom of PCS. The pain can feel dull or achy. It will often get worse during the day, especially if you've been sitting or standing a lot. You can also have pain with sex and around the time of your period.
Other symptoms may include:
The female pelvic organs stay in place thanks to a hammock of muscles and other tissues that support them. Due to childbirth and age, these muscles can weaken and allow the bladder, uterus, and rectum to fall down into the vagina.
Pelvic organ prolapse can affect women of any age, but it's most common in older women.
This condition can cause a feeling of pressure or heaviness in your pelvis. You might also feel a lump protruding from your vagina.
Some conditions that cause pelvic pain may be due to conditions specific to the male reproductive system.
20. Bacterial prostatitisProstatitis refers to inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland. Bacterial prostatitis is an infection of the gland caused by bacteria. Up to 16 percent of men get prostatitis at some point in their lives, but less than 10 percent of them will have bacterial prostatitis.
Along with pelvic pain, symptoms can include:
21. Chronic pelvic pain syndromeIf you have long-term pelvic pain with no infection or other obvious cause, you will likely receive a diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. To qualify for this diagnosis, you need to have had pelvic pain for at least 3 months.
Anywhere from 2 to 16 percent of men develop chronic pelvic pain syndrome during their lifetime. It's the most common urinary system condition in men under age 50.
People with this condition have pain in the penis, testicles, the area between the testicles and rectum (perineum), and lower belly.
Other symptoms include:
The urethra is the tube that urine passes through from the bladder out of the body. Urethral stricture refers to a narrowing or blockage in the urethra caused by swelling, injury, or infection. The blockage slows the flow of urine out of the penis.
Urethral stricture affects less than 1 percent of men as they age. In rare cases women can get strictures too, but the problem is much more common in men.
Symptoms of urethral stricture include pain in the abdomen and:
23. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. This gland, which adds fluid to semen, normally starts out about the size and shape of a walnut. The prostate continues to grow as you age.
When the prostate grows, it squeezes down on your urethra. The bladder muscle has to work harder to push out urine. Over time, the bladder muscle can weaken, and you can develop urinary symptoms.
BPH is very common in older men. About half of men ages 51 to 60 have this condition. By age 80, up to 90 percent of men will have BPH.
In addition to a feeling of fullness in your pelvis, symptoms can include:
A vasectomy is a form of male birth control. The surgery cuts a tube called the vas deferens, so that sperm can no longer get into the semen and impregnate an egg.
About 1 to 2 percent of people who have a vasectomy develop pain in their testicles for more than 3 months after the procedure. This is called post-vasectomy pain syndrome. It can be caused by damage to structures in the testicle, or pressure on nerves in the area, among other factors.
The pain can be constant, or come and go. Some people also have pain when they get an erection, have sex, or ejaculate. For some, the pain is sharp and stabbing. Others have more of a throbbing pain.
Temporary and mild pelvic pain is probably nothing to worry about. If the pain is severe or continues for more than several days, make an appointment with a doctor.
Also get medical attention if you experience pelvic pain and:
Pain in the pelvis can have many causes. Some causes are harmless, while others can be more serious.
The key with pelvic pain, as with most other types of pain, is to pay attention to accompanying symptoms. If you have pain as well as fever, chills, unusual bleeding, or urine that looks or smells different, or have trouble urinating, it's important to get medical care as soon as you can.
Additionally, if your pelvic pain is severe, keeps getting worse, or doesn't go away after several days, it's best to get checked out by a healthcare professional to make sure the pain isn't cause for concern.
PCOS: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, impacting 5% to 10% of premenopausal women . While the condition can result in serious complications and long term health effects, there are treatments available to help manage symptoms.
Here's what you should know about living with PCOS and finding the right treatment for you.
What Is PCOS?PCOS is a condition affecting as many as five million U.S. Women in their childbearing years . While there is no definitive cause, the ovaries and adrenal glands of women with PCOS produce more male hormones than what is considered normal. This results in a range of symptoms including acne, excess facial hair, weight gain and infertility.
"[PCOS] begins at puberty in most cases, and will almost always appear by the mid-twenties," says Yen Tran, D.O, an OB-GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. "This is an affliction of young women and left untreated, its effects will last a lifetime."
