Comment Reply

Dear Anon,

Thank you for reaching out to the EmpowHER community and for sharing your question. I am sorry to hear that you are feeling pain and discomfort in your right side pelvic area.

I am sure you are bummed about the negative pregnancy test, but you should talk to your doctor about this- especially if you want to get pregnant. It's always good to have everything checked out before conceiving.

Pelvic pain is pain in the lowest part of your abdomen and pelvis. In women, pelvic pain may refer to symptoms arising from the reproductive or urinary systems or from musculoskeletal sources.

Depending on its source, pelvic pain may be dull or sharp; it may be constant or off and on (intermittent); and it may be mild, moderate or severe. Pelvic pain can sometimes radiate to your lower back, buttocks or thighs.

Pelvic pain can occur suddenly, sharply and briefly (acute) or over the long term (chronic). Chronic pelvic pain refers to any constant or intermittent pelvic pain that has been present for more than a few months.

Sometimes, you may notice pelvic pain only at certain times, such as when you urinate or during sexual activity.

There are many things that could be the cause such as an infection, ovarian cysts, appendicitis or kidney stones. I included a list of possible causes. Anon, I would call your doctor as soon as possible in the event it is something serious.

Here are a  list of possibilities your doctor will check for:

Female reproductive system

Pelvic pain arising from the female reproductive system may be caused by conditions such as:

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea)

Ectopic pregnancy (or other pregnancy-related conditions)

Miscarriage (before the 20th week) or intrauterine fetal death

Mittelschmerz (ovulation pain)

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cysts

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Uterine fibroids

Vulvodynia

Other causes in women or men

Examples of other possible causes of pelvic pain — in women or men — include:

Appendicitis

Colon cancer

Chronic constipation

Crohn's disease

Diverticulitis

Fibromyalgia

Inguinal hernia

Interstitial cystitis (also called painful bladder syndrome)

Intestinal obstruction

Irritable bowel syndrome

Kidney stones

Past physical or sexual abuse

Pelvic floor muscle spasms

Prostatitis

Ulcerative colitis

Urinary tract infection 

Many times, women have ovarian cysts without knowing it, because they can be without symptoms. But according to the Mayo Clinic web site, cysts can cause the following symptoms:

■ Menstrual irregularities
■ Pelvic pain — a constant or intermittent dull ache that may radiate to your lower back and thighs
■ Pelvic pain shortly before your period begins or just before it ends
■ Pelvic pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
■ Pain during bowel movements or pressure on your bowels
■ Nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness similar to that experienced during pregnancy
■ Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen
■ Pressure on your rectum or bladder — difficulty emptying your bladder completely

I hope this helps.

Will you see your doctor?

Best,

Kristin