Have you ever felt a heavy feeling in your pelvic space and questioned if one thing was flawed? Even if it doesn’t damage precisely, the heaviness will be uncomfortable and make you anxious should you don’t know what’s occurring.
You in all probability don’t have to fret — many causes of pelvic heaviness are frequent and simply treatable — however typically you need to discuss to your HCP to make sure.
We’ve put collectively a listing of some frequent causes for pelvic heaviness.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy signs change all through the months, however one symptom when you could have a child on board is heaviness in your pelvic space. This is smart while you bear in mind your intestines and organs are being pushed and moved to make room to your increasing uterus. If your being pregnant is additional alongside, you may additionally expertise a heaviness from fluid and tissue development.
Prolapse
Vaginal prolapse, one kind of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), is when a few of your vaginal or uterine tissues transfer into the vaginal canal. This occurs when your pelvic ground muscle mass grow to be weak or get broken and may’t maintain up your organs and preserve tissues in place. Women are embarrassed to speak about it, however it’s comparatively frequent — about 1 in 3 ladies expertise vaginal prolapse sooner or later throughout their lifetimes.
Many ladies with POP don’t expertise any signs, however one of many extra frequent signs is a sense of heaviness within the pelvic space or stress within the pelvis and vagina. It would possibly even really feel like one thing is falling out of your vagina (spoiler alert: it completely might be). Other signs embrace bother emptying your bowels, ache throughout intercourse and constipation.
Urinary tract an infection (UTI)
A urinary tract an infection (UTI) could cause a sense of heaviness or decrease belly ache.
UTIs can grow to be extra critical and result in kidney infections which may trigger harm and result in sepsis. If you are feeling burning ache while you urinate or a relentless urge to urinate, have an uncommon odor or shade in your urine, have a fever or really feel shaky, or expertise belly ache, you may have a UTI and may contact your healthcare supplier (HCP) instantly.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a situation the place tissues much like those that make up your uterine lining develop exterior of the uterus, together with within the pelvis, bowel, fallopian tubes and ovaries, and may keep on with different organs. This tissue development can result in ache and infertility and — you guessed it: trigger heaviness within the pelvic space or stomach. If you could have painful menstrual cramps, ache throughout intercourse, heavy durations, recognizing or painful bowel actions, ensure you inform your HCP.
Constipation
Not having the ability to poop for a number of days can positively be the perpetrator in case your decrease stomach feels heavy. Constipation is frequent, and most of the people expertise it sooner or later. Changes in weight loss plan, train, sickness, drugs or different life-style elements — like journey — could cause constipation. Adding fiber and extra fluids to your weight loss plan could assist.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), additionally referred to as STDs (sexually transmitted illnesses), could cause emotions of heaviness within the pelvic space. For instance, chlamydia could cause pelvic discomfort and, when left untreated, can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may trigger endometriosis, infertility and different well being circumstances.
You could expertise a burning sensation when urinating and/or have discharge from the vagina, ache or discomfort throughout intercourse, and ultimately decrease again or excessive pelvic or belly ache. STIs can even trigger itchiness and odors.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is an an infection of the appendix that usually requires surgical procedure. It most frequently causes ache on the decrease proper aspect of the stomach, however may trigger a heavy belly feeling for some individuals. Heaviness in the correct aspect of your pelvis or stomach that will get extra painful over time — or ache that’s so dangerous, you possibly can’t leap — can point out appendicitis. Medical remedy is important, so search care instantly.
Ovarian cyst
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on ovaries. They could cause little or no discomfort, are usually innocent, and require no remedy. At different instances, although, they could burst or twist, inflicting ache and, if not handled, can harm or destroy ovaries.
Most individuals who develop ovarian cysts and expertise signs that aren’t a medical emergency will discover some fullness, stress or a heavy feeling within the pelvic space. They may expertise ache on one aspect, bloating or sharp ache under the stomach button. If the ache is sudden, extreme, won’t go away or is accompanied by fever, nausea, lightheadedness or dizziness, search emergency care.
Period
For those that menstruate, interval signs can vary from non-existent to excessive. Feelings of heaviness within the pelvis are comparatively frequent throughout your interval. As the amount of blood within the uterus will increase, it would trigger that heavy sensation in your pelvis. During or main as much as your interval, you may additionally expertise water retention, bloating and gastrointestinal points that trigger heaviness, akin to constipation.
Uterine or Ovarian Cancer
Although uncommon, emotions of heaviness within the pelvic space or decrease stomach can point out uterine or ovarian most cancers. Ovarian most cancers typically develops with few signs, however one symptom will be heaviness. Other signs embrace feeling full rapidly or having problem consuming, pelvic ache, again ache, fatigue, constipation, ache throughout intercourse, and bother peeing or an pressing must pee.
If you could have heaviness in your pelvic space and any of those different signs, inform your HCP instantly.
Fibroids
A fibroid is normally a non-cancerous mass of muscle tissue that develops contained in the uterine wall. Fibroids are very common: About 4 out of 5 ladies may have fibroids earlier than age 50, however solely about 1 out of 5 of them will expertise signs.
When there are signs, heavy bleeding is the most typical, however heaviness within the pelvic space may occur. This stress or heaviness is usually because of a rise in uterus measurement from the fibroid. Bowel or bladder stress may happen if fibroids put stress on these organs. When this occurs, you could have bother with constipation or peeing. Sometimes fibroids can shrink on their very own, however typically they want remedy.
As you possibly can see, the explanations for a heavy feeling in your pelvis could vary from nothing to fret about to one thing critical. If you’re nervous about your pelvis feeling heavy or in case you have any of the extra regarding signs mentioned above, make sure to inform your HCP.