Beyond reproductive age, women with PCOS have a greater likelihood of developing a number of health issues, and the risk of complications increases if they are overweight or obese. These conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include:
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The root cause of PCOS may be tied to a combination of insulin resistance (which is when your body can't use insulin effectively), irregular menstruation and excess male hormones, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). There may also be a hereditary link, as people with a mother, sister or aunt diagnosed with PCOS are at a higher risk of diagnosis themselves.
Symptoms of PCOSPCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, according to ACOG. Other symptoms associated with PCOS can include:
There is no definitive test to diagnose a patient with PCOS, says Erika Munch, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at the Texas Fertility Center in San Antonio. Rather, she describes diagnosis as one of exclusion, "meaning many other things can masquerade as PCOS."
"With a thorough medical history and a few well-chosen tests, a reproductive or medical endocrinologist or OB-GYN can accurately diagnose the condition," she says. "Some of these tests include bloodwork to look at hormone levels and a pelvic ultrasound to evaluate the ovaries."
Treatments for PCOSAs there is no cure for the condition, treatment for PCOS is all about managing symptoms.
The treatment largely depends on a patient's stage of life and their hopes for their reproductive future, adds Dr. Munch, and can include the following:
"Women who have PCOS can produce high levels of androgens (like testosterone) which can interfere with the development and release of mature eggs," says Dr. Munch. Without releasing eggs reliably, it can be difficult to time intercourse for a high chance of conceiving, she says.
But women with PCOS are not without hope—with the right help, most patients can get pregnant successfully, Dr. Munch adds.
If you have a PCOS diagnosis and are newly pregnant or hoping to conceive, it's imperative you work closely with your health care provider to monitor your health and that of your developing fetus.
Pregnant people with PCOS are at greater risk for developing preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication, and delivering a preterm infant. Additionally, PCOS may double the risk of developing gestational diabetes, and increase the risk of complications at delivery and birth.
When to See a DoctorAs to when women should seek medical help about a potential case of PCOS, the answer is immediately, says Dr. Tran. "Younger women should not be suffering in silence," she adds. Women with irregular menses or other signs of PCOS who are trying to conceive should speak with a board-certified fertility doctor right away to discuss their treatment options. With the right care, women impacted by this condition can alleviate symptoms, increase the likelihood of pregnancy and improve their overall quality of life.
How Does Parkinson's Disease Affect Women?
Parkinson's is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms worsen over time. In women, the first symptom upon diagnosis is usually tremors.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a condition that affects the nervous system. In PD, nerve cells in the brain that make the neurotransmitter dopamine become damaged or die. When this happens, it leads to symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, and slowed movement.
Your biological sex is an important risk factor for developing PD. When compared to women, 1.5 times as many men have PD.
Usually there's a physiological reason for a difference in disease between sexes. How does being female protect against PD? And do women and men experience PD symptoms differently? Continue reading to learn more.
The risk of developing PD increases with age. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the average age of onset for PD is about 70 years old.
There's evidence to suggest that PD may develop later in women than in men.
A 2007 study investigated the effect of biological sex on various characteristics of PD. The researchers evaluated 253 people living with PD. They found that, compared to men with PD, the age of disease onset was 2.1 years later in women.
However, a 2015 study found no difference in the age of onset between men and women.
According to a 2017 review, more research is needed.
PD is a progressive disease, which means that symptoms get worse over time. The main symptoms of PD are:
The symptoms of PD can vary greatly between individuals regardless of sex, and women may have different symptoms than men.
When women are first diagnosed, tremor is usually the dominant symptom. This form of PD is associated with a slower deterioration of motor functions, according to a 2020 study.
In contrast, the initial symptom in men is usually changes in balance or posture, which can include freezing of the gait and falling.
Differences in non-motor symptomsWhile motor symptoms make up the primary symptoms of PD, people living with PD can experience other potential symptoms as well. These may include:
A 2012 study of non-motor symptoms in 951 people with PD found that women were more likely to experience:
Meanwhile, researchers found that men were more likely to have non-motor symptoms such as:
Women also often report less satisfaction with their quality of life. A 2019 study surveyed quality of life in men and women with PD. Women with PD reported reduced quality of life due to pain and depression.
There's currently no cure for PD. However, medications can help improve symptoms associated with the condition.
Levodopa, also called L-DOPA, is a drug that nerve cells can use to make dopamine. Levodopa is often given with carbidopa, which helps to prevent the medication from being converted to dopamine before it reaches the brain. Carbidopa-levodopa is available under the brand names Sinemet, Duopa, and Rytary.
