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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A doctor can assess the pain, plan pain relief and daily changes, and arrange physiotherapy, which is in person.
- What it is: pain at the front or back of the pelvis from joints moving unevenly or stiffly; it used to be called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).
- How common: up to 1 in 5 pregnant women have it to some degree, and it is more common later in pregnancy.
- Your baby: it does not harm your baby, and most women with it can have a vaginal birth; around 1 in 10 women have pain that continues after the birth and needs further treatment.
- Emergency: contact your maternity unit straight away for pelvic pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings.
Do not book a video appointment if pelvic pain comes with vaginal bleeding, regular tightenings, leaking fluid, a fever, pain when peeing, or your baby moving less: contact your maternity unit straight away. Call 112 for sudden severe pain with feeling faint.
Can an online doctor treat pelvic girdle pain?
Yes, usually. Pelvic girdle pain is recognised from where and when it hurts, and most of what helps is advice, pain relief and the right exercises. A doctor by video can confirm the pattern, rule out other causes of pelvic pain, plan pain relief that is safe in pregnancy and the changes that ease daily life, and arrange a pregnancy physiotherapist and aids such as a support belt or crutches. Pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings needs your maternity unit.
How an online consultation helps with pelvic girdle pain
- The pattern confirmed: Where it hurts, and which movements set it off.
- Other causes ruled out: Labour, a urine infection, round ligament pain or a hip problem.
- Daily life made easier: How to dress, sleep, get in a car and manage stairs with less pain.
- Physiotherapy arranged: A pregnancy physiotherapist, exercises, a support belt or crutches.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation for pelvic girdle pain
The doctor maps the pain and checks that nothing else is causing it. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: bleeding, regular tightenings, leaking fluid, fever, pain when peeing, or fewer movements.
- Where it hurts: over the pubic bone, across the lower back, in the groin, between the vagina and anus, or down the thighs.
- What sets it off: walking, stairs, standing on one leg, turning over in bed, or getting out of a car.
- Clicking or grinding: a feeling or sound in the pelvis.
- Your history: back or pelvic pain before, a pelvic injury, PGP in an earlier pregnancy, or hypermobility.
- Daily life: sleep, work, childcare, and the pain relief you have tried.
Before the call, notice which movements make the pain worse and which ease it.
What is pelvic girdle pain?
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is pain at the front and/or back of the pelvis in pregnancy, caused by the pelvic joints moving unevenly or becoming stiff. It used to be called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), after the joint at the front of the pelvis.
It can involve the sacroiliac joints at the back, the symphysis pubis joint at the front, or both, and it makes the pelvis less stable. The baby's weight and changes in your posture add strain. It is not harmful to your baby, but it can be painful and make it hard to get around.
How common is pelvic girdle pain?
It affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women to some degree. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and they are more common later in pregnancy.
Where is pelvic girdle pain felt, and what does it feel like?
Pain over the pubic bone at the front, about level with your hips, across one or both sides of your lower back, or in the area between the vagina and anus, sometimes spreading to the thighs, hips or knees. Some women feel or hear a clicking or grinding in the pelvis.
What makes it worse?
- walking, especially on uneven ground or for a long way
- going up or down stairs
- standing on one leg, for example when dressing or getting into the bath
- turning over in bed
- moving your legs apart, for example getting out of a car
- sex
Is inner thigh pain normal late in pregnancy?
Pain spreading into the groin and thighs can be part of pelvic girdle pain. Thigh or groin pain with pain on one side of the bump, regular tightenings, fever or bleeding needs checking.
Who is more likely to get pelvic girdle pain?
The exact cause is unknown. It is more likely if you have:
- had lower back pain or pelvic girdle pain before
- had an injury to your pelvis
- had pelvic girdle pain in an earlier pregnancy
- a physically demanding job
- hypermobility syndrome
- overweight
What helps pelvic girdle pain?
Staying active within the limits of the pain, resting when you can, keeping your knees together when you move, and avoiding the movements that set it off. Diagnosing it early keeps the pain to a minimum.
Do
- stay active, but avoid what makes the pain worse
- rest when you can, and change position often; avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time
- wear supportive shoes, and stand tall with your weight even on both legs
- sit down to get dressed and undressed
- keep your knees together when getting in and out of a car, and when turning over in bed
- sleep on your less painful side, with a pillow between your knees and one under your bump
Avoid
- sitting or standing for long periods
- going up and down stairs more than you need to
- lifting heavy things, such as shopping bags, or carrying a child on one hip
- standing on one leg, crossing your legs, or sitting on the floor or twisted
- stooping, bending or twisting to lift
How is pelvic girdle pain treated?
