Abdominal Pain - Female

Is this your symptom?

• Pain or discomfort in the abdomen (belly, stomach area). This is the area below the rib cage and above the thighs.
• Female

Causes of Acute Stomach Pain

• Inflammation in the Stomach or Bowel Lining: gastritis, ulcers, colitis, disease.
• Peritonitis (serious). Infection of the thin layer of tissue that covers the outside of the bowel and lining the belly. Needs urgent treatment.
• GI Virus (such as Rotavirus). A GI virus can cause stomach cramps as well as vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• Food Poisoning. This causes sudden vomiting and/or diarrhea within hours after eating the bad food. It is caused by toxins from germs growing in foods left out too long. Most often, symptoms go away in less than 24 hours. It often can be treated at home.
• Appendicitis (serious). Suspect appendicitis if pain is low on the right side and walks bent over. Another sign is the patient wanting to lie still.
• Diverticulitis. Infection in small pouches which form on the side of the bowel. More common with older age.
• Bladder Infections often present with painful urination, urgency and bad smelling urine. Sometimes the only symptom is pain in the lower abdomen.
• Bladder Stones may feel like a bladder infection with painful urination and/or passing small stones in the urine. You may see blood in the urine.
• Kidney Infection (serious). You may feel pain in the mid back and stomach going into the groin. There is often fever or chills.
• Kidney Stones. You may feel severe pain going from the mid-back and the stomach to the groin. This occurs when stones pass from the kidney to the bladder down a narrow tube which normally just carries urine. People often say this is the worst pain ever.
• Pancreatitis. Infection of the pancreas (an organ in the upper part of the bowel). It feels like pain in the upper part of the stomach going into the back. May also have severe vomiting. It often comes on quickly, but can be a pain which comes and goes.
• Gall Bladder Stones or Infection. The gall bladder is a pouch which collects bile from the liver. It releases the bile into the bowel to help digest food. Stones can form in the gall bladder causing pain in the upper part of the stomach and between the shoulder blades. There may also be vomiting. A gall infection feels the same, but may also occur with fever.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (serious. Call 911). This is swelling of the main blood vessel (aorta) which carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. In older people, the blood vessel can get stretched out and can leak or burst. A burst will cause sudden severe pain in the chest, stomach and back. The patient will collapse. A leaking aneurysm will cause pain and sometimes a tearing feeling. In both cases, the blood flow to vital organs and the legs will be affected. Emergency treatment is needed.
• Heart Attack (serious). A heart attack can feel like pain in the upper part of the stomach. The patient may be breathless or sweating. Pain may also be felt in the chest, neck or arm.
• Decreased Blood Flow to the Bowel. This can happen if an aneurysm leaks or bursts or if the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the bowel are blocked. It can also happen if the bowel gets twisted and the blood flow is cut off.
• Chest Infection (pneumonia) in the bottom part of the lungs may feel like pain in the upper part of the stomach.
• Constipation. The need to pass a stool may cause cramps in the lower abdomen.
• Bowel Blockage (serious). This is a blockage which prevents food, fluids and digestive juices from passing along the bowel. It can happen from infection in the bowel. The stomach area will be painful and swollen and the patient will vomit and will not be able to pass gas. The blocked part of the bowel can die if not treated right away.
• Hernia. This can happen when part of the bowel comes through the abdominal wall. Often occurs in the groin or around the belly button. Looks like a soft lump or swelling which can be pushed back into place. May or may not cause pain. If the tissues get trapped and cannot be pushed back into place, the swelling may get painful. Surgery may be needed.
• Indigestion. This can be recurring burning-like sharp pain in the upper part of the stomach along with nausea, belching and a feeling bloated.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Causes recurrent cramps, pain or a dull ache. Often with bloating, gas and constipation or diarrhea. Can often be managed with lifestyle and diet changes and stress management.

Additional Causes in Women

• Pelvic Infection. These may or may not be sexually transmitted from a partner.There will be pain low down in the stomach area (below the belly button) and there may be a discharge from the vagina or a fever.
• Ovarian Cysts or Twisted Ovary. Cysts (fluid filled sacs) can grow on an ovary and cause pain due to just being there or if they burst. They can also twist, as can the ovary itself, causing severe pain. Surgery may be needed right away.
• Pregnancy-related pain. Abdominal pain in pregnancy should be taken seriously. Do not delay seeking care. In early pregnancy pain may be due to stretching of the ligaments that support the womb as it gets bigger; but could be sign of a pending miscarriage. There may or may not be vaginal bleeding in the early stages of a miscarriage.
• Ectopic Pregnancy (serious) is caused when the fertilized egg attaches outside the womb rather than inside it. There are often early signs of pregnancy, such as a missed period, breast tenderness, or nausea with lower abdominal pain. Early detection is important. An ectopic pregnancy can result in severe internal bleeding.
• Also see the pregnancy care guides.

Recurring Pain in Women

• Many of the causes of abdominal pain above can happen again (recur), such as diverticulitis, indigestion, inflammation in the bowel, irritable bowel symptoms (IBS), gallstone pain and others.
• Recurring pain can also be caused by periods and ovulation.

Pain Scale

• Mild: the pain does not keep you from any normal activities. Work, school, other activities and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: The pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may disturb sleep.
• Severe: The pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities. You may even find it difficult to move.