Abdominal pain is one if the most common problems that women suffer from and can be caused due to various reasons and health conditions. Read on for more information on the causes of abdominal pain in women.
Abdominal pain is something most women suffer from, some frequently and some very rarely. In most cases, abdominal pain is caused due to gynecological reasons and a few of them maybe caused due to other health conditions. Pain experienced in different areas of the abdomen like lower left abdominal pain or lower right abdominal pain could be indicative of disorders related to the various organs situated in these areas. In most cases abdominal pain may not be that serious and could be treated by medication, but pain caused due to a serious medical condition will need immediate attention.
Abdominal Pain Causes
Usually, it is difficult to determine the exact area of abdominal pain and so it also becomes difficult to determine the exact cause unless it is accompanied by other symptoms. Listed below are some of the common causes of abdominal pain in women.
Menstrual Pain/Cramps
This is the most common cause, in women of all ages. Menstruation causes the contraction of the walls of the uterus which gives rise to pain. This pain could be severe in some and gets rectified with age. For those experiencing severe pain, consuming painkillers could be of help to reduce and subside the pain.
Premenstrual Abdominal Pain
Another cause being, the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which can cause some amount of pain and discomfort in the abdomen. It is usually experienced a day or two prior to menstruation and may not be very severe. Pain may also be experienced on both sides of the lower abdomen at the time of ovulation.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
The pelvic inflammatory disease is a sexually transmitted disease characterized by bacterial infection of the vagina or cervix which spreads to the fallopian tubes and the uterus causing severe lower abdominal pain. This condition should be treated by taking antibiotics prescribed after a thorough physical examination.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infection, i.e. an infection of the bladder or kidney, can cause severe lower left abdominal pain. The infection is caused by bacteria and needs to be treated by consuming antibiotics.
Miscarriage
Central lower abdominal pain in pregnant women maybe a sign of a miscarriage if accompanied by other symptoms like spotting or bleeding or back and leg pain.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a medical condition wherein the uterine cells move out of the uterus into other organs in the abdomen. These cells are responsible for menstruation and when they move out of the uterus wall, they cause accumulation of blood in that area or organ. This leads to the formation of blood clots and adhesions which gives rise to pain.
Ectopic Pregnancy
This could be a cause of lower left or lower right abdominal pain and is characterized by a blastocyst implanting itself outside the uterus. This is a life-threatening condition and needs to be rectified by an emergency surgery.
Fibroid
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors or bumps found in the uterus and can cause severe lower abdominal pain, especially during menstruation. This condition needs to be treated medically or else severe anemia could develop.
Appendicitis
This is a common cause of right lower abdominal pain and is characterized by the inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis should be treated by a surgical operation to get rid of the severe pain.
Apart from those mentioned above, the other causes include constipation, diarrhea, kidney stones, ovarian cysts, kidney or bladder tumors, inflammatory bowel disease, etc,. Different forms of pain relief should be adopted to get rid of the pain in case of mild abdominal pain and medical attention should be sought for any kind of severe abdominal pain in women.