Physiotherapy is the main treatment, with exercises for the pelvic floor, tummy, back and hip muscles, alongside regular pain relief, aids such as a support belt or crutches, and changes at home and at work.
- Physiotherapy: from a physiotherapist who specialises in pregnancy pelvic problems, to ease pain and improve how the joints and muscles work.
- Hands-on treatment: from a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor who specialises in PGP in pregnancy; it should not hurt.
- Pain relief: paracetamol, taken regularly, is safe in pregnancy; stronger medicines are discussed with a doctor.
- Heat and water: warm baths, heat or ice packs, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture.
- Aids: a pelvic support belt or crutches, and for a while a bath board, a shower chair, a bed lever or a raised toilet seat.
- Work: avoid long periods of sitting and heavy lifting, and consider shorter hours or stopping work earlier.
For severe pain, a stay on the antenatal ward for physiotherapy and pain relief may be offered. Symptoms usually do not go completely until after the birth, but good treatment eases them during pregnancy.
Labour and birth with pelvic girdle pain
- Most women with pelvic girdle pain can have a vaginal birth.
- Write it into your birth plan, with the positions that feel most comfortable, so your birth partner and the staff can support your legs and help you change position.
- A birthing pool takes weight off the joints.
- Every form of pain relief is possible, including an epidural.
- A caesarean section is not normally needed for PGP, and there is no evidence that it helps; most women with PGP do not need an induction either.
Does pelvic girdle pain go away after the birth?
Usually it improves, but around 1 in 10 women have ongoing pain. Keep up the treatment, pain relief and aids until it settles.
If the pain does not settle, see a doctor, who may refer you to rule out a hip problem or hypermobility syndrome. Pelvic girdle pain is more likely to come back in a future pregnancy; being fit before pregnancy and strengthening your tummy and pelvic floor muscles may help, and early treatment controls the symptoms.
What might the doctor recommend for pelvic pain in pregnancy?
What happens next depends on the pattern of the pain and anything that comes with it. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudden severe pain with feeling faint, or heavy bleeding | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
| Pain with bleeding, leaking fluid, regular tightenings or fewer movements | Checks at the maternity unit | No | Maternity unit straight away |
| Pain with fever or pain when peeing | Checking for an infection | Yes, to assess | A urine test promptly |
| Pain at the front or back of the pelvis with walking, stairs or turning in bed | Advice, pain relief, physiotherapy | Yes | The physiotherapy itself |
| Pain still there months after the birth | Looking for a hip problem or hypermobility | Yes, to plan | An examination or referral |
Pelvic pain making every step hard? A doctor can assess it and plan what helps in one consultation.
See available times →Special situations
Sharp pain on one side of the bump
A brief, sharp pain low down on one side when you move is more likely to be round ligament pain.
Back pain going down the leg
Pain running from the back down the leg can be sciatica. Numbness around the genitals or bottom, weakness in both legs, or new problems peeing or pooing is an emergency.
At work
Avoid long periods of sitting and heavy lifting, take breaks to move, and consider shorter hours or stopping work earlier.
When pelvic girdle pain is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: recognising the pattern, pain relief that is safe in pregnancy, the changes that ease daily life, and arranging physiotherapy and aids.
In-person care: physiotherapy and hands-on treatment, pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings, and pain that stops you walking.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 now for:
- sudden severe pain with feeling faint or collapsing
- heavy vaginal bleeding
- numbness around the genitals or bottom, or losing control of your bladder or bowel
Contact your maternity unit straight away, at any hour, for:
- pelvic pain with any vaginal bleeding or spotting
- regular cramps or tightenings, or lower back pain that comes and goes
- leaking fluid, or unusual discharge
- pain when peeing, or cloudy, pink or red urine
- severe pain that does not ease after 30 to 60 minutes of rest
- your baby moving less than usual
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the pain: show where it hurts, and say which movements set it off and how many weeks pregnant you are.
- Leave with a plan: pain relief, the do's and don'ts, physiotherapy and aids, and the signs that mean your maternity unit. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Pelvic pain in pregnancy can have more than one cause. Tick every symptom you have to see each page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Round Ligament Pain can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about pelvic girdle pain
What is pelvic girdle pain?
Pelvic girdle pain is pain at the front and/or back of the pelvis in pregnancy, caused by the pelvic joints, the sacroiliac joints at the back and the symphysis pubis at the front, moving unevenly or becoming stiff as pregnancy hormones loosen the ligaments and the baby's weight changes your posture. It affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women, it does not harm the baby, and it usually improves after the birth.
