What could cause periodic abdominal pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Periodic abdominal pain has several possible causes, including stress, colon inflammation (colitis), bladder inflammation (cystitis), and less commonly, tumors or hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney due to urine buildup). Each condition affects the body differently and may require different treatment approaches, ranging from lifestyle changes to medical intervention.

Because symptoms often overlap between minor and serious conditions, self-diagnosis can be misleading and delay proper care. The fastest way to understand what may be behind your pain is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights based on your specific symptoms, helping you decide whether to monitor at home, see a primary care doctor, or seek urgent care—saving you time, worry, and unnecessary guesswork.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Periodic abdominal pain can arise from various causes. One common cause is stress, which can lead to recurrent abdominal pain. Stress affects the body in many ways, and sometimes it can make the abdomen hurt over and over again. If you feel stressed and have abdominal pain, it might be connected.

Inflammation or infection of the colon or bladder are also common causes of periodic abdominal pain.

Another cause of recurring belly pain may be tumors. Although this is less common, some tumors can make your abdomen hurt again and again. Tumors are abnormal growths in the body, and they can press on different parts, causing pain.

More rarely, hydronephrosis is a condition where the kidneys swell up because urine can't drain properly. This can also cause abdominal pain that comes and goes. The pain occurs because the urine gets blocked up and makes the kidney swell.

If you experience abdominal pain often, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional to figure out what's causing it. You can get started by taking a free symptom checker assessment to help identify potential causes and determine if you need medical attention.

(References)

Alfvén G, & Andersson E. (2023). Stress and recurrent abdominal pain. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 37565357.
Chen YJ, Yu HH, Yang YH, Lau YL, Lee WI, & Chiang BL. (2014). Recurrent abdominal pain as the presentation of tumor .... Journal of microbiology, immunology, and infection = Wei mian yu gan ran za zhi, 22921805.
Fu K, Jia W, Fu W, Zhang LY, Hu JH, Zhao Z, et al. (2018). Abdominal pain as a result of intermittent hydronephrosis. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 29863257.

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