Other types of drugs that may be given for PD include:
When medications aren't effective at managing PD symptoms, other treatment options may be recommended. These include deep brain stimulation (DBS) and brain surgery.
Treatment challenges in womenWomen with PD may encounter more problems during treatment than men, and often take longer to seek treatment. A 2011 study found that the time between symptom onset and seeing a movement disorder specialist was 61 percent longer for women.
Women are also exposed to higher doses of PD medications such as levodopa. A 2014 study examined the levels of levodopa in the blood of 128 people with PD over 3 hours. It found that levodopa concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men during this time.
Higher exposure to levodopa can lead to an increased rate of negative side effects such as dyskinesia (abnormal involuntary movements).
Women also receive DBS or surgery less often than men do. A small 2003 study found that at the time of surgery, women had a longer duration of disease than men (15 years vs. 10 years). They also had more severe symptoms. However, after surgery they experienced more improved quality of life.
A 2014 study found that although DBS was equally effective for men and women, women were less likely to be treated due to more severe dyskinesia. Additionally, a 2019 study found that women were less likely to undergo DBS due to personal preference.
Why are there differences in PD between men and women? It seems likely that the hormone estrogen has a protective effect for women.
A 2020 cohort study found that a later age of menopause and longer duration of fertility were associated with a lower risk of PD. These are both markers of estrogen exposure over the course of a woman's lifetime.
What's not yet fully explained is why estrogen has this effect.
A 2019 review notes that that estrogen can promote the production, release, and turnover of dopamine. Additionally, the biological effects of estrogen may help protect women from damage due to inflammation or oxidative stress in the brain that can contribute to PD.
There's evidence that cognitive issues affect men and women differently.
A 2020 study compared the cognitive function of 84 people with PD to 59 participants without PD. Researchers found that men with PD had reduced processing speed and reduced executive function, despite having no significant differences in disease severity.
Processing speed refers to the amount of time that it takes you to perform a specific task. It may take longer for you to process and respond to information in order to get something done.
Executive function is important for a variety of things, including, but not limited to:
Additionally, a 2019 review notes that women with PD also retain more verbal fluency. Verbal fluency is a function that helps you retrieve specific bits of information from your memory.
PD rigidity can cause facial muscles to "freeze," leading to a mask-like expression. As a result, people with PD have difficulty expressing emotion with their faces. This can result in others misinterpreting their emotions or mood.
A 2018 study identified emotional cues that could give insight into the emotional states of people with PD. However, the researchers noted that smiling and laughing needed to be interpreted with caution, as women experiencing negative emotions or depression appeared to smile or laugh frequently.
People with PD can also have difficulty interpreting the facial expressions of others, but this topic can be controversial.
For example, a 2015 study found that people with PD recognized facial expressions with less accuracy than individuals without PD.
On the other hand, a 2019 study found no difference in facial expression processing between people with and without PD. However, when compared to younger individuals, older age was associated with poor facial expression processing, regardless of whether the study participant had PD or not.
Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder that occurs during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycle. Normally, a sleeping person doesn't move during sleep. In RBD, a person can move their limbs and seems to act out their dreams.
RBD is rare, but occurs more often in people with neurodegenerative diseases. A 2017 review of studies found that RBD is more common in people with PD who:
A 2016 study compared women with PD to women with PD and RBD. Researchers found that women with PD and RBD were more likely to:
Men and women often have different responses to the experience of living with PD. For example, women with PD tend to experience a higher rate of depression than men with PD do. As a result, they may receive medications for these conditions more often.
A 2020 study evaluated 64 people with PD for anxiety and depression. Depression was more common in women, individuals with a lower socioeconomic status, or those with a history of depression. Anxiety was more common in younger individuals or those with a history of anxiety.
A 2018 study assessed anxiety in 311 people with PD. Women with PD experienced more persistent and episodic anxiety.
Men with PD are more likely to exhibit behavioral problems and aggression, such as inappropriate or abusive behavior. Some research has reported that antipsychotic medications are prescribed at higher rates in men and in people with PD, specifically if they're experiencing dementia.
Social support can be a vital tool for coping with PD. A 2016 study found that good-quality social care greatly benefits both the physical and mental health of individuals with PD.
If you have PD and are seeking support, talk to your care team. They can advise you on various support resources, including support groups, in your area.
Additionally, you can explore the resources below:
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