Many things can cause pelvic pain. Some different types of pelvic pain and conditions associated with pelvic pain include:
- Vaginal or vulval pain
- Period pain
- Endometriosis
- Variations in the shape of your uterus or vagina.
Vulval or vaginal pain
You might notice vulval or vaginal pain the first time you try to use a tampon.
Sometimes, this is because the opening to your vagina – the hymen – is a bit different. It can also be related to supersensitive nerves in the vulval and vaginal areas.
Variations in the shape of your uterus and vagina
The uterus and vagina, like other parts of the body, come in different shapes. Some people have a heart-shaped uterus. Others might have a uterus or vagina shape that stops blood from coming out easily – this happens more often in people born with a missing kidney or other renal tract variations.
Sometimes, these different organ shapes can make your periods more painful.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. It may grow on:
- your ovaries
- your fallopian tubes
- your pelvic lining
- other parts of your body.
There are no specific pain symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of endometriosis. Some people with endometriosis have period and pelvic pain, but others don’t have any pain at all. People with identical period and pelvic pain are just as likely to have no endometriosis.
Management for period and pelvic pain is often the same, whether there is endometriosis or not.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a condition where some of uterus lining (endometrium) grows between the muscle layers of your uterus. (see editorial note above)
It’s very uncommon in young people and sometimes misdiagnosed in people who have bigger or thicker uterus walls.