Why Does My Uterus Hurt? (Common Causes and Treatment Options)

It's always a bit concerning when you find yourself asking, "why does my uterus hurt?" While there are various reasons why your uterus might be hurting, this article explores common causes for uterus pain and what to do to ease the discomfort. 

Read on to learn more about what may cause the pain you are feeling. 

Common Causes of Uterus Hurting

Why does my uterus hurt? There are various reasons that you may be feeling some pain or discomfort in your uterus. Usually, this is not a sign of anything serious, but you should always consult with your physician if the pain is persistent or worrisome. 

There are differences between pain in your uterus versus bloating and various reasons for pelvic pain. You might also be experiencing uterus pain in early pregnancy, during sex, and during or after menstruation. 

Uterus Pain vs. Bloating

Sometimes it can be challenging to differentiate pain coming from your uterus or if you are simply feeling uncomfortable due to bloating. How can you determine the difference? Typically abdominal bloating is a feeling of fullness, and your stomach may even appear more prominent. The discomfort is concentrated in the abdominal region of your body. 

Common causes of bloating:

• Dehydration and constipation
• Colitis
• Crohn's disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome 

However, if you feel the pain concentrated below your belly button, it may be referred to as pelvic pain. Pelvic pain is any pain attributed to organs in the pelvis such as your bladder and other reproductive organs. Pelvic pain can be pain felt in the uterus. 

Common causes of pelvic pain:

• Menstrual pain
• Pregnancy
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease 

Uterus Pain in Early Pregnancy

Unfortunately, pain and pregnancy go hand in hand. Many pregnant women report a stabbing feeling in or around their uterus. This sensation can be due to various reasons, the most common being gas, constipation, and cramping. 

Feeling pain in your uterus is not unusual during early pregnancy and throughout pregnancy. It can be due to the stretching of your uterus or due to an influx of hormones. 

Another culprit for pain felt in the uterus during pregnancy is round ligament pain. Typically experienced in the second trimester, these aches and pains result from ligaments stretching and contracting. Typically, women feel this sharp, shooting pain around the hip or groin region after a sudden movement. It's normal for the pain to go away after a few moments. 

As your body grows and expands and experiences various changes, the pain felt in the uterus can be expected. However, don't hesitate to contact your midwife or OBGYN for any questions concerning the pain you are experiencing. 

Uterus Pain During Sex

Women can experience pain during sex either within the vagina or felt deeper in the pelvis. It can sometimes be challenging to pinpoint pain, but doing so may help your healthcare provider determine the cause. 

Common causes of pain felt in the vagina during sex:

• An infection such as thrush or STIs
• Changing hormone levels due to menopause
• Irritation or allergy due to contraception methods
• Vaginismus

Common causes of pain felt deeper in the pelvis:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Endometriosis
• Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome

If you feel pain or discomfort during sex, please reach out to your healthcare provider. They will be able to provide you with a course of treatment to correct the pain you are experiencing. Remember, sex should be a positive experience, and pain felt during sex is a reason to see your healthcare provider. 

Uterus Pain During or After Menstruation

Unfortunately, many women report uterus pain during or after menstruation. Pain is the result of your uterus contracting to expel the lining to make way for a new lining of the uterus. These contractions get triggered by hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. Higher levels of this substance usually result in more painful cramps.

Some women are more prone to painful menstruation cramps than others. Risk factors include the following:

• Early-onset puberty
• Heavy bleeding
• Smoking
• Familial history of painful menstruation
• Younger than age 30
• An irregular menstrual cycle

If you feel you have severe menstrual cramps, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Your doctor can decide to perform an ultrasound, a scan, or even perform a laparoscopy to rule out disorders, infections, or endometriosis. 

Typically, menstruation is an uncomfortable process. However, if your pain is severe, you may want to rule out the following issues with your doctor.

• Endometriosis. This painful disorder occurs when the lining of your uterus gets trapped on the outside of your uterine walls. This tissue breaks down and sheds just like a normal cycle. 
• Uterine fibroids. These typically appear during childbearing years and are noncancerous growths that occur within the walls of the uterus. 
• Adenomyosis. This disorder occurs when the lining of your uterus grows into the muscular walls. However, the lining is still shed each month and can lead to excruciating menstruation cramping.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease. This disease typically gets triggered by bacteria transmitted during sex. This disease occurs when one or more reproductive organs are infected. 
• Cervical stenosis. This condition is an issue of the spine and nerve endings. Nerves can become pinched and painful. 

Treatment options to help menstrual pain subside typically include the use of over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. Prescription-strength pain medications are available if suggested by your physician. 

Your physician may also suggest lifestyle modifications thought to ease the pain of menstrual cramps. 

These include the following:

• Regular exercise
• Hot baths or use of heating pad
• Vitamins such as B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids
• Reducing stress and anxiety

Other treatment options include hormonal birth control. Even if you are not sexually active, your doctor may prescribe a hormonal contraceptive such as a patch, IUD, or the pill. In addition, it's thought that preventing ovulation may help reduce the severity of the pain felt due to menstrual cramps. 

Seeking Medical Attention

The vascular system refers to the system of blood vessels including the veins, arteries, and capillaries. Vascular diseases are diseases that affect the vascular system. They can interfere with blood flow to or from the body’s organs. 

Patient describing pain in the uterus is usually a gynecological condition. At the Center for Vascular Medicine we always encourage patients to visit an OBGYN to rule out any gynecological conditions. Some patients incorrectly describe vascular pain as pain in the uterus. Vascular lesions of the uterus are rare and the vast majority reported in the literature are arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

It is best to seek medical attention from a gynecologist to rule out the list of conditions that have similar symptoms as vascular conditions. Vascular conditions of pelvic pain can be Pelvic Congestion Syndrome or May-Thurner Syndrome. Our Vascular doctor in Greenbelt will go through your medical history, and ask questions related to your condition, as well as perform an ultrasound to determine if the groin pain is related to a vascular condition. 

Final Thoughts

So, why does my uterus hurt? Various reasons may be contributing to pain felt in or around the uterus. Most of these reasons are not severe, although they still should be investigated by your healthcare professional. Determining the cause and going over the course of treatment will help alleviate your pain and ease your mind. It is best to seek medical attention from a gynecologist before visiting a vascular physician to determine the cause of your symptoms.