Why Might Someone Experience Lower Abdominal Pain?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Lower abdominal pain can be caused by many things, including problems with the digestive system, conditions affecting the reproductive organs, or other causes.

Explanation

There are several reasons someone might have pain in the lower part of the belly. To understand the common causes of lower abdominal pain, we need to categorize them based on the affected systems:

Digestive System Causes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
Constipation or diarrhea
Intestinal obstruction
Diverticulitis
Appendicitis (acute or chronic)

Reproductive System Causes

In women: endometriosis, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids
In men: prostatitis, testicular torsion

Urinary System Causes

Urinary tract infection
Kidney stones
Bladder issues

Other Causes

Hernia
Abdominal muscle strain

If you are experiencing lower abdominal pain, pay attention to the quality of pain and any triggers. Associated symptoms, such as changes to your stool, fever, or painful urination, can help identify the specific cause of lower abdominal pain. If pain is persistent or severe, you should speak to your doctor.

(References)

Fayez JA, Toy NJ, Flanagan TM. The appendix as the cause of chronic lower abdominal pain. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995 Jan;172(1 Pt 1):122-3. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(95)90097-7. PMID: 7847518.
Yew KS, George MK, Allred HB. Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2023 Jun;107(6):585-596. PMID: 37327158.
Carlberg DJ, Lee SD, Dubin JS. Lower Abdominal Pain. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016 May;34(2):229-49. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2015.12.003. PMID: 27133242.

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