The pelvis is a group of bones between your hips. These bones surround lower belly organs, such as the bladder and bowels, and female organs such as the uterus (womb) and ovaries. Pain in these organs is felt in the pelvic area and is sometimes called pelvic pain. Pelvic pain is common in women but can be very serious.
Pelvic pain can be mild or severe and can make your pelvic area feel tender
The pain may come on suddenly and may be constant or come and go
Many women get cramps right before or during their monthly period, which is normal
See a doctor right away if you feel sudden, intense pelvic pain—it can be a sign of a serious problem
What causes pelvic pain?
The most common cause of pelvic pain is:
Cramps from having your monthly period (menstrual cramps)
You may also have cramps between periods, when your body releases an egg (called ovulating).
The most dangerous causes of pelvic pain include:
Appendicitis—an infection in your appendix, a small organ located between your small and large intestines
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy—a pregnancy in the wrong place, such as in your fallopian tubes, which connect your ovaries to your uterus (womb)
A twisted ovary
Bleeding or tearing in a blood vessel or organ
If you have one of these causes, doctors may need to do surgery.
Other causes of pelvic pain include:
Problems with your ovaries—such as a cyst on an ovary
Problems with your fallopian tubes—such as an infection in them
Problems with your bladder—such as an infection or bladder stones
Problems with your large bowel—such as constipation, gastroenteritis, or diverticulitis
Pregnancy, such as a miscarriage
Cancer of various organs
When should I see a doctor for pelvic pain?
See a doctor right away if you have pelvic pain and any of these warning signs:
Dizziness, fainting, or shock (a dangerously low drop in blood pressure)
Fever or chills
Sudden, intense pain, especially if you're also feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, and sweating a lot
See a doctor the same day if you've never had pelvic pain before and the pain is constant and getting worse.
See a doctor the same day or within a few days if you have pelvic pain plus vaginal bleeding after you’ve stopped having your monthly period (menopause).
If you keep having pelvic pain but have no other signs, see a doctor when you can, but a delay of several days is usually not harmful.
What will happen when I go to the doctor for pelvic pain?
Doctors will ask you questions about your pain and do an exam. You may also have some tests:
Tests on your urine to tell if you’re pregnant or if you have a UTI (urinary tract infection)
An ultrasound, a CT (computed tomography) scan, or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) (tests that show pictures of the inside of your pelvic area)
If you have very bad or lasting pain and other tests don’t show what's causing it, you may need a surgical procedure called laparoscopy. With this procedure, doctors give you medicine to put you to sleep (anesthesia). Doctors then make a small cut just below your belly button and insert a viewing tube to see what the problem is.
How do doctors treat pelvic pain?
Doctors treat the cause of your pelvic pain, if they can. They may give you pain medicine to make you feel better until they figure out what's causing your pain. But it's important for the doctors to see what's causing your pain and not just cover up the pain with medicine.
