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13 possible causes of pelvic pain that aren’t your period

Identifying the source of your discomfort can help you determine the best way to find relief.

Updated on July 23, 2024

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Whether it’s a sharp pain that comes and goes, or a dull, steady ache, pain in the pelvic area can be exhausting and, for some people, even debilitating. Pain in this area, generally described as the lower abdomen between your hip bones, can be caused by a variety of different conditions and sometimes more than one condition at the same time.

Pelvic pain may originateShow More

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Endometriosis

Pelvic pain and pressure are the most common symptoms of endometriosis, a condition in which the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus in places like the ovaries, fallopian tubes (which connect the ovaries to the uterus), intestines, or bladder. Endometriosis isShow More

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Uterine adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition similar to endometriosis, since it involves the tissue that usually lines the uterus. But with adenomyosis, the tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.

“The intense pelvic pain associated with adenomyosis typically follows trends with the menstrual cycle,” saysShow More

Black person sitting with abdominal pain
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Ovarian cysts

A cyst is a sac consisting of fluid and tissue. When one forms in or around the ovaries, it's known as an ovarian cyst. Small ovarian cysts don’t always cause symptoms. When ovarian cysts do cause symptoms they can lead to pain, pressure, and bloating. Ovarian cyst pain can feel dull or sharp,Show More

hot water, cramps, stomach ache, crossed arms, woman
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Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas or myomas, are non-cancerous growths that contain uterine muscle and fibrous connective tissue. “A fibroid slowly enlarges to a very firm ball-like mass,” says Letham. They can develop on the inside or outside of the uterus, inside the uterine wall itself,Show More

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Pregnancy and miscarriage

Up to 75 percent of people who are pregnant experience some sort of pelvic pain (or lower back pain) over the nine months of pregnancy. It can occur at any time due to the way the bones and ligaments loosen and shift in the body to accommodate the pregnancy, though pain is often most prominentShow More

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Ovulation

“Some people will have pain for a few short days during ovulation, which is usually sometime between day 11 and day 15 of their menstrual cycle,” says Letham. “This type of pain is technically called mittelschmerz, which is German for ‘middle’ and ‘pain.’”

This pain occurs because the ovary isShow More

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Urinary tract infections

In addition to gynecological issues, other health conditions can cause discomfort in the pelvic region. A urinary tract infection (UTI) most often occurs when bacteria get into the urinary tract and start to multiply in the bladder. The typical symptom is a burning sensation whileShow More

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Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is a chronic digestive condition that often triggers pain in the abdominal and pelvic areas. Bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea are also common symptoms.

Many IBS treatment options involve lifestyle changes, including:

  • Avoiding trigger foods
  • Gradually adding
  • Show More
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Pelvic inflammatory disease

Left untreated, certain sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the female reproductive organs. Other infections that are not sexually transmitted may also cause it. Douching can increase the risk for PID, asShow More

Healthcare provider doing ultrasound of someone's lower abdomen
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Ovarian torsion

A rare but serious condition, ovarian torsion is caused when the fallopian tubes or the ovary get twisted around the surrounding tissues. Also known as adnexal torsion, this condition usually happens on just one side. Warning signs in the form of cramps could occur for a few days or weeks before itShow More

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Interstitial cystitis

When the walls of the bladder get irritated, it can result in symptoms like bladder pressure, bladder pain, and needing to urinate more frequently but only having a small volume of urine. This condition is known as interstitial cystitis. Sometimes it can also cause pelvic pain, including painShow More

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Appendicitis

When the appendix, a small organ that's attached to your large intestine, becomes inflamed, it causes appendicitis. Between five and nine percent of people will get appendicitis at some point in their lives. Anyone can get it, though it’s slightly more common in young adults and in people assignedShow More

Someone sitting on an exam table and talking with a healthcare provider
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Musculoskeletal pain

A number of different health issues can affect the connective tissues, joints, and bones around the pelvis and cause recurring pelvic pain. If the pelvic floor muscles are tense or weak, either from being injured or from lack of use and exercise, it can be painful. These muscles can spasm or can beShow More

Young person talking with their healthcare provider
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See your healthcare provider if you have questions

The most important thing to remember about pelvic pain is that you should see your HCP for any pain that arrives suddenly or worsens, no longer responds to medications, or keeps you from daily activities, says Letham. Your HCP can examine you to determine what’s going on, refer you to anotherShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Endometriosis. Page last updated: April 1, 2019.
Mayo Clinic. Adenomyosis. June 18, 2020.
Li J-J, Chung JPW, Wang S, Li T-C, Duan H. The investigation and management of adenomyosis in women who wish to improve or preserve fertility. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:6832685.
Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ovarian cysts. Page last updated: April 1, 2019.
Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Uterine fibroids. Page last updated April 1, 2019.
Emily E. Bunce, MD and Robert P. Heine, MD. Pelvic Pain During Early Pregnancy. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Content last modified Jun 2021.
Kanakaris NK, Roberts CS, Giannoudis PV. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: an update. BMC Med. 2011;9:15.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Mittelschmerz. Review date March 8, 2019.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infection—UTI) in Adults. Accessed October 29, 2021.
Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Irritable bowel syndrome. Page last updated April 1, 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – CDC Fact Sheet.
Yale Medicine. Ovarian Torsion. Page accessed March 26, 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Interstitial cystitis. Page last updated September 29, 2021.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Appendicitis. Page last reviewed July 2021.
Mayo Clinic. Chronic Pelvic Pain. Page last updated February 28, 2024.
UCSF Health. Pelvic Pain. Page accessed March 26, 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Biofeedback. Page last updated March 18, 2023.

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