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Original poster

Pelvic Pain - Unknown and Worried

49 replies

SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 13:56

New here so hopefully I've posted in the right place...

At the start of June, I felt like I had a bit of a bladder infection as the stinging was on and off but this progressed to bloating and a heavy feeling in the pelvic area. I started to get a bit worried about it as I've never had a UTI with pelvic pain, it's always just been consistent stinging so it was odd for me to not have that and just the pain. I did a pregnancy test just in case even though I'm on the pill and this was negative so I spoke to the pharmacist who did think it sounded like a UTI and gave me 3 days of antibiotics on 10th June.

This seemed to clear it up for maybe a couple of weeks maximum and it started getting a bit niggly again, with the odd stinging and feeling like I needed to stay on the toilet. I drank tonnes to flush anything out but then it felt bad again so I went back to the pharmacy and he gave me one more 3 day course on 10th July. It went for a couple of days and a week later, the pelvic pain came back with added lower back pain, thigh and sometimes hip pain.

I went to the doctors mid July and they did a dip test for a UTI and it was clear. He also applied pressure around my stomach and there was significant discomfort on my bladder area so they referred me for blood tests as he was unsure what it could be as there were too many possibilities he said. I also bought a Canesten pH testing kit just in case it's bacteria there instead but that was normal too.

I had a full blood profile done and everything was completely normal. STI tests all clear too.

The last couple of weeks it seemed to disappear a bit but it's back in full force again.

I also recall that around the time this had all started, I had sudden pain in the pelvic area on the right hand side during intercourse and I was actually quite uncomfortable to the point of having to stop. It went away pretty quickly after stopping but since then, I have had discomfort in the same place on and off. I'm wondering if it's all linked? The symptoms of ovarian cysts do match up with it but the scans seem invasive and I suffer with agoraphobia so I'm worried about going to have this done if it is in the hospital.

It doesn't hurt during any physical activity or movement and although we have been careful during sex, that has been okay too.

Does anyone recognise any of these symptoms and have experience of the same thing? With it being very intermittent with say 2 or 3 weeks of nothing, I'm just confused what it is and currently quite uncomfortable. It doesn't make me feel sick or anything though. It's just painful.

Sorry for the long post! Thank you. (I'm 31yo)

OP posts:
FluffyWabbit · 18/08/2025 13:59

Could be fibroids or nothing at all. They do ultrasounds, usually in the first instance, which are not invasive at all. Just requires some jelly slathered on your pubic area and belly, a ball goes around it so images can be captured, sent to your GP to discuss.

Amby99 · 18/08/2025 14:00

Hmmm have you considered possible kidney infection? Years ago I had a UTI, took antibiotics and didn’t think anything of it and then I also got lower pain in my back and tummy about 3 weeks later. Apparently it was actually caused by an unresolved bladder infection. However it was also accompanied with fever and chills so maybe that’s not the case for you.

I would definitely go for the scans! A transvaginal ultrasound isn’t painful at all and it usually gets a clear imagine of your ovaries / uterus in case they are ovarian cysts.

good luck and I really hope it’s all benign (I’m sure it will be)

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:02

FluffyWabbit · 18/08/2025 13:59

Could be fibroids or nothing at all. They do ultrasounds, usually in the first instance, which are not invasive at all. Just requires some jelly slathered on your pubic area and belly, a ball goes around it so images can be captured, sent to your GP to discuss.

Thank you for replying. Online, it's saying they have to insert a wand with a camera to do the scan?

OP posts:
FluffyWabbit · 18/08/2025 14:04

SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:02

Thank you for replying. Online, it's saying they have to insert a wand with a camera to do the scan?

Show quote history

Yes, there are 2 types. One is called transvaginal and they do use the wand. Again, they will lubricate it with jelly and you won't typically feel anything when this is being done apart from maybe mild pressure similar to when they are pressing on your abdomen with their hands from the outside, if that makes sense? It helps them see areas which might be obscured by fat, muscle etc if they were to just do the scan from the outside only.

myplace · 18/08/2025 14:06

They do two scans, separately. One is like a pregnancy scan. The other involves a wand.

Both times the staff were extremely courteous and professional, it did not feel at all exposed or uncomfortable. It’s better than a smear, for me.

