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Symptoms

Why does endometriosis cause tailbone pain?

The short answer

Endometriosis can cause tailbone pain when pelvic inflammation and pain keep pelvic floor muscles clenched, referring pain to the coccyx. Nerve sensitization can also develop, so discomfort can persist or flare even when the original trigger seems small.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Steven Vasilev MD
Advanced Endometriosis Minimally-Invasive Robotic Excision Surgeon, Director of Lotus Endometriosis Institute · Updated Oct 2026

Tailbone (coccyx) pain can happen with endometriosis even though the coccyx isn’t a reproductive organ. One common reason is pelvic floor dysfunction: ongoing pelvic inflammation and pain can “train” the pelvic floor muscles to stay clenched and overactive, and those muscles attach near the tailbone and can refer pain into the coccyx, low back, hips, and rectum. Over time, nerve sensitization can also develop, meaning the nervous system becomes better at producing pain signals, so tailbone discomfort can persist or flare even when the original trigger seems small.

In other cases, tailbone pain is part of a broader endometriosis pain pattern that overlaps with bowel symptoms, deep pelvic pressure, or pain with sitting, and it may reflect how your muscles, fascia, and nerves are interacting, not just where endometriosis lesions are visible. That’s why effective care often looks beyond the lesions alone and includes a careful evaluation of pelvic floor tone, myofascial trigger points, posture/movement patterns, and coexisting conditions like adenomyosis.

If tailbone pain is one of your dominant symptoms, our team can help you map out likely pain drivers and build a plan that may include expert excision surgery when indicated and pelvic floor therapy to address muscle guarding and sensitization. If you’d like, reach out to schedule a consultation so we can review your symptoms in detail and discuss the next best steps.

Where to go from here

Understand it, compare it with what you're feeling, then talk it through with us.

Step 1 · Understand

Understand the condition

Step 3 · Speak with Us

Tailbone pain isn’t “just in your head.”

Endometriosis can drive coccyx pain through pelvic floor muscle spasm and nerve sensitization. Our specialists can pinpoint the cause and build a plan to calm inflammation, treat endometriosis, and relieve pelvic floor–related pain.

Questions people ask next

All symptoms questions
  • Can endometriosis cause lower back pain?

    Yes, endometriosis can cause lower back pain. Inflammation and scarring from endometriosis can irritate tissues and nerves in the back of the pelvis, or cause referred pain, where the source is pelvic but the pain is felt in your lower back.

  • Can pelvic endometriosis cause buttock pain?

    Yes, pelvic endometriosis can cause buttock pain if it affects tissues near major nerves or if pelvic inflammation and scarring irritate the sciatic nerve indirectly. The pain may worsen before or during a period, but it does not have to be cyclical.

  • Can endometriosis cause pain during bowel movements?

    Yes, endometriosis can cause pain during bowel movements, including deep rectal pain, cramping or pressure, especially around your period. This can happen when it involves the bowel or when inflammatory lesions and scar tissue irritate nearby pelvic structures.

  • Endometriosis or herniated disc—how can I tell?

    Endometriosis pain often flares with your cycle, while a herniated disc more commonly causes back or leg pain that changes with posture. Because endometriosis can mimic sciatica and both can coexist, a careful history, targeted exam and appropriate imaging help sort them out.

Reach Out

Have a question?

Lotus Endometriosis Institute provides California-based surgical evaluation and advanced excision care for patients with suspected endometriosis, adenomyosis, complex pelvic pain, and related conditions.


Many patients contact us from outside California to learn whether traveling for in-person evaluation and possible surgery may be appropriate.

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(424) 255-1340

(805) 920-0909

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Santa Monica, CA

2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

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Arroyo Grande, CA

154 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420