Groin pain teases for a variety of reasons - and finding the cause of groin pain is often a challenge. Groin pain can be caused by both muscle strain in this area and a serious disease - including kidney stones, hernia, appendicitis, urinary tract infection, back problems or even cancer. Groin pain is also common in pregnant women. How is groin pain manifested, how do you know what it is caused by and when you need to contact a doctor?

Groin paincan be felt by all of us from time to time. It is not always disturbing - especially if it occurs rarely, it is not troublesome and it wears off quickly.

However, it happens that the pain in the groin teases with constant regularity or appears in certain situations - for example, after exercise, during an infection, menstruation or constipation. In such cases, it should be watched carefully, because recurrent pain in the groin may signal both excessive muscle tension or trauma in this area, as well as more serious he alth problems, not only in the organs located in the immediate vicinity of the groin, but also lymph nodes, spine , hip joint, arteries, urinary tract and even the abdominal cavity.

How to recognize pain in the groin, what doctor should you see if this ailment persists? What are the most common causes of groin pain and how are they diagnosed?

Groin pain - characteristics. How does groin hurt?

Pain in the groin can bother anyone, but it often occurs in people practicing sports due to damage to the muscles, tendons or ligaments in this area.

Groin pain can be sharp, stinging, or throbbing. Sometimes it is located only in the groin area - that is, between the pubic area and the upper part of the thigh, specifically its anteromedial part. Sometimes, however, it radiates to the hip joint, towards the genitals and anus, kidneys or knees.

The pain in the groin may persist and increase with physical activity or exertion. Strong pain in the groin is easy to mistake for ovarian pain or pain in the appendix.

Groin pain - the most common causes

There are many important internal organs located in the groin area, as well as muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. Therefore, finding the cause of groin pain can be a real challenge.

The more common causes of groin pain include:

  • inflammation of the ovaries
  • inflammation of the inguinal nodes
  • urolithiasis
  • kidney disease
  • degeneration of the hip joint
  • inguinal hernia
  • fatigue fracture
  • inflammation of the hip joint
  • colonic diverticula
  • testicular and epididymitis
  • osteoarthritis
  • tear of adductor muscle attachments
  • damage to the acetabulum
  • straight thigh tear
  • sciatica
  • urinary tract infection
  • wandering nucleus
  • testicular cancer
  • discopathy
  • appendicitis
  • intervertebral disc herniation
  • neuralgia
  • piriformis syndrome
  • abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • labrum damage
  • inflammation in the pubic symphysis
  • endometriosis
  • ovarian cyst.

Pain in the left groin - possible causes

Pain in the left groin- the area where the left thigh meets the lower left abdomen - can be caused by joint degeneration and damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments, as well as come directly from the organs that are located in this area.

Pain in the left groin may be a symptom of left-sided femoral or left-sciatica, left-sided femoral hernia, or diverticulitis (the accompanying ailments are mainly localized on the lower left side of the abdomen).

Pain in the left groin may also accompany deep vein thrombosis of the left lower limb, nephrolithiasis (if the stone is located in the left kidney), varicocele (in men), or bursitis of the left iliopsoas muscle.

Pain in the right groin - possible causes

When we talk aboutpain in the right groinwe mean the pain where the right thigh meets the lower right part of the abdomen. Also located here are muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and internal organs, injuries or diseases of which may manifest, among others, with pain in the right groin.

The causes of pain in the groin on the right side include, among others appendicitis, degeneration (coxarthrosis) of the right hip joint, right femur or right sciatica, degenerationbursa of the right iliopsoas muscle, right femoral hernia, neuralgia of the right genito-femoral nerve, deep vein thrombosis of the lower right limb, as well as acute inflammation in the large intestine (from the caecum to the ascending intestine), right ovarian cyst, its torsion or rupture.

Groin pain in pregnant women - causes

Groin pain often affects pregnant women, especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimmer, but in their case, the causes of pain in the groin do not necessarily indicate an injury or illness - nevertheless, when it occurs, it should always be mentioned tell your doctor, especially if the pain is severe, as you may need to undergo certain tests.

One of the more common causes ofgroin pain in pregnancyis pressure on the nerves in this area from the enlarging uterus. Groin pain in pregnancy can also be caused by the relaxation of muscles and ligaments in the pelvis, groin area and hips as a result of hormonal changes, which are aimed at, among others, preparing the body for childbirth.

Pain in the groin in the last weeks of pregnancy is one of the heralds of the upcoming delivery: a child who takes the position to give birth pushes into the birth canal, and the uterus is lowered, which may additionally increase the pressure on the internal organs located nearby .

Groin pain - when to see a doctor?

When should groin pain be a signal to see a doctor? Consultation with a family doctor or GP is indicated when pain in the groin occurs frequently, applies to a specific area (e.g. it is only pain in the left groin or only in the right groin), is troublesome or is accompanied by additional symptoms such as vomiting , fever, back pain, hematuria, pains located elsewhere in the body.

Groin pain - diagnosis methods

In order to make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will not only conduct a thorough interview, but also order a number of additional examinations or tests.

Before the visit, it is worth writing down the answers to the following questions:

  • Does the pain appear in the left groin or in the right or both?
  • When did he first arrive?
  • Could it be related to the injury?
  • how often do you convert?
  • what is his character? Is it sharp, prickly or throbbing?
  • Does it radiate to the kidneys, genital area, knees?
  • what increases it and what reduces it? Does it go away when you rest?
  • is it felt when you walk?

During the visit, the patient reporting pain ingroin should be palpated by a physician who will assess both the posture and manner of movement, as well as directly the groin area - including the range of hip motion - as well as the abdominal cavity, the pubic symphysis, and the lumbar spine. This examination should be carried out both in the standing and lying position, and during it, you should report to the doctor any pain symptoms experienced during the following instructions.

Depending on the result of this assessment, the doctor may order additional tests, such as ultrasound (including dynamic ultrasound), X-ray or even magnetic resonance imaging - MRI, and make the final diagnosis only after receiving the results of these tests. Groin pain is causal, which means that treatment depends on a cause determined by the doctor.

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