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What causes female groin pain? Related conditions and treatments

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician
Updated May. 7, 2024  •  Published Jan. 24, 2024
Fact Checked
What causes female groin pain? Related conditions and treatments
In this article:

Overview: What does female groin pain feel like?

Female groin pain, sometimes described as pelvic pain, is discomfort or bothersome pressure in the part of the body between the abdomen and legs—roughly from the genitals to the belly button.

Groin pain is common among women and can indicate various health conditions, some that can be treated at home and some that require immediate medical care.

People may experience acute pain (occurring once or a handful of times) or chronic (sustained pain for weeks or months). Depending on the cause, there may be other symptoms present, like abdominal cramps, joint stiffness, and vaginal bleeding.

Key takeaways:

  • Female groin pain is a common symptom that may be caused by a number of medical conditions, including muscle strain, hip problems, inguinal hernia, appendicitis, pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, urinary tract infection (UTI), menstrual cramps, ovulation, endometriosis, adenomyosis, genital herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), osteitis pubis, ovarian cysts, vulvodynia, and some cancers. 

  • Some causes of female groin pain require immediate medical attention, like appendicitis, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. Others, like groin muscle strains or menstrual cramps, can be successfully treated at home. Consult a healthcare provider to determine the root cause and best course of treatment.

  • Treatments of female groin pain vary by cause. Read more about treatments for endometriosis, UTIs, and herpes.

  • In some cases, female groin pain can be managed with warm or cold compresses, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Only a doctor can diagnose the cause of pain in the groin and recommend the best treatment.

  • Save on prescriptions for female groin pain with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

What causes female groin pain?

Many health conditions can result in groin or pelvic pain in females. Some require immediate medical attention, while others will respond to home treatments or resolve on their own.

Healthcare providers are the most qualified to identify female groin pain causes and recommend the best courses of treatment.

Possible causes of female groin pain related to the reproductive system: 

  • Adenomyosis is a condition in which the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus grows into the muscular walls of the uterus and causes increased pelvic pain during the menstrual period.

  • Endometriosis is a common, painful condition that occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body, like the abdominal cavity.

  • Pregnancy can cause pregnant women to experience pain in the groin due to hormonal changes, pressure on the pelvis as the uterus enlarges to accommodate the growing fetus, and changes in posture.

  • Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube. This condition can be life-threatening for the mother and is always fatal for the embryo.

  • Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before the 24th week. This event can be accompanied by pelvic pain.

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID is the inflammation of female reproductive organs, usually caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

  • Menstrual cramps are pain in the groin area that can result from menstrual cramps and co-occur with pain in the lower abdomen, bloating, headaches, nausea, or dizziness.

  • Vulvodynia, a pain in the external female genitals (the vulva), is called vulvodynia. It usually lasts three months or more. 

  • Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection whose symptoms include painful lesions and pain in the groin region.

  • Ovarian torsion sometimes accompanies ovarian cysts, which means the ovaries or fallopian tubes have twisted around their supporting tissues. This pain is acute in onset and extremely painful.

Orthopedic and musculoskeletal female groin pain causes:

  • Muscle strain or sprain can result from straining or “pulling” a muscle or ligament or overuse. It can occur in anyone but is most common among athletes.

  • Inguinal hernia or a groin hernia are common causes of groin pain in females, which is when tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the fascia or muscles in the groin region. Sports hernias are most common among women who play sports. 

  • Hip problems are common in women with groin pain. People experiencing this condition may also feel stiffness in the hip joint, arthritis, hip impingement, and decreased range of motion.

  • Osteitis pubis, a term for chronic joint inflammation between pubic bones, is most common in athletes. This condition is often accompanied by swelling in the groin and pain in the abdominal muscles.

Other female groin pain causes:

  • Cancer may be the cause of female groin pain in some cases, such as lymphoma, which can form in the lymph nodes in the groin. Ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer can cause groin discomfort.

  • Urinary tract infection (UTI) may cause a dull ache or pain in the groin or pubic area with urination.

Should I be worried about female groin pain?

Groin pain often occurs when sitting for long periods, riding in a car, or playing sports. In some cases, when hip problems are the cause, the pain may develop slowly over weeks or months. A muscle strain may happen suddenly, but the pain may last several weeks.

Some sources of female groin pain require emergency medical attention—appendicitis, ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage among them—but many, like menstrual cramps, can be treated safely at home. If pain in the pelvis or groin persists for more than a couple of days, get help from a doctor. 

Whether to worry about female groin pain depends on its cause. Some causes of female groin pain can be seriously harmful or deadly if left untreated. If experiencing the following symptoms, it’s best to seek medical attention right away:

  • Severe or persistent stomach pain

  • Vaginal bleeding or spotting

  • Diarrhea or vomiting

  • Feeling faint 

  • Pain at the point where the shoulder ends and the arm begins

  • Fever or chills

  • Nausea

  • Lower back pain

  • Inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement

  • Extreme pain or swelling

  • Cold or discolored skin on the upper thigh or hips

  • Tingling or weakness in the area

  • Inability to move, put weight on the leg, or walk

  • Pain that persists for more than a couple of days

How is the cause of female groin pain diagnosed?

