Pelvic Pain

“Pain that is felt in your lower belly
and above your legs
is called pelvic pain”.1

Umbrella

What may the Pelvic Pain Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Deep Dyspareunia
  • Pelvic Pain
  • Pudendal Neuralgia

Pelvic Pain

What is pelvic pain?

DotS the definition of pelvic pain may vary. The Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s (JH) definition is:

“Pain that is felt in your lower belly and above your legs is called pelvic pain”.2

The (United Kingdom) NHS definition is:

“Pelvic pain is felt in the lower part of your tummy. The type of pain varies, and it may be sudden and severe (acute pelvic pain) or last 6 months or longer (chronic pelvic pain)”.3

Chronic Pelvic Pain

What is chronic pelvic pain?

DotS the definition of chronic pelvic pain may vary. In Chronic Pelvic Pain In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the area below the bellybutton and between the hips that lasts six months or longer”.4

Women

Is pelvic pain more common in women?

In Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Pain In Women the NHS elaborate on:

“Pelvic pain is more common in women and common causes include:

  • Period pain
  • Conditions affecting female reproductive organs, such as an ovarian cyst or endometriosis
  • Pelvic pain in pregnancy

Rarely it could be something more serious, like an ectopic pregnancy, womb cancer or ovarian cancer”.5

Common or Not

How common is pelvic pain in women?

In For Women and People Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB): Endometriosis the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia note:

“Pelvic pain affects 1 in 5 Women and People Assigned Female at Birth at some time in their life, yet it is a condition that is rarely discussed”.6

Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

DotS the definition of endometriosis or “endo” may vary. In Endometriosis the JH elaborate on:

“Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those that line the uterus are found in other parts of the body, mainly in the pelvis and reproductive organs. This condition can cause mild to severe pain and may affect your fertility. It affects about one in seven women of reproductive age”.7

In Endometriosis: Symptoms and Causes – Complications the JH note:

“Endometriosis can affect different systems in the body. While pelvic pain is the most common symptom, women with endometriosis have a higher risk of other pain conditions, such as migraines and arthritis . Back, bladder and bowel pain, and associated conditions, are also common in women with endometriosis”.8

Pudendal Neuralgia

What is pudendal neuralgia?

In Pudendal Neuralgia: Disease Information – Summary the (United States) Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center elaborate on:

“Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the pudendal nerve is injured, irritated, or compressed. Symptoms include burning pain (often unilateral), tingling, or numbness in any of the following areas: buttocks, genitals, or perineum (area between the buttocks and genitals). Symptoms are typically present when a person is sitting but often go away when the person is standing or lying down. The pain tends to increase as the day progresses. Additional symptoms include pain during sex and needing to urinate frequently and/or urgently”.9

Look for A Pattern

Bowel Incontinence PatternCan keeping a record of the symptoms help?

In Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain the JH note:

“3.Keep track of your symptoms in a form that is easy and accessible for you. Jean Hailes has an excellent Period pain & symptom diary that you can download for free. Writing down your symptoms and treatments can be helpful when talking to different health professionals. It can also help you to work out if you are making progress”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have pelvic pain?

If you think you have pelvic pain, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Chronic Pelvic Pain: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor the Mayo Clinic explain:

“In general, see your healthcare professional if the pain disrupts your daily life or if your symptoms seem to get worse”.11

In Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain the JH elaborate on:

