Pregnancy, Childbirth & Fertility
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (Pelvic Girdle Pain)
Pain at the front of the pelvis where the pubic bones meet, common in pregnancy when joint-softening hormones loosen the pelvic joint.
Also known as: spd, pelvic girdle pain, pubic symphysis pain
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Pregnancy hormones (relaxin) loosening the pelvic joints; Uneven movement of the pubic symphysis joint; Added weight and shifting posture of pregnancy.
First thing to try: Keep your knees together when getting in and out of bed or a car.
See a doctor if: Pain makes walking or daily tasks very difficult
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Pregnancy hormones (relaxin) loosening the pelvic joints
- Uneven movement of the pubic symphysis joint
- Added weight and shifting posture of pregnancy
- Previous pelvic injury or a history of this pain in an earlier pregnancy
Change what you can
- Keep your knees together when getting in and out of bed or a car.
- Sit down to dress, putting both legs in rather than standing on one foot.
- Take smaller steps and avoid wide leg movements.
- Rest often and avoid heavy lifting or pushing.
- Use a pillow between your knees when sleeping on your side.
- Ask for a referral to a women's-health physiotherapist for exercises and a support belt.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Pain makes walking or daily tasks very difficult
- You have leg weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder control
- The pain is not improving with self-care
- You want a referral for physiotherapy or a pelvic support belt
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your symphysis pubis dysfunction (pelvic girdle pain) — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
During pregnancy the hormone relaxin softens the ligaments of the pelvis to make room for birth. Sometimes the joint at the front, where the two pubic bones meet, becomes too loose or moves unevenly, causing pain over the pubic bone that can spread to the groin, inner thighs, hips, or lower back. Everyday movements like walking, climbing stairs, turning in bed, or standing on one leg to dress can hurt.
The pain is often described as grinding or clicking at the front of the pelvis and tends to worsen with activities that separate the legs. It ranges from mild to disabling. While distressing, it is not harmful to the baby and usually improves after birth once hormone levels return to normal. A physiotherapist who works with pregnancy can make a real difference.
Common signs
- Pain over the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis
- Pain spreading to the groin, inner thighs, hips, or lower back
- A clicking or grinding feeling in the pelvis
- Worse when walking, climbing stairs, or parting the legs
- Difficulty turning in bed or standing on one leg
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.
Rest with a pillow between your knees and avoid standing on one leg; keeping the pelvis aligned eases the joint.970
Gentle pelvic-floor and core exercises taught by a prenatal physiotherapist stabilize the joint over time.940
A warm compress over the pubic area relaxes the surrounding muscles and soothes the ache.900
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Ensure adequate calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D for bone and muscle health, and keep weight gain within the range your provider recommends to reduce strain on the pelvis.
⚖️ Good to know
- Severe pain that prevents walking deserves prompt physiotherapy and medical attention.
- Avoid activities that part the legs widely, which can worsen the joint.
- Numbness, weakness in the legs, or bladder changes need urgent evaluation.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Pelvic girdle pain is managed mainly with physiotherapy, support, and pain relief; it usually resolves after birth.
Commonly offered
- Referral to women's-health physiotherapy–
- Pelvic support belt–
- Activity modification and education–
- Acetaminophen or, after birth, other pain relief as advised–
Worth knowing
- Most cases settle within weeks of delivery.
- Avoid wide-leg movements that strain the joint.
- Seek care for leg weakness or bladder/bowel changes.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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