Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Pelvic pain is pain in the lowest part of the stomach area and pelvis. It can refer to symptoms that come from the:

  • Reproductive system, which includes the organs and tissues involved in pregnancy and giving birth.
  • Urinary system, which removes waste from the body through urine.
  • Digestive system, which takes in, digests and absorbs nutrients from food and drink.

Pelvic pain also can refer to symptoms that come from muscles and connective tissue called ligaments in the pelvis.

Depending on its source, the pain can be:

  • Dull or sharp.
  • Constant or off and on.
  • Mild to severe.

The pain can spread to the lower back, buttocks or thighs. You might notice it only at certain times, such as when you use the bathroom or have sex.

Pelvic pain can come on suddenly. It may be sharp and last for a short time, also known as acute pain. Or it can last a long time and happen over and over again. This is called chronic pain. Chronic pelvic pain is any constant or off-and-on pelvic pain that lasts six months or more.

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Nov. 14, 2024

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  27. Ovarian cysts
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  30. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  31. Prostate cancer
  32. Prostate cancer FAQs
  33. Prostate cancer prevention: Ways to reduce your risk
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  43. Types of prostate cancer: Common and rare forms
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