Persistent right side pelvic pain.

[AndTheSnakesStartToSing]

I’m mid-30’s and for at least a year I’ve had pelvic pain on the right side. I first noticed I only seemed to get ovulation pain on the right and began monitoring to confirm. I then noticed I get this pain on and off throughout my cycle, not just when ovulating. It tends to be worse during/after ovulation and on my period. All the pain is in that right pelvic area around where I’d imagine my ovaries to be. It eases once period is finished, but starts up a few days later as I get closer to ovulation.

It’s not debilitating, more of a dull ache/uncomfortable pressure feeling but it doesn’t stop me doing daily tasks. It’s just there and more so when I’m sat down. Sometimes it radiates to my back, hip and recently I’ve noticed it in my legs. It feels like ovulation pains but as it’s occurring often I don’t think it is just that. My periods if anything have gotten lighter over the last year and cycles irregular but not irregular enough to be a concern, slightly shorter cycles and a missed period once in 12 months. I’ve not noticed any bleeding between periods.

I finally went to the gp last week as I thought although it’s not unbearable pain, this has been going on long enough. She felt my abdomen, did an internal examination and took some swabs which have since come back fine. She also said she was referring me for a TA and TV ultrasound but not to worry as it could be a cyst or endo. I’m not sure how long I’ll be waiting for this.

I’m finding it difficult not knowing what is causing this, not necessarily that it’s something serious, although that has crossed my mind. It’s more that I’ve put up with it for so long now that I just want to know the cause and deal with it. Although not debilitating, it can make me feel a bit rubbish sometimes. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms or similar?

I’m 30 and I’ve been experiencing this since my teens (my pain is debilitating). Doctors haven’t been able to help.

Did the doctors test your urine? Could it be renal colic? I suffer from pain in my rear flank. Sometimes it’s felt in the front lower down and I have small bursts of intense pain that ease. This is all thought to be possible kidney stones but I do have a long history of UTIs. You can buy your own dipsticks and get ChatGPT to analyse the results if you suspect it could be related to that.

I had right sided pain for years. Eventually it was diagnosed as my appendix which turned out to be a mass of pre cancerous polyps. Hopefully they will check yours.

Just to add mine is gynae issues but there isn’t really a cure or good pain meds.

I get this. Urine tests all fine, and was referred to gynaecology. I saw a consultant who did an internal and external ultrasound, and an internal examination. She found nothing wrong.

I have this! I got diagnosed with adenmyosis- pelvic congestion syndrome and am being queried for endo.

If this is due to endometriosis then ultrasound scans will not detect it. This is because the endo deposits are so very small.

Any pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked to see if endometriosis is present.

You should have a referral to gynaecology. My advice is to go private and pay for an initial consultation if finances permit. Your gp can write a referral letter. This is also because waiting lists to see gynaecology in many areas is miles long.

In the meantime I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary if you do not do ready do this as this will give the gynae clues.

I had this for years. Eventually they found endo growths on the ligaments and burnt them off. I’ve been fine since.

Oh gosh! I hope you are ok now. I never thought of my appendix but hopefully they will take a look.

Haven’t had my urine tested but not noticed anything unusual there. Worth doing though, I might get some test strips.

One of my worries is that they won’t find anything and I’ll have to carry on with this annoying pain, not knowing what it is and the worry that it’s cancer or something that’s been missed (I know chances are low but it’s in the back of my mind). Thanks for the replies so far, nice to know I’m not alone. Got the ball rolling now, all I can do is sit tight and wait for this ultrasound appointment.

I had pain that felt like it was inside my pelvic bone, on the right, it was referred pain from my gut.

Grumbling appendix? Ovarian cyst?

I feel like my symptoms match up with so many things: endo, cysts, appendix etc but then there are other symptoms for each thing that I don’t experience, so I can’t be sure that it could definitely be one thing or another.

I’ve got an ultrasound appointment for next Monday now, which is quicker than I was expecting but also not complaining. Hopefully I’ll get some answers for my symptoms.

Hi @AndTheSnakesStartToSinghow did the scan go?

It went fine, they didn’t give much away which I expected. The sonographer said some numbers out loud which I presume were measurements. A pretty standard ultrasound appointment I think. Said to contact gp in a week. Going to be difficult not to constantly check the nhs app in case the report appears on there before next week.

Sorry you're going through this op it's rubbish. I'm in a similar situation and currently just debating if I should go private to investigate quicker. So hope you don't mind me following along your journey.

My last period was the worst so far I couldn't walk as the pain was so intense. It was like being in labour that really radiating pain from my back to my legs. So I really need to get seen quickly because at this stage I'm scared to have another period. Little concerned the gp will want to fob me off with pills again rather than fully investigating.

Thank you, of course you can follow along I’ll try to keep the thread updated, it might be helpful for anyone else experiencing similar. I’m sorry you’re going through it too, my last period was particularly painful too. My period pains seem to be gradually getting worse as the months go by, but it’s all in that lower right area. All my pelvic pain is in that right side/area. Would love to know the cause and there’s always a slight worry in the back of my mind that it’s something serious as unlikely as it is.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how quickly I got an ultrasound on the nhs. I submitted an e-consult form 4 weeks ago, had my gp appointment 3 weeks ago where gp felt tummy and did an internal pelvic exam as well as taking swabs to test for different things (all results normal), then 2 weeks later I was sent a link to book an appointment which I was able to book for a weeks time which brings me to now. I’m not sure private would have been worth it for me given how quickly I’ve been seen, areas vary with wait times but it might be worth trying the nhs first? You could ask your gp how long the wait might be and go from there.

I was concerned that I was going to be fobbed off but that hasn’t been the case so far, they actually seem to be investigating the cause rather than guessing/assuming and fobbing me off with contraception and painkillers. I opted to see a female gp, not sure if that made a difference, and was really clear with how long I’d been dealing with this and exact symptoms. Saying that things have moved quickly for now but I guess it all depends on what the results of the scan are as to how long I’ll be waiting for the next stage.

Heard from the gp this morning, the ultrasound came back normal with no concerning features and she recommended to book another gp appointment to discuss next steps. Can’t fault how quick the turnaround has been especially as I was told to wait a week for results.

I am obviously relieved that nothing serious was found, but I’m also slightly disheartened that nothing was found. I know that sounds so backwards, I should be pleased and I am. But I’ve had this pain and my periods have been slightly odd for so long and it took a lot of courage for me to even see the gp, I thought for sure the ultrasound would tell me something. I guess it has eliminated a few possibilities so that’s something.

I’m now thinking endo is the most likely cause, as I know that doesn’t really show on an ultrasound and I can’t really think what else it could be now. I don’t feel my pain is ‘severe’ enough for endo though having read other women’s experiences with it, I get pain but often it’s just there in the background and I can mostly function fine, periods aren’t heavy either which seems to be another common symptom I keep reading about. Back to the gp I go.