Wendy Powell

Causes & Risks For Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction & Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pregnant woman in a green dress, gray sweater, and cream hat outside in the snow.

Third instalment on Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) / Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)

Part one was looked at What is SPD or pelvic girdle pain. Part 2 gives exercises to alleviate SPD or pelvic girdle pain and how to minimise discomfort during everyday activity. So now you’re hopefully a little more comfortable, here’s a look at causes and risk factors.

The sacrum is at the base of your spine, above your coccyx, and fits between the two halves of the pelvis. These pelvic bones are called the iliac bones. This is where the sacroiliac joints are formed (the 2 dimples in the small of your back). These three bones of the pelvis -the sacrum and the two iliac bones – form a ring.

The iliac bones meet at the front of the pelvis, forming a joint called the symphysis pubis. This joint is extremely vulnerable during pregnancy. Both raised levels of the hormone relaxin and pressure from your baby cause the joint to become more elastic and to widen in preparation for birth. This makes the whole pelvic joint less stable. The pain of SPD is not necessarily related to the degree of separation but owes more to the instability of the whole pelvis.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, also known as Pelvic Girdle Pain refers to pregnancy-induced instability, pain and dysfunction of the symphysis pubis joint and/or the sacroiliac joint.

Some pain in the area is felt by 50-70% of pregnant women. 14-22% of women have serious PGP, with 5-8% having severe pain or disability.

There are no clear causes or risk factors for SPD / PGP, however, the pain experienced is associated with a misalignment of the pelvis (at any of the joints) and maybe (less so) related to hormone levels.

If you have suffered from SPD / PGP in previous pregnancies; have been subject to pelvic injury or any misalignment to the spine or pelvis (including due to poor alignment, ergonomic working positions or heavy workloads); if your joints were particularly mobile pre-pregnancy or if you were very overweight – you may be more susceptible.

The MUTU System Programme is safe and beneficial during a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. It focuses on alignment, muscle stretching and release, core and pelvic floor muscle connection and engagement, and includes low impact, more intensive workouts for you to progress to when you’re ready.