Is Feeling of Heaviness in Pelvic Area Bothering You?

By - Anika Binte Asad

One day you get a heavy feeling in the lower part of your tummy. You think it might be the bad Chinese food you had last night and it might sort itself out. But a few days pass and the pain doesn’t go away, it gets worse. Worried about what it might be, you start scouring the net to find the solution.

So, do you want to know about the feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area? You’ve come to the right place.

The feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area is quite common. It might be caused by lifting heavy weights or due to the regular menstrual cycle in females. Sometimes it’s caused due to bacterial infections.

Rest assured, we have discussed all the possible reasons and home remedies for you. Just dive right into the article, surely you will find what you’re looking for.

Pelvic Area: The Basic Anatomy

The area under the belly and between the thighs is the pelvic region. 

Before moving into the reasons for heavy feelings in this area, let’s take a quick glance at its formation. This will help with a better understanding of the causes mentioned later in this article. 

The pelvic part includes the following structures – 

The reproductive organs are different in females and males. 

In the case of females, the organs are – 

The organs found in males – 

Reasons for Feeling Heavy in Pelvic Area:

As you can see, the pelvic area is home to many different organ systems, each with its unique function. So the cause for Feeling Heavy in Pelvic Area can be quite diverse.

Men and women both can experience heavy feelings in the pelvic region. It can be quite irritating. But it’s not always something serious.

However, there are also some common causes that concern both men and women. Let’s have a look:

Causes Concerning Both Males and Females:

Urinary Tract Infection

You feel a burning sensation during urination. Also, not much urine comes out. This condition is known as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

Here, there is a prominent feeling of heaviness in the bladder. Slowly this heaviness spread in the pelvic region.

UTIs often include the following symptoms – 

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are due to infections during sexual contact. Common bacteria that cause STIs are chlamydia and gonorrhea. 

These bacterial infections mainly cause bulky feelings in the pelvic region.

Psychological Conditions 

Some psychological conditions may lead to ponderous experiences in the pelvic section. 

These psychological states are – 

Heavy Weight Lifting

If you are striving for a toned, fit body, you are probably trying to lift a lot of weight every day. This daily heavy weight lifting puts pressure on your pelvic organs.

Doing high-intensity weight lifting also strains the pelvic muscles. So, the feeling of bulkiness is quite common during lifting weights.

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is due to chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Inflammation is found mainly in the small and large intestines.

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) includes the given main symptoms- 

These symptoms cause pressure on the pelvic zone. In that case, you feel heaviness in that zone.

Obesity

Overweight people suffer from many health issues. Excess body weight causes tension around the pelvic area. It leads to a ponderous feeling in that area.

Causes Related to Women:

Some situations only affect the ladies. Following are the causes of heaviness that only target women.

Let’s dive right into the details.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a situation that affects women both physically and mentally. One of the common symptoms is a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic zone.

This condition is quite common for females of reproductive age.

Period Cramps 

Females usually feel cramps during their monthly period. Cramps vary from person to person. It can contribute to sluggishness in the pelvic region. 

Pregnancy

The increased weight in pregnancy causes pressure in the pelvic area. As time passes, the pelvic floor also weakens. So, a generalized pressure is felt in the entire pelvis and hips.

This can happen in any trimester of pregnancy.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

The tissue and muscles of the pelvic floor no longer support the pelvic organs. So results in the drop (prolapse) of the pelvic organs from their normal position. This is known as Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse is not a grave condition. Its symptoms include – 

Fibroids

It is a kind of unusual growth around the uterus. This is a common phenomenon among women of 30-40 years. 

Multiple fibroids cause severe heaviness in the pelvic portion.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

The infection in the female genitals is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. It mainly affects the womb, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. 

This also leads to bulky sensations in the pelvic space. It is mainly common among old women.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome 

The expansion of veins around the uterus causes Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. This is mainly seen in childbearing women. 

Causes Related to Men: 

Due to differences in reproductive organs, men can also have some particular problems that lead to Heavy feelings in Pelvic Area.

The most noteworthy causes are discussed below:

Prostatitis  

Inflammation of the prostate is known as prostatitis. The causes are- 

Prostatitis causes bulkiness in the rectum.

Hernia 

A hernia occurs when organs push muscles and tissues from their normal position. Inguinal hernia is most common among men. 

Men suffering from inguinal hernia feel heaviness in the pelvic site.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia 

The enlargement of the prostate is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It is a non-cancerous condition. The expanded prostate puts pressure on the urethra leading to pelvic area heaviness.

