Posterior Pelvic Pain (Sacroiliac Joint Pain) PPP

Posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy is pain felt at the back of the pelvis, around the sacroiliac (SI) joints. It is often described as deep and sometimes radiating to the buttocks and posterior thigh. It occurs in about 20% of pregnancy cases.

The pain is the result of stresses on the sacroiliac joints brought about by the increase in weight during pregnancy. It is further worsened by SI dysfunction. The sacrum, innominate, and their ligamentous connections, which make up the SI joint, grow lax during pregnancy. SI joint laxity and the widening of the symphysis pubis can cause the pelvis to be ‘lop-sided’. As the uterus enlarges, increased low back spine curvature, along with ligamentous laxity, can cause significant mechanical strain on the sacroiliac joints, resulting in a deep ache in the posterior pelvis

A patient education brochure is available for download here