What you may notice
Pelvic pain is felt low in the abdomen, between the hips. It may be dull, dragging, sharp, cyclical or persistent, and may affect sleep, work or intimacy. Tell the doctor whether it relates to periods, standing, intercourse, passing urine or opening the bowels. A symptom diary can help describe the pattern.
Uterus and ovaries
Bladder and urine outlet
Large and small bowel
What could cause it?
Possible causes include endometriosis (tissue similar to the womb lining outside the womb), adenomyosis (lining-like tissue in the uterine muscle), fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic infection, bladder problems, constipation or irritable bowel syndrome, and pelvic-floor or back-muscle problems. Pelvic venous disease is another possibility; a dragging ache may worsen with standing or after intercourse. These patterns overlap. Enlarged veins on a scan alone do not prove that the veins cause the pain. Assessment may include a pregnancy test, urine tests, examination and pelvic ultrasound, with other tests chosen from the findings.
When to contact a doctor
Arrange a medical or gynaecological review for ongoing or recurrent pain, pain affecting daily life, bloating that persists, or unexplained weight loss. Fever, vomiting, abnormal discharge or difficulty passing urine needs urgent assessment. Sudden severe pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, or pain with possible pregnancy—especially shoulder-tip pain or dizziness—needs emergency care. Call 108; ectopic pregnancy or a twisted ovary must not be missed.
How interventional radiology may help
Treatment follows the cause and may involve medicines, physiotherapy, gynaecological care or surgery. If specialist assessment links symptoms to abnormal pelvic-vein reflux, IR may close the responsible veins by embolisation. Significant venous obstruction needs separate evaluation. Embolisation does not treat every cause of pelvic pain; discuss persistent symptoms, recurrence and procedure risks before choosing it.
Further reading: detailed assessment and treatment options
Patient information sources
References are in English.
Educational information, not a diagnosis. The causes listed are examples, not a complete list. Tests and treatment depend on your individual assessment.