Groin Pain in Women

The groin is referred to the region where the abdomen ends and the legs start. Any pain in this region is known as 'groin pain'. Groin pain can be caused by numerous reasons, internal as well as external. The pain experienced ranges from mild to severe, depending on the cause of the pain. While mild groin injuries heal on their own, special medical attention is required for the more severe kinds of groin pain.

Groin pain in women can be caused by certain medical conditions like inguinal hernia and kidney stones. Sports activities and vehicle accidents also are a major cause of groin pain. Let us look at the causes and the symptoms of groin pain in women.

Causes and Symptoms of Female Groin Pain
Following are some general causes of groin pain in women:

• Groin Injury: Groin pain can result from a direct blow on the groin region, or falling in a way that hurts the groin region. In case of athletes, hyper-extension of the groin muscles might lead to a sprain in the groin region, causing severe groin pain. Tearing or straining any muscle near the hip joint may also lead to groin pain.
• Pregnancy: During pregnancy certain hormonal changes occur, that increase slackness of the pelvic joints. Hence, pregnancy is considered to be the prime reason for groin pain in women. Groin pain is known to occur in various stages of pregnancy. Some women might experience pain in the lower back, genital area, upper thighs and hip joints.
• Referred pain: Dysfunction of other body parts may also lead to groin pain. This is known as referred pain or radiating pain. Pulled muscles, stressed ligaments or the tendon fibers may also lead to groin pain.

Other possible causes for female groin pain may include:

• Presence of kidney stone: Patients may experience severe groin pain while the stone is passing through the ureter.
• Infections in the groin and the loin region: Certain bacterial infections may cause swellings and lumps in the groin/loin area causing groin pain.
• Enlargement of the lymph nodes: Lymph node swelling due to the infection in groin region may also be a cause of groin pain.
• Genital herpes: Patients with genital herpes may experience some degree of groin pain.
• Urinary tract infection: Patients with UTI also suffer from groin pain. In fact, UTI is known to be one of the most common causes for female groin pain.
• Hip pain: Due to any short term or long term injury or infection to the hip joint, such as arthritis, trochanteric bursitis, snapping hip syndrome, fracture to the hip joint, stress fracture to the hip joints (especially in case of athletes) is also another leading cause of groin pain.
• Ischemia, spasm, inflammation or infection of the large intestine can at times be responsible for groin pain.
• Special pelvic problems like an ovarian cyst, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy also lead to groin pain.
• Severe back pain and spine injuries also eventually lead to groin pain.

Diagnosis of Female Groin Pain
There are various techniques that your physician might check for, in order to diagnose the exact reason of groin pain. He will check for the time span, severity and common symptoms of lower abdominal pain. The following are some of the tests that help the physician in finding the exact reason of groin pain.

• Physical Tests: The physician will first observe the affected area for any kind of swelling. He might make you perform certain abrupt exhaling exercises, to see if the swelling or the cyst appears when pressure is applied on the groin area. Determination of the groin lump helps the physician to decide the type of groin pain and see if the pain is due to inguinal hernia, abscess or any other cause. The doctor will also examine the lymph nodes, the back and the hips.
• Radiological Examination: Certain radiological tests will be performed to confirm the type of groin pain and hernia. Doppler test, pelvic and lumbar X-rays, CT scans of the pubic symphysis, pylograms to detect kidney stones might also be performed if found necessary by the physician.
• Other Tests: Tests for the full blood count and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test (ESR), as well as electrolytes and renal function tests will be performed by the physician. Urine culture, urinalysis and microscopic urine tests will need to be performed. Culturing of the swabs will also be done if the lumps are observed. This will help to test and diagnose syphilitic ulcer, genital herpes or Chancroid.

Treatment for Female Groin Pain
Treatment for groin pain in women depends on the results of the various tests performed. Specific drugs and medications are available, based on the cause of groin pain. Medication will be suggested with respect to the symptoms, the severity, and period of the groin pain.

Individuals suffering from groin pain for a long periods of time, should immediately consult a physician. A timely checkup and good medical follow up can provide fast recovery from groin pain.