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Pain in the pubic area
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The pubis is a tubercle formed from soft tissues and located above the external genitalia of men and women. Due to the presence of a fat layer, the pubis protrudes slightly forward. Pain in the pubis often appears due to some pathological processes occurring in the bone-cartilaginous joint.
[ What causes pubic pain?
The main causes of pain in the pubis are factors such as:
- any abnormalities in the development of the pubic bone;
- bruises, fractures and other injuries of both pubic bones (one pubic bone);
- symphysitis - during pregnancy in women, stretching of the pubic symphysis;
- symphysiolysis – rupture of the symphysis during childbirth;
- malignant tumor (cancer) of the bladder;
- various infectious diseases.
How does pubic pain manifest itself?
Various injuries to the pubic bone occur as a result of a strong direct blow, in a traffic accident, compression of the pelvis, etc. When the pubic bone is fractured, the victim feels a pressing pain in the pubis, which intensifies when moving the legs. Due to the pain, the victim is unable to lift an extended leg. This symptom is called a "stuck heel."
Symphysitis in pregnant women occurs under the influence of the hormone relaxin. The woman experiences acute pain in the pubic area, climbing stairs causes her physical suffering, getting out of bed or turning over in her sleep is accompanied by acute pain. Softening of the interosseous joints during pregnancy is a natural process, as the female birth canal prepares for the birth of the baby. But when the tissues surrounding the pubis swell, the pubic symphysis becomes mobile and overstretches, and the pubic bones diverge too much, pain in the pubis occurs. The doctor diagnoses the woman with symphysitis.
Many women may also experience pain in the pubis after childbirth. This symptom is called symphyolysis and occurs even in women who did not feel any pain in the pubic area during pregnancy. Symphyolysis occurs due to a rupture of the pubic symphysis, symphysis, or a strong divergence of the pubic bones during childbirth. This often occurs due to the birth of a large fetus or rapid labor. The woman experiences sharp pain in the pubis, as well as in the sacroiliac joints. To eliminate pain and restore tissue, the woman who has given birth is provided with maximum rest, and the pelvic bones are fixed with a special bandage.
In case of malignant tumor of the bladder, most patients complain of pain in the pubic area. Usually, the pain is localized to the right or left of the pubis. The same pain is experienced by a woman suffering from ovarian tumors.
If pain in the pubis, especially on the left or right side, appears suddenly and intensifies with each movement of the body, is accompanied by weakness of the body, dizziness, cramping and bleeding from the genital tract, then an ectopic pregnancy can be suspected.
Osteomyelitis is characterized by the same symptoms that a woman experiences with symphysitis, since osteomyelitis also causes inflammation of the pubic symphysis. The patient experiences pain in the pubis, lower abdomen, hip, when turning over in sleep or when walking, and also walks "like a duck".
Sometimes men complain of painful sensations in the pubic area. This may be a sign of an inguinal hernia. Chronic prostatitis can also cause pain in this area. It is characterized by pain in the pubis, sacrum, lower abdomen, lower back, etc.
If you have pain in the pubis, you must immediately contact a medical institution to diagnose the disease that causes the pain. To establish a specific diagnosis, you must contact a gynecologist, traumatologist, urologist or surgeon. These doctors will conduct a series of examinations and prescribe the necessary treatment procedures for the patient.
Relief from pain
Before getting rid of pain in the pubic bone, the patient must undergo an X-ray. If any ailment is at the very beginning of its development, then the X-ray will not give any results. As the disease develops, this method allows you to record erosion, osteosclerosis, divergence of the symphysial surfaces, etc. in the patient.
In most cases, doctors prescribe NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to relieve pubic pain. Sometimes doctors prescribe glucocorticoid injections to their patients.
If there is a suspicion of purulent symphysitis, percutaneous drainage is used.
In the event that the pain in the pubis does not respond to any of the above methods of getting rid of it, the patient is prescribed surgical intervention. But this happens quite rarely, since the pain usually goes away without any special treatment.