Pelvic pain: when to get help

Pelvic pain is pain in the lower part of your tummy. The NHS says it can be sudden and severe, or last for 6 months or more. Most of the time it has a common cause, but some causes need urgent treatment, so it helps to know the difference.

Common causes

• Period pain. Very common (see the cramp guide).
• Ovulation pain. A brief ache in the middle or on one side of your lower tummy around ovulation is common, says Cleveland Clinic.
• Ovarian cysts. Very common, usually harmless and often go away on their own. The NHS says they usually only cause symptoms if they burst, are very large, or twist.
• Endometriosis, where tissue like the womb lining grows elsewhere.
• Constipation, IBS or a urine infection.
• Infections of the womb, tubes and ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease, PID).

The NHS says rarer but more serious causes include an egg that starts to grow outside the womb (ectopic), appendicitis, womb cancer and ovarian cancer. This is why it asks you not to self-diagnose.

Call 999 or go to A&E if

• The pain is severe, getting worse, or hurts when you move or touch the area.
• You feel faint, dizzy or lightheaded, or pass out.
• You have pain in the tip of your shoulder.
• You have difficulty breathing or suddenly feel confused.
• You have heavy bleeding from your vagina.
• You have a sharp, sudden, intense pain in your lower tummy.

Do not drive yourself. Ask someone to take you, or call 999.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you have pelvic pain and

• It comes and goes (this can be a sign of PID).
• You find it hard to pee or poo, or there is blood in your pee or poo.
• You have unusual discharge or bleeding.
• You have pain when peeing or need to pee more than usual.
• You have a very high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery.
• You have vomiting or diarrhoea, or feel sick.
• There is any chance you could be expecting a baby. If you have missed a period and have pain on one side or unusual bleeding, say so straight away.

For a known or suspected ovarian cyst, the NHS also says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you have sudden, severe pelvic pain, or tummy pain together with feeling or being sick.

Book a GP appointment if

• Your pelvic pain comes and goes, or does not go away.
• You have bloating that comes and goes or does not go away.
• You are losing weight without trying, feel full quickly, or have no appetite.
• You have constipation or diarrhoea that does not go away.