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/08/2025 14:06

SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:02

Thank you for replying. Online, it's saying they have to insert a wand with a camera to do the scan?

Show quote history

They do if you have a trans vaginal scan. I’ve had this twice and it’s very quick with minimal discomfort. You really do need to have this checked out.

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:09

myplace · 18/08/2025 14:06

They do two scans, separately. One is like a pregnancy scan. The other involves a wand.

Both times the staff were extremely courteous and professional, it did not feel at all exposed or uncomfortable. It’s better than a smear, for me.

Thank you. Do you know if this is something they can do at the GP surgery or does it usually have to be in hospital?

OP posts:
Amby99 · 18/08/2025 14:10

SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:09

Thank you. Do you know if this is something they can do at the GP surgery or does it usually have to be in hospital?

Show quote history

From my experience, usually at a hospital but I’ve also paid for one privately when I also had pelvic pain at a baby scan studio type of place (even though I wasn’t having a baby at the time) - they do various pelvic scans

Myjobisridiculous · 18/08/2025 14:16

Also how old are you. Could it be peri menopausal symptoms?
I know I had uti and bladder symptoms for about 6 years. Then as I got to 55 it just slowly disappeared. It still comes back for a couple of days every now and again though.
But I did have all the scans, tests etc first, to rule everything else out.
Then they said there’s nothing they can do!!! Personally I don’t think that’s ok, but that’s the way it is…….

Myjobisridiculous · 18/08/2025 14:17

I had those scans done at a community clinic

myplace · 18/08/2025 17:00

SpiceyCat · 18/08/2025 14:09

Thank you. Do you know if this is something they can do at the GP surgery or does it usually have to be in hospital?

Show quote history

Mine were at an outpatients type place- not the main hospital, but a medical setting which wasn’t my GP.

Could you be approaching perimenopause? I had symptoms ’like a UTI’ but not a UTI. I found vaginal oestrogen was the answer.

dollyblue01 · 18/08/2025 19:43

Just reading this now as I’ve similar symptoms that are ongoing and awaiting a transvaginal scan, mines pain what feels like it’s on my right side ovary area and sometimes the pain is lower back and my leg, my bloods test shown raised infection markers so am trying antibiotics whilst awaiting the scan to be done as it can be up to six weeks, have also been bleeding in and off, but I can only wait for the scan. Hope you get it sorted it’s a worry isn’t it.

TheLivelyViper · 19/08/2025 00:07

It could be fibroids or ovarian cysts, unlikely to be an underlying condition, since it's acute. I recommend going to your GP @SpiceyCat, ask for a pelvic ultrasound, an abdominal ultrasound, a transvaginal one (that pp have also mentioned) and a urinary tract ultrasound as well (looking at bladder) to see what they find. They can do all of these in one appointment, and it doesn't hurt, but you can ask them to stop or pause at any time. Also, ask your GP for mefenamic acid and/or naproxen (NSAIDs, which help a lot with pain), start taking it early in the day, before the pain starts, the same with paracetamol and ibuprofen.

beachwalkx · 19/08/2025 00:22

If it helps, the tests I had for endometriosis/pelvic pain were
blood tests
normal ultrasound
internal one (with the wand) which is much easier than a smear test!
mri with Buscopan - I just had to lie there basically and had some Buscopan put in through the back of my hand I think it was

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 20/08/2025 09:11

dollyblue01 · 18/08/2025 19:43

Just reading this now as I’ve similar symptoms that are ongoing and awaiting a transvaginal scan, mines pain what feels like it’s on my right side ovary area and sometimes the pain is lower back and my leg, my bloods test shown raised infection markers so am trying antibiotics whilst awaiting the scan to be done as it can be up to six weeks, have also been bleeding in and off, but I can only wait for the scan. Hope you get it sorted it’s a worry isn’t it.

Sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. My blood test came back clear and I'm not having any bleeding.
I have found somewhere local that does a transvaginal scan to check for pretty much everything for £105 so I'm tempted to do that.

OP posts:
TheLivelyViper · 20/08/2025 16:27

SpiceyCat · 20/08/2025 09:11

Sorry to hear you're going through the same thing. My blood test came back clear and I'm not having any bleeding.
I have found somewhere local that does a transvaginal scan to check for pretty much everything for £105 so I'm tempted to do that.

