LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN

Lower abdominal pain is uneasiness feeling occurring in abdomen at level below the stomach. It is fairly common in all men, womens and children. Lower abdominal pain is a symptom of many different kinds of conditions, illnesses and diseases. Minor lower abdominal pain usually does not indicate anything serious; however, if pain is intense or chronic, it may indicate a medical emergency, such as appendicitis, or diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or colon cancer. Discuss this kind of pain with a doctor before attempting to treat it at home. In women , it is very common because presence of womb and ovaries in the region of lower abdomen. Lower abdominal pain can be of different types which includes, Urine Tract Infection (or UTI), Constipation, Endometritis, Cystitis, Bladder Cancer, Menstrual pain, Endometrosis, Trapped wind or Intestinal gas etc. Lower abdominal pain can be occurr in both left and right side of lower abdomen. In left side abdominal pain, usually it is believed that can be a Appendicitis, Ectopic pregnancy, Crohn’s Disease, Hernia, Bladder infection, Kidney stone, Food poisoning, Gastroenteritis etc. If we talk about Lower Left Abdominal Pain in Men it is difficult to diagnose, it can be Prostrate: Prostrate infections, Varicocele. Changes in diet more fiber, for instance is another possible cause of minor lower abdominal pain, especially if this pain accompanies changes in bowel movements as well (diarrhea or constipation).Although appendicitis often causes right-side pain, in some cases pain is transferred to the left side or the back

. Diagnosis can be done through the medical preliminary examinations and to understand the nature of pain, time of pain and how much it extent and can be worsen. Also the techniques like X-ray, scanning and other additional tests are done to diagnose the particular condition. Treatment in lower abdominal pain is done after proper examination of the condition then accordingly medication is provided for relief. If lower abdominal pain is severe or chronic, always get medical help and advice before self-treating at home. Solutions to pain vary, of course, according to the cause. However, in general, ibuprofen and similar pain relievers will ease menstrual cramps. Soothing warmth from a hot pack or hot water bottle will also soothe these cramps. Sharp pains, intense pain or new pain that does not appear to be related to minor intestinal illness or menstruation should be checked out immediately. In addition, if you have a fever, you may have a serious infection and should get help. Appendicitis, for instance, can be fatal if untreated.

Pain in the lower abdomen is often related to the digestive tract, but can also be related to conditions of the body wall, skin, blood vessels, urinary tract, or reproductive organs. The area may be tender to the touch or the pain may be severe and the whole abdomen might be rigid.Severe pain can be a symptom of inflammation, appendicitis, bowel obstruction, or bowel perforation. Severe pain in women may result from twisting of an ovary (ovarian torsion), rupture of an ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Men may experience severe lower abdominal pain from testicular torsion or injury.
 Cramps pain may be due to gas, indigestion, inflammation or infection, or, in women, from menstrual cramps or ethnocentrism . Severe pain that comes in waves may be caused by kidney stones. Trauma to the body wall, hernias, and shingles can also cause lower abdominal pain. A hernia is a weakening of muscle or tissue that allows organs or other tissues to protrude through it. Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster) virus involving a painful, blistering rash that often forms a stripe across the affected area of skin. Pain that is sudden in onset, severe, persistent, recurring, or worsening, or that is accompanied by other serious symptoms is often the most worrisome. Lower abdominal pain can be caused by serious medical conditions. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you stop having bowel movements, have bloody stools, are vomiting blood, have severe pain or a rigid abdomen, have been injured, had a sudden onset of sharp pain, have cancer, or might be pregnant and have abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. If your lower abdominal pain is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care, particularly if it is worsening instead of improving. If you have bladder symptoms, a fever, decreased appetite, or unexplained weight loss, you should also seek prompt medical care.


Almost everyone experiences pain in the abdomen at one time or another. Most of the time, it is not caused by a serious medical problem.There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including:

Organs related to digestion -- the end of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

The Aorta            --  a large blood vessel that runs straight down the inside of the abdomen
The Appendix --  an organ in the lower right abdomen that no longer serves much function
The kidney      --  two bean-shaped organs that lie deep within the abdominal cavity
The Spleen      --  an organ involved in blood maintenance and infection control

However, the pain may start from somewhere else -- like your chest or pelvic area. You may also have a generalized infection, such as the flu or strep throat, that affects many parts of your body.

The intensity of the pain does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain. Severe abdominal pain can be from mild conditions, such as gas or the cramping of viral gastroenteritis. On the other hand, relatively mild pain or no pain may be present with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer of the colon or early appendicitis.

Other ways of describing pain in your abdomen include:

Pain may be generalized, meaning that it is present in more than half of your belly. This is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines. Pain that is localized is found in only one area of your belly. This type of pain is more likely to be a sign of a problem in one of your organs, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach (ulcers).Cramp-like pain is usually not serious, and is more likely to be due to gas and bloating. It is often followed by diarrhea. More worrisome signs include pain that occurs more often, lasts longer (more than 24 hours), or has a fever with it.Colicky pain is pain that comes in waves, usually starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of belly pain.

Pain in the lower right abdomen may not always be a cause of alarm but it is still important to know the reason for this. You might not need to be rushed to the emergency room but at least you know exactly what is going on inside your body.

Here are some of the more common reasons that trigger pain in the lower right abdomen:

• Constipation-This is very common for a lot of people. The difficulty of your digestive tract to push triggers pain in the lower abdominal area. This is because of the extra work that the muscles are doing which also puts pressure on the abdominal part.

