Pelvic Pain

The pelvis is the lower part of the abdomen, below the belly button and between the hip bones. The bladder and bowels are in the pelvis. A woman’s pelvis contains the vagina, uterus and ovaries, while a man’s pelvis contains the prostate. Any of these structures can cause pain. Pelvic pain can also come from muscles, nerves and bones in the area.

Pelvic pain can be constant, or it can come and go. There are many possible causes, which may involve:

• Overactive pelvic floor muscles
• Endometriosis, a condition where the lining of the uterus travels out to the pelvis and abdomen
• Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome, a chronic bladder health issue
• Inflamed prostate
• Constipation or hemorrhoids

If you have pelvic pain, make an appointment to see your doctor. The pain can almost always be improved.

To help the doctor find the best treatment, it may be helpful to tell them:

• When and how the pain started
• What makes it better or worse
• What treatments you’ve already tried
• What tests you’ve had to diagnose the pain and the results

Bring any medical records of past testing and treatment with you so your doctor can review and discuss next steps.