Is pelvic girdle pain the same as SPD?
Yes. Pelvic girdle pain used to be called symphysis pubis dysfunction, or SPD, after the joint at the front of the pelvis, but the name was changed because the pain often involves the joints at the back of the pelvis as well, or instead. You may still hear SPD from midwives and friends, and some leaflets use both names; the treatment is the same.
Where is pelvic girdle pain felt?
Pelvic girdle pain is felt over the pubic bone, across the lower back, in the groin or between the vagina and anus, sometimes spreading to the thighs, hips or knees.
What does pelvic girdle pain feel like?
Pain that comes with walking, stairs, standing on one leg, turning in bed or parting your legs, sometimes with clicking or grinding in the pelvis.
What causes pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?
Pelvic girdle pain comes from the three joints of the pelvis moving unevenly: pregnancy hormones loosen the ligaments that hold them, the growing baby shifts your centre of gravity and changes how you walk, and the muscles that stabilise the pelvis tire. It is more likely with pelvic or back pain before pregnancy, a previous pelvic injury, a physically demanding job, being overweight, and pelvic girdle pain in an earlier pregnancy.
How common is pelvic girdle pain?
Pelvic girdle pain affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women to some degree, from a mild ache to pain that makes walking, stairs and turning in bed hard, and it is more common later in pregnancy as the baby grows. It is more likely if you had it in a previous pregnancy, had back or pelvic pain before, have a physically demanding job or have had a pelvic injury.
What helps pelvic girdle pain?
Physiotherapy with a therapist who knows pregnancy, and the exercises they give you for the pelvic floor, tummy and hip muscles, help pelvic girdle pain most; regular paracetamol, a pelvic support belt, crutches when walking is painful, keeping your knees together when you turn in bed or get out of the car, and sleeping with a pillow between your knees all help, as does pacing activity and avoiding what sets it off.
What should I avoid with pelvic girdle pain?
With pelvic girdle pain, avoid long periods of sitting or standing, lots of stairs, heavy lifting and carrying on one hip, standing on one leg, for example to put on trousers, crossing your legs, twisting, vacuuming and pushing heavy trolleys, and breaststroke when swimming, which splays the legs. Sit down to dress, take stairs one at a time, and get out of the car with both legs together.
Does pelvic girdle pain harm the baby?
No. Pelvic girdle pain does not harm your baby, affect the pregnancy or the placenta, or change the baby's growth, although it can be painful and make it hard to get around, sleep and work. Pelvic pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings is different and needs your maternity unit, because it may not be pelvic girdle pain at all.
Is it pelvic girdle pain or something else?
Pelvic girdle pain is worse with walking, stairs, turning in bed and standing on one leg, and eases with rest and support. Sciatica shoots down the back of one leg with tingling; round ligament pain is a brief sharp pull low in the bump with sudden movement; a urine infection causes burning and frequency; and pelvic pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings can be labour or another complication and needs your maternity unit.
Can I have a normal birth with pelvic girdle pain?
Most women with pelvic girdle pain can have a vaginal birth, and a caesarean is not normally needed for it. All pain relief options are possible, including an epidural; positions that keep your knees close together, such as kneeling, all fours or lying on your side, are usually more comfortable, and your pain-free range of movement should be noted in your birth plan so the team does not open your legs wider than that.
Does SPD go away after birth?
Pelvic girdle pain usually improves within weeks of the birth, once the hormones settle and the weight of the baby is gone, but around 1 in 10 women have ongoing pain, which needs continued physiotherapy and sometimes a specialist. Keep up the exercises after the birth, take care lifting the baby and car seat, and ask for help early if the pain is not easing by the 6-week check.
Can an online doctor help with pelvic girdle pain?
Yes, usually. A doctor can assess pelvic girdle pain by video from where and when it hurts, rule out the other causes of pelvic pain in pregnancy, plan pain relief that is safe in pregnancy and the everyday changes that help, and point you to a pregnancy physiotherapist, who sees you in person. Pelvic pain with bleeding, fever, leaking fluid or regular tightenings needs your maternity unit.
- Pelvic pain in pregnancy (pelvic girdle pain), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 December 2022.
- Pelvic girdle pain and pregnancy, RCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, June 2015, page republished December 2023.
- Stomach pain in pregnancy, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 18 November 2024.
- Sciatica, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 3 December 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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