• Appendicitis-This is a problem for people who are within 11 to 40. For appendicitis, the abdominal pain is also accompanied by vomiting, fever and loss of appetite.

• Hernia-This can also cause pain because of the protruding soft tissue that hits the abdominal wall. For this type of medical problem, the pain is also felt in the groin and upper thigh area.

• Testicular Torsion-For men who are suffering from coiled testicle, abdominal pain can be felt. This also comes with vomiting, nausea and pain in the testicles. The pain can come in surges but in worse cases, it would not go away. Hence, it is necessary to consult a doctor right away.

• Ectopic Pregnancy-This is a problem for women wherein the fertilized egg is situated in another area and not in the uterus. The pain in lower right abdomen gets even more intense if the fertilized egg resides in the fallopian tube.

• Cancer-Different types of cancer can also lead to pain in the lower abdomen. The reason why this type of aching should not be ignored is because it may also be symptom of bowel cancer, colon caner or ovarian cancer.

• Endometriosis-This health problem is triggered when the womb tissues grows beyond the womb. For cases like this, there is also slight swelling which can be felt when the painful area is being pressed lightly. The pain could get even worse during the menstrual period.

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease-Women's womb may sometimes be positioned the wrong way. Pain is present in the lower right abdominal part when the womb is tilted to this side. For this disorder, pain, vaginal discharge and fever may also be experienced.

• Ulcerative Colitis-This is a disease that damages the large bowel. The pain in lower right abdomen is just one of the symptoms because this usually causes weight loss and bloody stool too.

• Salpingitis-Women who have multiple sexual partners are prone to this illness. This is an infection in the tube which makes intercourse painful and causes excessive vaginal discharge.

These are some of the more common reasons for abdominal pain on the right side. Self-diagnosis is not the best way to go since some of the symptoms may be too similar. If you want to really take good care of your body, asking for doctor's advice should be prioritized.

Pain In Lower Abdomen In Men

Also known as abdominal cramps, it is mostly associated with the digestive parts of the body. Although there can be a large number of causes, the distinct areas of pain provide a series of clues on the possible causes of lower abdominal pain. Furthermore, depending on the type of pain felt, the seriousness and urgency for medical help can be determined. This means that thorough assessment is needed with some tests to accurately determine the cause.

Lower abdominal pain usually starts below the umbilicus. Some may also refer to it as pelvic pain. The discomfort can be caused by a lot of factors and may be chronic or acute. The pelvis can also be used as a point of reference and the pain can be localized in the left or the right area. The pain can last from a short intermittent span to a long period of time. There can be a multitude of reasons for the abdominal pain a person might feel and it consists of some form of infections, sexually transmitted diseases, lymphomas, diabetes, kidney stones, menstrual cramps, vaginitis, tumors, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, appendicitis, and bowel disorders. And though these types of causes may present themselves in particular areas of the lower abdomen, there can still be several diagnostic exams to be performed to determine the actual problem.

Lower abdominal pain is mostly experienced by women because the pain is present during menstruation. The intensity of the cramps may vary depending on the amount of pain that an individual can manage. Also, there are several usual culprits of pelvic pain in women. One is inflammation of the bladder or cystitis. Due to the anatomical position of the female urinary system, women are commonly predisposed to infection more so than men. Another cause can be from kidney stones, wherein the pain is usually located on the flank area and are usually described as sharp and knife-like pain. This can be due to the stones moving and damaging the urinary tract and the bladder. Pain can also come from the fallopian tubes, uterus, or the ovary. This type of pain can be located centrally on the pelvis. Dysmenorrhoea during menstruation is another cause of lower abdominal pain. Ovarian cysts can also cause pain, they can be experienced bilaterally or only on either side of the pelvic region. Endometriosis results to pain in the uterus similar to the ones caused by fibroids. Pelvic inflammatory disease can also cause pain on the central area of the pelvis and may radiate at the sides. And lastly, ectopic pregnancy can also cause pain that may be usually felt on the fallopian tube areas, near the flank region.

Pain on the lower left area can be located on the left of the umbilicus. This area consists of the left urinary bladder, descending large intestine, left kidney, sigmoid colon, fallopian tube, and several nerves. Tumors, stones, and aneurysms can cause the pain in these areas. Bowel obstruction can be another cause of the pain, and this can be caused by inflammation of the colon or a mass of tissue. Chron's disease and diverticulitis causes inflammation of the colon and both can also cause pain on the left lower abdomen. Hernias can also be a factor. And one common cause is an infection of the left kidney which is directly located in the left flank area.

Pain on the right lower abdomen is usually suspected in appendicitis cases. The pain can sometimes radiate to the other side of the abdomen. Cancer of the large intestine can be another reason and inflammatory bowel diseases. Intussusceptions of the bowel can also lead to a sharp pain and at times may be similar to pains caused by an infection on the right side of the kidney. Lymphomas are another culprit.

The range of pain may range from just tenderness to severe pain. And depending on the cause, it may be steady. However, in most cases, it is intermittent. Additionally, the pain can be felt during strenuous activities like jogging or running. Cramps may be persistent during or before bowel movement. The pain on the reproductive area may come during intercourse. The characteristics of lower abdominal pain can greatly vary according to its cause and although the type and area of pain can give clues to what the causes are, an in-depth diagnostic study may be necessary for a more accurate diagnosis.