What is SPD and how to manage it?
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) / Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) also known as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) is not ‘one of the normal aches and pains of pregnancy’ so don’t let anyone, including medical professionals, tell you otherwise. SPD is a very painful condition, causing pain in the groin area, hips, coccyx, thighs, lower back and surrounding areas. It is caused during pregnancy by the production in the body of the hormone Relaxin which softens the ligaments in your pelvis in order to make your baby’s passage through your pelvis as easy as possible. Although it is unsure why, some women produce too much of this hormone. This causes the ligaments to soften too much which allows for increased movement in the pelvis. This can lead to a great deal of pain and discomfort.
Throughout this article I will refer to this condition as SPD. The term was officially changed to PGP to fit with the European Guidelines but many sufferers feel the term is too generic and doesn’t adequately describe the condition or its implications. For that reason I will continue to refer to this condition as SPD throughout this article.