Show quote history

If you're willing to pay for it that sounds like a good idea, make sure they add in a pelvic ultrasound as well.

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 20/08/2025 22:58

TheLivelyViper · 20/08/2025 16:27

If you're willing to pay for it that sounds like a good idea, make sure they add in a pelvic ultrasound as well.

Show quote history

This is what it says on their website for the transvaginal scan:

To look at the size, shape & condition of the:

  • Uterus
  • Lining of the womb
  • Both ovaries
  • Pelvic area

Detection or exclusion of:

  • fibroids
  • ovarian cysts
  • polycystic ovaries
  • pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
OP posts:
TheLivelyViper · 20/08/2025 23:02

SpiceyCat · 20/08/2025 22:58

This is what it says on their website for the transvaginal scan:

To look at the size, shape & condition of the:

  • Uterus
  • Lining of the womb
  • Both ovaries
  • Pelvic area

Detection or exclusion of:

  • fibroids
  • ovarian cysts
  • polycystic ovaries
  • pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Show quote history

Yes they both look at the same area but can spit different things. A pelvic scan is on your pelvis and on your skin (not internal) it's external on your lower abdomen. Its like a traditional ultrasound, the gel is put on your lower stomach.

A transvaginal scan is through the vagina (it's internal using a wand with a condom like material put over the head of the wand). It's then inserted into your vagina. You should ask them to do both, they can do them in the same appointment. You'll have to do the pelvic one first because you need a full bladder for that one - you'll then finish that and go to the toilet because you don't need a full bladder for the transvaginal ultrasound. You then come back into the room and do the transvaginal one.

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 21/08/2025 09:59

TheLivelyViper · 20/08/2025 23:02

Yes they both look at the same area but can spit different things. A pelvic scan is on your pelvis and on your skin (not internal) it's external on your lower abdomen. Its like a traditional ultrasound, the gel is put on your lower stomach.

A transvaginal scan is through the vagina (it's internal using a wand with a condom like material put over the head of the wand). It's then inserted into your vagina. You should ask them to do both, they can do them in the same appointment. You'll have to do the pelvic one first because you need a full bladder for that one - you'll then finish that and go to the toilet because you don't need a full bladder for the transvaginal ultrasound. You then come back into the room and do the transvaginal one.

Show quote history

They don't appear to do the normal pelvic one in the test. It says it's more accurate doing a transvaginal one?

OP posts:
2brains · 21/08/2025 10:04

maybe embedded UTI?

KittytheHare · 21/08/2025 10:06

I had all of these symptoms and it was prolapse (uterus and bladder).

TheLivelyViper · 21/08/2025 10:24

SpiceyCat · 21/08/2025 09:59

They don't appear to do the normal pelvic one in the test. It says it's more accurate doing a transvaginal one?

Show quote history

If there's a contact button on the website or a number call - contact them and ask if they can do a pelvic ultrasound as well with the transvaginal one. Ask if it costs more as well. It's not necessarily more accurate (similar level of accuracy but they take different pictures) but doing both maximises the chances of picking something up, and it's better to do both at the same time.

TheLivelyViper · 21/08/2025 10:27

2brains · 21/08/2025 10:04

maybe embedded UTI?

If it is this or to check for this @SpiceyCat you would likely need a Urinary tract ultrasound as well. You could also ask for a thrush and BV test (your NHS GP should be able to do this) as it could be that.

Original poster
SpiceyCat · 21/08/2025 10:30

TheLivelyViper · 21/08/2025 10:24

If there's a contact button on the website or a number call - contact them and ask if they can do a pelvic ultrasound as well with the transvaginal one. Ask if it costs more as well. It's not necessarily more accurate (similar level of accuracy but they take different pictures) but doing both maximises the chances of picking something up, and it's better to do both at the same time.

Show quote history

Thank you. I called them and they said they only do the transvaginal one.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpiceyCat · 21/08/2025 10:31

TheLivelyViper · 21/08/2025 10:27

If it is this or to check for this @SpiceyCat you would likely need a Urinary tract ultrasound as well. You could also ask for a thrush and BV test (your NHS GP should be able to do this) as it could be that.

Show quote history

I've done home kits for BV and thrush and that was all normal. Would the UTI not have shown up on the blood tests?

OP posts:
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