Pelvic Pain

  1. “If you feel you are not being heard by your doctor or health professional, do not be afraid to seek a second opinion
  2. A multidisciplinary team (one made up of experts in different fields) has been shown to be the best for managing persistent pelvic pain. Chronic pain is not just the immediate pain, but also involves and affects a number of areas of health and life, so approaching it from different angles and treating the whole person is crucial. The multidisciplinary team can include a specialist women’s health GP, a gynaecologist, a a pain specialist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a sexual counsellor, a naturopath and other complementary therapists”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Pelvic Pain?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Pelvic Pain?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 10 Ways To Reduce Pain
  2. An Irritable Bowel
  3. Bad Headache or Migraine
  4. Bladder Pain
  5. Chronic Pelvic Pain
  6. Chronic Pelvic Pain
  7. Chronic Pelvic Pain: FAQ
  8. Deep Pelvic Pain / Deep Dyspareunia
  9. Diagnosis
  10. Endometriosis
  11. Endometriosis
  12. Endometriosis: About Endometriosis [+ Videos]
  13. FAQs: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
  14. For Women and People Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB)
  15. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness
  16. Gynecologic Cancers
  17. How To Find Relief From Chronic Pelvic Pain
  18. Pelvic PainIPPS Informational Handouts [International Pelvic Pain Society]
  19. Links of Interest
  20. Managing Persistent Pelvic Pain
  21. May Is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month: Move Against Pelvic Pain
  22. Mayo Clinic Minute: When To Seek Care for Pelvic Pain [+ Video]
  23. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Endometrial Ablation When Pelvic Pain or Endometriosis Are Present
  24. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Struggling With IBS Symptoms
  25. Medications
  26. Pelvic PainMenopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  27. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Consumer Information on Pain
  28. National Pain Week: Highlighting Persistent Pelvic Pain
  29. Pain Where You Sit – Pudendal Neuralgia
  30. Pelvic Exam
  31. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  32. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  33. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  34. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
  35. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Diagnosis
  36. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Treatment
  37. Pelvic Pain
  38. Pelvic Pain
  39. Pelvic Pain
  40. Pelvic PainPelvic Pain Conditions
  41. Pelvic Pain In Australian Women
  42. Pelvic Pain In Women and AFAB
  43. Pelvic Pain: Causes
  44. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
  45. Pelvicpain.org [International Pelvic Pain Society]
  46. Pelvicpain.org [International Pelvic Pain Society]: Find A Healthcare Professional
  47. Pelvicpain.org.au [Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia]
  48. Pelvicpain.org.uk [Pelvic Pain Support Network, United Kingdom]
  49. Pelvicpain.org.uk [Pelvic Pain Support Network, United Kingdom]: Resources and Clinics
  50. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  51. Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder
  52. Persistent Pelvic PainPelvic Pain
  53. Persistent Pelvic Pain and Sleep
  54. Pudendal.hope.info [Health Organization for Pudendal Education]
  55. Pudendal Neuralgia
  56. Pudendal Neuralgia
  57. Questions for Your Health Professional
  58. Supportincontinence.org [Support Incontinence, United Kingdom]
  59. Symptom Checker: Pelvic Pain In Adult Females
  60. Talking About Pelvic Pain
  61. The Impact of Pelvic Pain Is Vastly Underestimated
  62. The Overlapping Impact of Pelvic Pain & GI Disorders In Endometriosis
  63. Treatment
  64. Understanding Long-Term (Chronic) Pelvic Pain
  65. Video Animation for Women: Persistent Pelvic Pain
  66. Wfipp.org [World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems]
  67. What Causes Pelvic Pain In Women?
  68. What Could Be Causing Pain In Your Pelvis?
  69. Why We’re Zeroing In on Pelvic Pain

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help. Last Updated: 14 November 2024 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 24 February 2025
  2. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help. Last Updated: 14 November 2024 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 24 February 2025
  3. Pelvic Pain. Page Last Reviewed: 17 March 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-pain/ Accessed: 24 February 2025
  4. Chronic Pelvic Pain: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 15 November 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-pelvic-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20354368 Accessed: 24 February 2025
  5. Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Pain In Women. Page Last Reviewed: 17 March 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-pain/#sudden-unexpected-pelvic-pain Accessed: 24 February 2025
  6. For Women and People Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB): Endometriosis. Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/for-women/ Accessed: 24 February 2025
  7. Endometriosis. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/endometriosis Accessed: 24 February 2025
  8. Endometriosis: Symptoms and Causes – Complications. Last Updated: 01 October 2024 | Last Reviewed: 31 January 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/endometriosis/symptoms-causes Accessed: 24 February 2025
  9. Pudendal Neuralgia: Disease Information – Summary. Last Updated: January 2025. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10713/pudendal-neuralgia Accessed: 24 February 2025
  10. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 14 November 2024 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 24 February 2025
  11. Chronic Pelvic Pain: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 15 November 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-pelvic-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20354368 Accessed: 24 February 2025
  12. Pelvic Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help – Key Advice for Persistent Pelvic Pain. Last Updated: 14 November 2024 | Last Reviewed: 02 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/pelvic-pain-know-the-differences-and-when-to-seek-help Accessed: 24 February 2025
Topic Last Updated: 24 February 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 February 2025

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