Have you ever had a heavy feeling in your pelvis and wondered what was wrong? Even if it doesn’t hurt, the weight might be uncomfortable and cause anxiety if you don’t understand what’s happening.

You probably don’t need to be concerned – many reasons for pelvic heaviness in women are common and easily curable — but you should consult your health care professional to be sure.

Reasons for Pelvic Heaviness in Women

Pregnancy

Pregnancy sensations vary throughout the months, but one indication of having a baby is heaviness in your pelvis. This makes sense when you consider that your intestines and organs are being pushed and shifted to make way for your growing uterus. If your pregnancy is advanced, you may also feel heaviness due to fluid and tissue development.

Prolapse

Vaginal prolapse, a kind of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), occurs when part of your vaginal or uterine tissues enter the vaginal canal. This occurs when your pelvic floor muscles become weak or injured, unable to support your organs and maintain tissues in place. Women feel ashamed to discuss it, yet it is rather common – around one-third of women have vaginal prolapse at some point in their lives.

Many women with POP do not have any symptoms, although one of the most prevalent is a sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis and vagina. It may even feel like something is falling out of your vagina. Additional manifestations include digestive issues, sex discomfort, and constipation.

Urinary tract infections (UTI)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) may produce heaviness or discomfort in the lower abdomen.

UTIs can progress to kidney infections, causing damage and eventually leading to sepsis. If you suffer scorching pain when urinating or a continual desire to urinate, have an odd odour or colour in your urine, have a temperature or feel shaky, or have stomach discomfort, you may have a UTI and should call your healthcare provider (HCP) immediately.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissues identical to those found in your uterine lining develop outside of the uterus, including the pelvis, intestine, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and can adhere to other organs. This tissue development can cause discomfort, infertility, and, as you might expect, heaviness in the pelvis or abdomen. If you have unpleasant menstrual cramps, discomfort during sex, heavy periods, spotting, or painful bowel movements, notify your healthcare provider.

Constipation

If your lower abdomen feels heavy for a few days, it might be due to a lack of bowel movements. Constipation is widespread, and almost everyone experiences it at some point. Changes in food, exercise, sickness, drugs, and other lifestyle changes, such as travel, can all induce constipation. Including fibre and additional water in your diet may assist.

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STIs

Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), often known as STDs (sexually transmitted illnesses), might make you feel heavy in the pelvis. Chlamydia, for example, can cause pelvic pain and, if left untreated, can progress to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can result in endometriosis, infertility, and other health issues.

You may feel a burning feeling when peeing, have vaginal discharge, suffer pain or discomfort during sex, and eventually develop lower back or acute pelvic or abdominal pain. STIs can also cause itching and odour.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a medical condition of the appendix that usually necessitates surgery. It often produces pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, although it can also cause a heavy abdominal sensation for some people. Appendicitis can be identified by heaviness in the right side of your pelvis or abdomen that worsens over time, or discomfort so severe that you can’t jump. Medical attention is critical, so seek it quickly.

Ovarian cyst

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries. They produce little or no pain, are usually harmless, and do not require treatment. They can also rupture or twist, producing discomfort and, if left untreated, damaging or destroying the ovaries.

Most patients who develop ovarian cysts and have non-emergency symptoms will detect fullness, pressure, or a heavy feeling in their pelvis. They may also feel pain on one side, bloating, or a sharp sensation beneath the belly button. Seek emergency attention if your pain is sudden, intense, persistent, or accompanied by fever, nausea, lightheadedness, or dizziness.

Period

Period symptoms for menstruating women can range from non-existent to severe. Feelings of heaviness in the pelvis are rather normal during your period. As the volume of blood in the uterus rises, you may feel a heavy sensation in your pelvis. During or just before your period, you may also suffer water retention, bloating, and gastrointestinal disorders that produce heaviness, such as constipation.

Uterine or ovarian cancer

Although uncommon, sensations of heaviness in the pelvis or lower abdomen may suggest uterine or ovarian cancer. Heaviness is one of the few signs of ovarian cancer. Other symptoms include feeling full fast or having difficulty eating, pelvic discomfort, back pain, weariness, constipation, sex pain, difficulty urinating or the need to pee immediately.

If you have pelvic heaviness along with any of the other symptoms listed above, contact your healthcare provider right once.

Fibroids

A fibroid is often a non-cancerous lump of muscle tissue that forms within the uterine wall. Fibroids are quite common: approximately four out of every five women will develop fibroids by the age of fifty, yet only one out of every five will suffer symptoms.

When symptoms appear, severe bleeding is the most prevalent, but heaviness in the pelvic region may also occur. This pressure or heaviness is often caused by a fibroid-induced increase in uterine size. Fibroids can also impose strain on the bowels and bladder. This might lead to constipation or difficulty urinating. Fibroids can diminish on their own, but they may also require treatment.

Conclusion, as you can see, there are a variety of reasons why you could feel heavy in your pelvis, ranging from nothing to be concerned about to a major issue. Tell your Health Care professional if you experience any of the more severe symptoms mentioned above, or if you’re concerned about your pelvis feeling heavy.