Generality
Lower abdominal pain is a symptom of various physiological and, sometimes, pathological conditions.
Often arising from gynecological causes, lower abdominal pains seem to be more prevalent in women. Nevertheless, in the presence of certain diseases, the symptom may also occur in male patients.
During the article the main causes that can cause the appearance of lower abdominal pains and the symptoms associated with them will be analyzed.
What are
What are the Lower Belly Pains?
As mentioned, lower abdominal pain is a symptom that can be triggered by physiological or pathological conditions . However, with "pains in the lower abdomen" we want to indicate the painful stimuli that occur in the lower part of the abdomen including the pelvis, located below the navel and before the genitals.
Often, the pains in the lower abdomen are also called " pelvic pains ".
The causes responsible for the symptom in question may be different and, in most cases, are related to gynecological, gastrointestinal and urinary problems / disorders.
Features
Characteristics of Low Belly Pains
Depending on the underlying cause, lower abdominal pain can be located in the center of the lower abdomen, on the right side, or on the left side . At the same time, they can manifest as acute, chronic or cyclic pains (as happens, for example, in the case of menstrual pain); deaf or cramped .
Even the intensity of lower abdominal pains can vary, depending both on the cause and its severity, and on the sensitivity of each individual.
Causes
What are the possible causes of low belly pain?
The causes of lower abdominal pain can be physiological or pathological and generally concern the gastrointestinal tract, the urinary tract or the female reproductive system.
Female Reproductive System
Lower abdomen pains affecting the female reproductive system may have a physiological origin (ie they are due to normal phenomena and conditions), or they may have a pathological origin.
Causes of Physiological Origin
Among the causes of physiological origin that can cause lower abdominal pain, we find:
- Menstruation : menstruation is often associated with pain in the lower abdomen (pain or menstrual cramps) and back pain. In this case, therefore, the pain is cyclical, since it recurs every month, before and / or in conjunction with menstruation.
- Ovulation : even ovulation can cause lower abdominal pain, located on the left or right side, near the ovary from which the mature egg cell is released.
- Beginning of pregnancy : at the beginning of pregnancy it is normal to feel cramp-like abdominal pains, they derive from the gradual growth of the uterus that prepares to receive the fetus.
- Preparatory contractions : preparatory contractions occur starting from the third trimester of pregnancy and cause pains in the lower abdomen vaguely reminiscent of those induced by menstruation.
Causes of Pathological Origin
Among the causes of pathological origin that can give rise to the symptom in question, we recall:
- Ectopic pregnancy : a condition in which the embryo is implanted outside the uterine cavity; it is characterized by the appearance of pains in the lower abdomen located in the area where the implant took place.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease : pains in the lower abdomen are typical symptoms of this pathology.
- Spontaneous abortion .
- Ovarian cyst : the presence of an ovarian cyst can cause dull lower abdominal pain if it is large, or sudden and acute pain if the cyst should break. At the same time, in the presence of such a condition, lower abdominal pain can also occur during sexual intercourse.
- Endometriosis : pathological condition characterized by the appearance of chronic lower abdominal pains.
- Ovarian torsion .
- Prolapse of the uterus .
- Infections of the female genital tract .
- Uterine fibroids : these are benign tumors that can cause lower abdominal pain when present.
- Malignant tumors of the female reproductive system .
Gastrointestinal system
Sometimes, lower abdominal pains can derive from disorders or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and, more precisely, that involve the enteric tract, such as:
- Constipation: a condition of constipation, especially if continued for long periods of time, could cause the appearance of lower abdominal pains.
- Bowel obstruction .
- Irritable bowel syndrome : in association with numerous other symptoms, this disease can cause lower abdominal pain.
- Inflammatory bowel diseases .
- Diverticulitis .
- Intestinal Perforation .
- Appendicitis : the inflammation of the appendix that starts from the initial tract of the large intestine causes pains in the lower abdomen and located below the navel or on the right side.
- Intestinal infections .
Urinary Tract
Lower abdominal pain can occur as a result of diseases affecting the urinary tract or kidneys, such as:
- Cystitis : it is an infection of the bladder mucosa which, in most cases, is caused by bacterial infections.
- Pyelonephritis : is an inflammatory disease - acute or chronic and of bacterial origin - which affects the kidneys and the renal pelvis.
- Other urinary tract infections .
- Renal colic : occurs when a kidney stone obstructs the passage of urine. The pain caused by renal colic is generally located at the side.
- Malignant tumors of the urinary tract .
Other Possible Causes
Other possible pathological causes responsible for the onset of lower abdominal pain are:
- Abdominal adherences : when located in the lower part of the abdomen, they can cause chronic lower abdominal pains.
