ExplorePelvic & period health
Pelvic pain
Pelvic pain is common and has many possible reasons. Pain that is severe, getting worse, or affecting your daily life is always worth taking to a GP — you do not need to wait until it is unbearable.
Common symptoms
- Cramping, dragging or stabbing pain low in the abdomen
- Pain that changes across your cycle, or pain that never lets up
- Pain with sex, with periods, when weeing or when opening your bowels
- Pain that spreads to the lower back, hips or thighs
Useful to track
- Where the pain sits, and whether it is one side or both
- Pain score out of 10 at its best and worst each day
- What you were doing when it started or worsened
- Cycle day, bleeding, bowel and bladder changes
- What helped: heat, rest, medication, movement
Tests and conversations that may be relevant
- A history and examination with a GP is usually the first step
- Pelvic ultrasound (often transvaginal) can look at the ovaries and uterus
- Swabs or urine tests if infection is possible — ask for a standard sexual health panel, which usually starts with chlamydia and gonorrhoea
- If those come back negative but pain continues, ask about testing for Mycoplasma genitalium — it is not always included in a routine check, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and, untreated, can lead to blocked fallopian tubes, so it is worth ruling out early
- Blood tests to check for anaemia, inflammation or pregnancy
- Normal scans do not mean your pain is not real — endometriosis often does not show on ultrasound
When to see a GP or specialist
- Pain that regularly stops you working, studying, sleeping or exercising
- Pain that has changed in pattern or is getting worse
- Pain with sex, or new pain after a new partner
- Pain plus trouble falling pregnant
Urgent warning signs
- Sudden, severe one-sided pain, especially with feeling faint — go to an emergency department
- Pain with fever, shaking chills or feeling very unwell
- Heavy bleeding soaking a pad an hour
- Severe pain in early pregnancy or with a positive pregnancy test
In Australia, call 000 or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Questions to take to a clinician
- What are the most likely explanations for my pattern of pain?
- What would change your thinking about the cause?
- If my scan is normal, what is the next step?
- Can we make a plan for pain relief while we investigate?
Related
eophi shares general information reviewed against Australian guidance. It never diagnoses. If something feels urgent, call 000 or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.