A healthcare provider should diagnose the cause of female groin pain. When visiting the doctor, they may ask about groin pain symptoms, like:

  • When did the pain start?

  • What is the specific location?

  • What is the pain like? Is it dull or sharp? Constant or periodic?

  • On a pain scale from 1-10, what is this pain?

  • What makes the pain better or worse?

  • Any recent injury?

  • Do you exercise?

  • Have any physical activity levels increased lately?

  • What is the first day of your last menstrual cycle?

  • What do you use for contraception?

  • Any new sexual partners? Any vaginal discharge, itching, or burning?

  • Does the pain radiate anywhere else?

  • Is there pain elsewhere?

  • When did you last have sex?

  • Are there sores or blisters in the groin or pubic region?

  • Is intercourse painful?

  • Are there other symptoms, like fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, lower back pain, or tingling?

A provider may also:

  • Perform a physical examination to feel the abdomen, do a pelvic exam with a speculum, do a bimanual exam in the vaginal to evaluate the pelvic structures, explore the range of motion of the hip joints and whether other orthopedic or musculoskeletal problems are experienced

  • Conduct an ultrasound or X-ray to rule out problems like ovarian cys, pelvic pathology, or hip fracture 

  • Conduct a urinalysis to rule out a UTI

  • Carry out a blood test 

  • Conduct a laparoscopy to look for signs of endometriosis 

How long does female groin pain last?

How long female groin pain lasts depends on the source of the problem and whether the condition is treated appropriately.

Groin pain resulting from muscle strain may resolve with rest and care in a few weeks. Menstrual cramps usually resolve on their own in 2-3 days.

In some cases, the pain will resolve only with medical intervention. If the pain is severe, or lasts for more than a couple of days, is accompanied by fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, severe pain in the stomach, inability to move, vaginal bleeding or spotting, constipation, weakness or tingling, or other symptoms listed above, seek immediate medical care.

How to stop female groin pain

How to get rid of female groin pain depends on the source of the problem. Some conditions can be cared for safely at home; a doctor may recommend therapies and interventions for others. 

There are many female groin pain treatments a doctor may recommend:

  • In the case of a groin or muscle strain, a healthcare provider may recommend rest, pain relievers, or anti-inflammatory medications, applying warm or cold compresses to the area, using crutches, or wearing snug shorts or underwear.

  • Endometriosis and menstrual cramps can be treated at home with therapies like light exercise, heat therapy, vitamins, or pain relief medication like Midol. A doctor may also recommend birth control, like Sharobel or Errin (norethindrone), or Lo Loestrin Fe.

  • Antibiotics to treat UTIs include amoxicillin, Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), and Cipro (ciprofloxacin).

Some causes of female groin pain can be an early sign of a problem, like end-stage arthritis, which may require hip replacement. Laparoscopic surgery can be used to treat adenomyosis, ovarian torsion, endometriosis, or appendicitis. If the source of the problem is orthopedic or musculoskeletal, a provider may recommend physical therapy or anti-inflammatory medications, including Advil (ibuprofen), Motrin Ib (ibuprofen), or Aspirin.

Living with female groin pain 

Some health conditions create chronic or recurrent groin pain in women. These include: 

  • Hip problems

  • Menstrual cramps

  • Endometriosis or adenomyosis

  • Ovarian cysts

A doctor may recommend at-home treatments like:

  • Rest

  • Warm or cold compresses

  • Light exercise or yoga

  • Drinking hot tea

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers and NSAIDs, including acetaminophen, Aspirin, Advil (Ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen).

Talk to a doctor if the pain is severe or unbearable and interrupts normal activities. Only a healthcare provider can advise on the best therapies and interventions for people with long-term groin pain.

Most importantly, female groin pain is treatable but sometimes requires immediate medical attention

Female groin pain causes may include muscle strain, inguinal hernia, hip problems, pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, urinary tract infection (UTI), appendicitis, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, ovarian torsion, adenomyosis, genital herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), osteitis pubis, ovarian cysts, vulvodynia, and some cancers. 

The cause of female groin pain may resolve on its own without treatment. Many times, the cause of the problem is not life-threatening. 

However, if female groin pain continues, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, nausea or vomiting, vaginal bleeding, numbness or tingling, or inability to walk, it could be a sign of a more serious medical condition like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. 

Only a healthcare provider can rule out infection or other serious health conditions. Visit a doctor to determine the best treatment for female groin pain.

What’s next? Additional resources for people with female groin pain

Test and diagnostics

Treatments

Scientific studies and clinical trials

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician

Leslie Greenberg, MD, is a board-certified practicing family physician with more than 25 years of doctoring experience. She was a psychology major at Northwestern University near Chicago, then graduated with an MD from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She has trained more than 350 family medicine resident-physicians, been in private practice, and delivered babies for 22 years.

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