Pelvic Pain Isn’t Just ‘Period Pain’: Why Awareness Still Matters

Let’s set the record straight

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When you say “pelvic pain,” most people picture someone curled up on the couch with a hot water bottle and a packet of Panadol. But the reality is often more complex, and sometimes even misunderstood by those experiencing it — or even treating it.

Pelvic pain isn’t just “period pain.” And the danger of thinking it is? It keeps too many people undiagnosed, untreated, and unheard.

So let’s talk about pelvic pain — in a way that makes space for the real stories, the science, and why we still need greater awareness and understanding of pelvic pain causes, symptoms, and available treatments.

What Is Pelvic Pain? (Hint: It Can Be a Lot of Things)

Pelvic pain doesn’t always look or feel the same — and that’s part of what makes it hard to identify. Depending on the underlying cause, it might present as cramping, a sharp stab, a heavy ache, or even bloating. For some, the pain flares up only around their period, while for others, it lingers daily or unpredictably.

Here are some common forms it can take:

• Deep, aching pain during or after sex (dyspareunia)
• Shooting or stabbing sensations in the lower abdomen or near the ovaries
• Sharp or cramping pain before or during menstruation
• Pain with urination or a frequent urge to urinate (often seen in bladder pain syndrome)
• Pain with bowel movements, especially during menstruation
• A sensation of heaviness, dragging, or fullness in the pelvic region (sometimes described as “pressure” or “bearing down”)
• Nerve-like tingling, burning, or numbness around the vagina, vulva, perineum, or rectum (e.g. pudendal neuralgia)
• Pain that flares with movement, exercise, or prolonged sitting
• Persistent pain unrelated to your period, sometimes daily and unexplained
• Pain that radiates to the lower back, hips, or thighs
• Pain or discomfort when inserting a tampon or during a pelvic exam

Some people experience a dull, ongoing ache. Others describe sharp, stabbing sensations in the pelvic area. Because the symptoms can vary so much from person to person, pelvic pain is often misunderstood — even by doctors.

These symptoms may point to conditions like:

• Endometriosis
• Adenomyosis
• Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome)
• Vaginismus or vulvodynia
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)
• Nerve entrapment (e.g. pudendal neuralgia)
• Post-surgical adhesions or scarring
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Fibroids (uterine leiomyomas)
• Ovarian cysts

These conditions are potential causes of pelvic pain, but symptoms alone aren’t enough for diagnosis. A thorough assessment — often involving pelvic examination, imaging, and input from doctors and other specialists is — essential to determine the underlying cause and guide appropriate management.

Nearly one in two adult Australian women experience pelvic pain over a recent 5‑year period with diagnosis delays for conditions like endometriosis averaging around 6.5 years.

Let's not forget, pelvic pain doesn’t just affect the body — it can also take a toll on sleep, libido, energy, mood, and self-esteem. Just like pain itself isn’t ‘just in your head,’ the emotional impact is also real and valid. Mental and emotional wellbeing deserve just as much attention as physical symptoms in any treatment plan.

Why Pelvic Pain Awareness (Still) Matters

We’ve made progress in how we talk about periods and reproductive health — but pelvic pain still seems to slip through the cracks.

Too often, when someone describes pelvic pain, they’re met with a wave of dismissive responses — things like "It might be anxiety" or "that’s normal for women."

These kinds of comments — whether driven by outdated assumptions or unconscious bias — can leave people feeling dismissed and unheard. Over time, this not only erodes trust but delays diagnosis, treatment, and meaningful care.

A raised eyebrow here, a rushed appointment there — and suddenly years can pass before people receive a much-needed diagnosis. 

And because pelvic pain often lacks visible signs, it’s all too easy for it to be overlooked or misunderstood. It’s essential that we advocate for better care — and reject brushoffs shaped by outdated beliefs and limited research.

Pelvic pain deserves attention, not endurance.

The Cultural Blind Spot

If pelvic pain is so common, why is it still so hard to talk about — let alone treat?

The answer isn’t simple. It sits at the intersection of stigma, silence, and systemic failure. Here are just some of the reasons people struggle to speak up about pelvic pain — and why, even when they do, they’re often not believed:

• Social stigma and cultural conditioning
  From a young age, many people are taught to be discreet about anything related to menstruation, sex, or "down there." Pain is normalised, embarrassment is expected, and conversations around pelvic health are often considered inappropriate or too “personal” to discuss — even in medical settings.
  
  
• Medical gaslighting and diagnostic bias
  Patients reporting pelvic pain are frequently told it’s “just period pain,” “stress,” or “in their head.” This dismissals delays care and contributes to what’s now widely recognised as medical gaslighting. For example, research shows people wait an average of 6 to 12 years for diagnoses like endometriosis, often after seeing multiple doctors.
  

