Groin Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the period when your body undergoes a lot of changes. The level of pregnancy hormones like, estrogen, progesterone and relaxin increases in your body. Along with hormonal changes, your body also undergoes some structural changes, which can sometimes bring about pain and discomfort in the abdominal and pelvic regions including, the groin, lower back, hips and the inside of your thighs. Usually, the pelvic pain during pregnancy lasts only for a few seconds. But the pain can be quite sharp and intense at times.

Pelvic Pain in Pregnant Women

Hormonal Changes
The most common cause is the hormonal changes that take place during this period. The effect of a rising level of pregnancy hormones, especially relaxin and progesterone is loosened muscles, ligaments and joints, mainly in the pelvic region. This is a natural process, which prepares the body for childbirth. However, all these muscles and ligaments support the joints of the body, and when they become lose, it is quite normal to feel a little bit of pain in the lower abdominal region, groin and the hips.

Structural Changes of the Body
Another common cause of groin and pelvic pain during pregnancy is the structural changes of the body. The growing fetus, as well as increase in body weight simply put more pressure on the hips, the pelvic joints and the muscles of the pelvic region. This also alters the center of gravity of the body. The result is growing discomfort in the pelvic and lower abdominal areas of the body. Such discomfort can become more frequent, if the correct posture is not maintained.

Round Ligament Pain
Round ligament pain can be felt in the hips, pelvis and groin. It could be a sharp and stabbing pain that can last for a few seconds. The round ligament is the ligament that support, and surround the uterus in the pelvis. But, during pregnancy, the ligament stretches and thicken in order to support a growing uterus. This can cause some pain in the lower abdominal area and the groin. Usually, lower abdominal or lower groin pain can be felt, when one gets up suddenly from a sitting position, coughs or do any other activity that puts pressure on the round ligament.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
Symphysis pubis dysfunction is the condition, which is caused by the softening of the ligaments that support the symphysis pubis joint. The hormone relaxin, secreted by the corpus luteum relaxes the ligaments that support the symphysis pubis joint, in order to facilitate childbirth. But, this can cause instability of this pelvic joint, which can manifest in lower back pain, as well as hip and groin pain.

Managing Groin Pain

Unless the groin and lower abdominal pain is not severe, it can be managed with some simple measures like, maintaining a correct posture, wearing comfortable shoes that can provide adequate support to your pelvic area, and regular exercising. Yoga can also help to prevent and manage the future episodes of groin pain, along with the exercises that can be practiced safely during pregnancy. It is important to avoid standing at a stretch for a prolonged time period. While sitting, especially for a long time, try to keep your legs at a slightly elevated position. This can help to prevent the sharp pain in the inner part of the thigh and groin, that pregnant women often experience while getting up from a sitting position. Also try to lie on your sides and keep your knees and hip bent, while sleeping to reduce pressure on the hip and the pelvic region of the body. To get rid of mild pain, you can use ice or heat on the area, while severe pain may require the intake of analgesics.

But, if you feel that the pain in the groin and pelvic region is quite severe and intense, talk to your physician regarding the use of pregnancy support belt or support devices. As far as pain killers for groin pain and other medications are concerned, be sure to use them only under the supervision of your health care provider. If you fail to manage this pain during pregnancy with the above mentioned measures, or if the pain is quite severe and grows worse over time, and is also accompanied by abdominal cramping, lower back pain, bleeding and pain or burning sensation while urinating, then consult your health care provider as soon as possible.