What causes pelvic pain and how to prevent it

When a woman is around 10 weeks pregnant, the ovaries secrete a substance called "relaxin", which can cause pelvic pain. In severe cases, the pain can radiate to the groin or perineum, and even make it difficult for the pregnant woman to move.

1. Causes

The human pelvis is composed of the sacrum, coccyx and left and right hip bones. The bones of the pelvis are connected by the pubic symphysis in the front of the pelvis and the sacroiliac joints, sacrococcygeal joints and two pairs of sacrotuberous ligaments and sacrospinous ligaments in the back. The pelvis, which is tightly surrounded by several bones, acts like a single bone. For women who are not yet pregnant, the pelvic joints are inactive and therefore pain does not occur. Once a woman is around 10 weeks pregnant, her ovaries secrete a substance called "relaxin", which makes the fibrous cartilage and ligaments of the sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis become loose and soft, and the sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis become wider and more mobile. By the late stages of pregnancy, the pubic symphysis widens by an average of 0.3-0.4 cm, and the sacrococcygeal joint moves posteriorly by up to 2 cm, to facilitate the fetus's passage through the bony birth canal during delivery. However, if the ligaments are too relaxed, the pubic symphysis will separate, the sacrum will not be able to fix the left and right iliac bones, and the pelvis will lack stability. When pregnant women walk, sit, go up and down stairs, or turn over, the bones of the pelvis will move separately, pulling on the fibrous cartilage and ligaments between the pubic bones, causing pain in the pubic and sacroiliac joints. In severe cases, the pain will radiate to the groin or perineum, and even make it difficult for pregnant women to move.

2. Pelvic pain treatment and care:

1. Drug treatment: Analgesics, B vitamins (vitamin B1, vitamin B12), and short-term oral corticosteroids can help recovery.

2. Physical therapy: Ultrashort wave therapy, ultraviolet irradiation and other treatments can be used in the acute phase. In the chronic stage, shortwave therapy and direct current iodine ion introduction can be used.

3. Pay attention to rest and reduce the weight on the hip joint.

4. Lie on your back with your legs straight, hold one calf with both hands, bend your knees and press your leg as close to your chest as possible. Press slowly twice in a row, then press the other leg. Keep the other leg straight as much as possible. Get up and walk slowly a few times.

3. Pelvic pain prevention and health care:

1. When standing, tilt your pelvis slightly, lift your upper body, and drop your shoulders slightly backward to avoid standing for long periods of time.

2. When sitting, your lower back should be comfortably against the chair back, your upper body should be straight, and you should not sit on a bench without support for a long time.

3. Relax your whole body when walking and do not wear high heels.

4. You can sleep in a curled-up side-lying position, and place a pillow under your knees when lying on your back.

5. If the pregnant mother has to stand for 4-5 hours a day and cannot bear the pain in the waist and pelvis, she may wish to use a waist belt during the day, which may have a good effect.