• Gaps in medical training and research
  Historically, conditions affecting women and people with uteruses — especially those without clear visual markers — have been under-researched, under-funded, and under-taught.
  
  Even when doctors know the next step is surgical investigation, access becomes the barrier: private referrals are expensive and often involve long waits, while public pathways can mean waiting years.

At the same time, care tends to focus on symptom management — with the pill, an IUD or pregnancy — rather than identifying the root cause. When those treatments bring relief, the investigation often ends, and underlying conditions can remain undiagnosed.

• Shame, fear, and self-doubt
  When you’ve been dismissed once (or several times), it gets harder to speak up again. Many people begin to second-guess their symptoms or downplay their pain — especially when it affects something intimate, like sex or going to the bathroom. The result? People delay care, minimise their experience, or stay silent altogether.
  

• Lack of visible symptoms
  Pelvic pain doesn’t always leave visible signs — no bruising, no swelling, no lab results that “prove” it hurts. That invisibility can make it harder for others to understand, and easier for clinicians to overlook.

It’s even harder when pelvic pain coexists with mental health challenges — which it often does. People living with both are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed, and less likely to have the energy, confidence or support to push back, seek a second opinion, or navigate complex referral systems. The very patients who need strong advocacy are often the ones most overlooked.

Talking about pelvic pain — and getting the help you need — shouldn’t require courage. But for many, it does.

That’s why awareness matters — because when we talk openly, we make it easier for others to be heard, believed, and treated with the care they deserve.

The Ongoing Cost of Being Dismissed

Pelvic pain is not rare — but too often, it’s still not taken seriously. When pain isn’t properly acknowledged, the effects ripple out — physically, emotionally, and socially.

According to the 2023 National Women’s Health Survey, nearly half (47%) of Australian women have experienced pelvic pain in the past five years. Among those affected:

• 57% reported negative impacts on their mental and emotional wellbeing
• 31% said it affected their relationship with a partner
• 22% reported strain in relationships with friends and family
• 45% needed to take leave or an extended break from work or study
  48% had to stop or reduce exercise

Despite this, only about half of those experiencing pelvic pain discussed it with a doctor. Among those who didn’t, 69% believed their symptoms weren’t severe enough to warrant medical attention, and 35% thought nothing could be done.

But here's the good news: treatment can—and often does—make a real difference. For example, a 2025 BMC Women’s Health study found that participants in a digital pelvic health program reported a 53.6 % reduction in pain after 12 weeks.

That means when people seek help and engage with evidence-based treatment — whether through digital programs, pelvic physiotherapy, or specialist care like Hazel—they can find relief and regain quality of life.

Let’s Reframe What Pelvic Pain Support Looks Like

Pelvic pain awareness isn’t just a hashtag. It’s the foundation for change. And that starts with:

What You Can Do (Beyond Raising an Eyebrow)

Whether you’re living with pelvic pain or supporting someone who is, we all have a role to play in creating better understanding and support. Here are some simple ways to help move the conversation forward — with empathy and intention:

• Stay open and informed: Everyone’s experience of pelvic pain is different. Asking thoughtful questions and turning to credible resources can go a long way in offering real support.
• Share what you know: You never know who’s quietly carrying something heavy. Pass this on — it might be exactly what they need to feel seen.
• Back practitioners who listen: Seek care from clinicians who take pelvic pain seriously. (At Hazel, that’s kind of our whole thing.)
• Use your voice: Whether it’s online or in your group chat, help normalise conversations about pelvic pain. Period.

Bringing Awareness to Pelvic Pain Treatments

Pelvic pain can be complex — but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Greater awareness is leading to better care, more research, and growing recognition of just how important this issue is. There are passionate doctors, researchers, naturopaths, pelvic physios, psychologists, and gynaecologists — including the team at Hazel — working every day to change the future of pelvic pain care

From physiotherapy and lifestyle support to medical treatments and specialist referrals, there are options available — and more people are getting the help they need.

You don’t have to have all the answers to take the first step. Talking to a compassionate, expert healthcare provider — like someone from the Hazel team — can be the beginning of real, lasting relief.

Finding Help With Hazel 

At Hazel, we’re not just here to treat pain — we’re here to reframe it. Through evidence-based care, compassionate conversations, and the development of targeted treatments, we’re supporting people on their journey to relief.

We believe that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and validated — especially in a healthcare system that’s been slow to catch up.

So no, pelvic pain isn’t just “period pain.” You know your body — and your experience is real.

It takes courage to talk about pain that’s often dismissed. You’re not alone — and you deserve care that listens without judgment.

If you're ready to take the next step, book an online consultation with a Hazel specialist today.