Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Pelvic pain is pain in the lowest part of your abdomen and pelvis. Pelvic pain might refer to symptoms arising from the reproductive, urinary or digestive systems, or from muscles and ligaments in the pelvis.

Depending on its source, pelvic pain can be dull or sharp; it might be constant or off and on (intermittent); and it might be mild, moderate or severe. Pelvic pain can spread to your lower back, buttocks or thighs. You might notice pelvic pain only at certain times, such as when you use the bathroom or have sex.

Pelvic pain can occur suddenly, sharply and briefly (acute) or over the long term (chronic). Chronic pelvic pain refers to any constant or intermittent pelvic pain that has been present for six months or more.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

July 03, 2021

See also

  1. Beating Ovarian Cancer
  2. Bladder cancer
  3. Infographic: Bladder Cancer
  4. What is bladder cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  5. Bladder cancer FAQs
  6. Bladder cancer treatment options
  7. Bladder infection in men
  8. CA 125 test: A screening test for ovarian cancer?
  9. Cervical cancer
  10. What is cervical cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  11. Cervical cancer FAQs
  12. Cervical dysplasia: Is it cancer?
  13. Chronic bladder infection
  14. Cystitis
  15. Ectopic pregnancy
  16. Endometrial cancer
  17. Epididymitis
  18. Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
  19. Glowing Cancer Surgery
  20. Gonorrhea
  21. Gynecologic Cancers
  22. Interstitial cystitis
  23. Molar pregnancy
  24. New immunotherapy approved for metastatic bladder cancer
  25. Ovarian cancer
  26. Ovarian cancer: Still possible after hysterectomy?
  27. Ovarian cysts
  28. Ovarian cysts and infertility: A connection?
  29. Pap test: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
  30. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  31. Pomegranate juice: A cure for prostate cancer?
  32. Prostate Cancer
  33. Prostate cancer
  34. Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
  35. What is prostate cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  36. Infographic: Prostate Cancer: Choline c-11
  37. Prostate cancer metastasis: Where does prostate cancer spread?
  38. Prostate cancer prevention
  39. Prostate cancer FAQs
  40. Rickets
  41. Robotic bladder surgery
  42. Scientists propose a breast cancer drug for some bladder cancer patients
  43. Small bowel prolapse (enterocele)
  44. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome
  45. Uterine fibriods FAQs
  46. Uterine fibroids
  47. What are uterine fibroids? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  48. Vaginal cancer