- Inguinal hernia .
- Peritonitis .
- Sexually transmitted diseases (such as, for example, gonorrhea and chlamydia).
- Muscle strain and / or trauma .
- Somatization of anxiety or stress conditions.
Associated symptoms
What other symptoms can manifest in association with pains in the lower belly?
The type of symptoms that can manifest in association with lower abdominal pains, as well as their intensity and their severity, vary according to the cause that triggered them.
Gynecological conditions
When the pains in the lower abdomen see their origin in gynecological causes of a physiological nature, symptoms can occur such as:
- Increase in breast volume, increased sexual desire, pain in your side (symptoms that may occur during ovulation);
- Backache, nausea, headache, irritability (symptoms that may occur shortly before or during menstruation);
- Nausea and vomiting, mood swings, fatigue (symptoms that can occur early in pregnancy).
In the presence of gynecological pathologies, however, among the various symptoms that can occur, we find:
- Pain during sexual intercourse;
- Unexpected and abnormal vaginal bleeding;
- menorrhagia;
- Metrorrhagia;
- Menometrorragia;
- Decline in sexual desire.
Gastrointestinal Disorders and Diseases
In the event that lower abdominal pain is induced by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is possible that they occur in association with symptoms such as:
- Nausea and vomit;
- Abdominal swelling;
- Abdominal distension;
- Meteorism and flatulence;
- Abdominal cramps;
- Presence of blood in the stool;
- Presence of mucus in the stool.
Disorders and Diseases of the Urinary Tract
If lower abdominal pain is associated with pathological conditions in the urinary tract, they may be associated with symptoms such as:
- Hematuria (presence of blood in the urine),
- Dysuria;
- Urination difficulties;
- Pain and / or burning during urination;
- Localized pain in the lumbar area.
Other Associated Symptoms
Other symptoms that could occur along with lower abdominal pain consist of:
- Temperature;
- Hematemesis;
- General malaise.
Please note
Those above reposted are just some of the symptoms that can accompany lower abdominal pains. For more detailed information on the symptoms of each gynecological disorder or disease, the urinary tract and the gastrointestinal tract, we recommend reading the dedicated articles already present on this site.
When to worry
When to worry and when to go to the doctor?
Although in some cases lower abdominal pains can represent a passenger discomfort due to physiological causes, in other situations they could be a sign of diseases and disorders not yet identified. In the latter case, referral to the doctor is of fundamental importance.
In detail, it is good to worry and contact the aforementioned healthcare figure when:
- Lower abdominal pains appear suddenly without any apparent cause (for example, absence of menstruation, absence of constipation, etc.).
- The painful stimulus is very intense and shows no sign of abating.
- Pain is accompanied by symptoms that could lead to the presumption of some underlying pathological condition (for example, blood loss during pregnancy and abnormal and unexpected blood loss, high fever, difficulty urinating, blood in stool or vomit, etc.).
In the presence of the aforementioned conditions, the consultation of the doctor is necessary to pinpoint the cause causing pain in the lower abdomen. In fact, a correct diagnosis carried out in a timely manner will enable the most suitable treatment to be undertaken in a short time.
Diagnosis
Importance of the Right Diagnosis in Presence of Low Belly Pains
The diagnosis plays a fundamental role when there is pain in the lower abdomen with an unknown cause. In fact, although in many cases it may be painful passengers (for example, related to a period of constipation) and sometimes due to physiological conditions (menstruation, early pregnancy, etc.), in other situations they could represent, as we have seen, the symptom of pathological conditions of variable gravity.
When there are pains in the lower abdomen and the doctor is contacted in order to make a correct diagnosis, the latter - in addition to collecting data through the anamnesis and through a thorough examination - can prescribe the execution of blood tests, analysis urine analysis, stool analysis, diagnostic tests (such as abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, CT, MRI, endoscopy, etc.) and specialist visits (gynecological examination, gastroenterological examination, etc.).
Treatments and Treatments
Treatments and Treatments Against Low Belly Pains
Since the pains in the lower abdomen are a symptom, their disappearance depends essentially on the treatment or treatment of the triggering causes. Since the ailments and diseases that can induce the appearance of lower abdominal pain are very many, we reiterate the importance of contacting a doctor in order to get a correct diagnosis. Only in this way, in fact, is it possible to adopt the most suitable therapeutic strategy.
However, in situations that allow it, the doctor may decide to prescribe to the patient medicines for symptomatic pain treatment, such as antispasmodic drugs (for example, scopolamine butylbromide - Buscopan®) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as for example, ibuprofen - Buscofen® - widely used to combat lower abdominal pain caused by menstruation).