Urethral Stricture 

The narrowing of the tube-like structure, the urethra, is called urethral stricture. It slows the passage of urine to the penis. 

The pelvic area feels heavy in this situation. 

Vasectomy 

The surgical procedure where ductus deferens are cut off is called vasectomy. After this men usually feel some heaviness. It lasts about 1-2 weeks. 

How to Get Relief from The Heavy Feeling That You’re Having? 

The feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area is an unpleasant sensation. Lifestyle changes can help to get relief. Some home remedies can also contribute to lowering this sensation.

Dietary Changes:

A Healthy diet solves many problems. Eat more low acidic fruits like bananas, melons, and apricots.

And also include omega 3 fatty acids-rich foods. These includes : 

Drink More Water:

Water is your best friend to deal with dehydration. There is no doubt about it. An adult should drink about 2-3 liters of water daily.

Avoid Excessive Weight Lifting:

Do not lift heavy weights daily. It can cause untoward pressure in your pelvic area. Make a routine to lift weights 2-3 times a week. You may choose low-intensity weight lifting.

Drop Excess Weight:

If you are overweight, try to shed the extra kilos. A healthy weight puts less pressure on the pelvic site. So, it will also help to get relief from heaviness.

Maintain a healthy diet to lose weight. Engage in pelvic-friendly exercises.

You can lose the excess pounds by following it. You can also keep a health journal. It makes it easier to track what you are eating.

Safe Intercourse:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases contribute to heavy feelings in the pelvic site. You can prevent it by safe sex. Use condoms every time you have intercourse. You and your partner should also get regular STI checkups.

Avoid displeasing genital products:

Some products in supermarkets irritate the pelvic area. Avoid using fragrance soap, whitening creams in this sensitive area.

As the area is very sensitive, fragrant products will irritate it pretty easily. So avoid using those.

Adequate Sleep:

Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep daily. Good sleep calms the nervous system. It helps control your mood and counteracts the psychological causes that may lead to feeling heaviness in the pelvic area.

Some Easy Home Remedies: 

You can reduce the feeling of heaviness by trying out some home remedies. Some proven home solutions are discussed below to help you out.  

Kegel Exercise:

The Kegel is a tried and tested exercise that helps strengthen the muscles of the pelvic region.

The steps of the Kegel exercise is : 

You can do the first set in the morning. The second set is in the evening. At night you can do the last set. 

Never do all sets together at a time. This might worsen the heaviness in the pelvic zone.

Heating Pad: 

A heating pad works like magic in reducing heaviness in the pelvic area. Using a heating pad also relieves the period cramps.

Apply it for 15 minutes where you feel heavy. Be careful not to make close contact with the skin.

You can also use a hot water bottle as an alternative.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture therapy is an ancient method of pain relief that has been in practice for centuries. It works by stimulating various pressure points in the body and can help in pain relief. Using acupuncture, you stimulate the pelvic area pressure points to soothe the feeling of bulkiness or heaviness. This can give you a sense of relief.

Make sure to visit a trusted and certified acupuncture practitioner. And consult your doctor before trying acupuncture to make sure it’s safe for you.

Medications:

The heavy feeling in the pelvic area can sometimes be associated with mild pain. If that’s the case, you can take Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications.

Some OTC drugs like ibuprofen, acetaminophen can subdue these feelings of pain or heaviness. Do not take these drugs for more than 90 days. If you still feel pain consult with your doctor or nearest healthcare professional.

When to Visit a Doctor?

If any of the following circumstances arise, you need to call a doctor – 

Situations like this might indicate some serious issues. Seek immediate medical attention or visit your nearest hospital as soon as possible.

FAQs

Is the feeling of heaviness something dangerous? 

No, It isn’t. But you may feel uncomfortable due to this. Like the feeling of heaviness might be due to food intolerance. You can easily avoid it if you keep a track of intolerant foods.

Is this feeling associated with pelvic pain? 

No! Not always. It is an added heaviness during menstruation. Pelvic pain and heaviness are common causes related to infection or inflammation.

Can gas be trapped in the pelvic area? 

Well, yes. In females, there is usually some air in the vagina. This vaginal gas gets trapped in the vaginal canal. It also makes a noticeable sound.

Final Words

Feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area might be a displeasing situation. But it is not always something significant. With a healthy lifestyle, you can easily overcome this situation.

Ignoring it might lead to a big issue. If you face any serious signs or symptoms, don’t wait around. Visit a nearby doctor as soon as you can.