HomeAbdominal Pain (Stomach Ache) Information Center

20 Possible Causes of Abdominal Pain in Women

Abdominal Pain (Stomach Ache) Information Center

Abdominal pain can be achy, crampy, dull, intermittent or may be sharp. It is also called stomachache. Usually women experience many types of abdominal pain, which may be only left-sided abdominal pain, or lower abdominal pain etc. A woman may experience abdominal pain due to various reasons. Some of the causes of abdominal pain in women may be harmless, however others can be life threatening.

Diverticulitis:

Diverticulitis is one more condition which usually occurs in middle-aged or older women when diverticuli in the colon becomes infected. This can cause abdominal pain in women.
Menstrual Pain or Cramps In Women:

This is perhaps the most common cause of abdominal pain in women of all ages. Menstruation causes the contraction of uterus walls and this leads to the pain, which may be severe in some cases and gets rectified with age. For those women who are experiencing a lot of pain can take painkillers to help reduce the pain.
Abdominal Pain Before Menstruation Periods In Women:

PMS syndrome can also cause abdominal pain before menstruation, especially in the lower abdomen. It is generally experienced a day or two days prior to your menstruation and may not be too severe. The abdominal pain may also be experienced on both the sides of the lower abdomen during the time of ovulation.
Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases:

There may also be abdominal pain in the lower portion because of the pelvic inflammatory disease which is usually a sexually transmitted disease that is also known as a bacterial infection. This infection generally occurs in the vagina and it basically spreads to the fallopian tubes and also the uterus, thus causing abdominal pain in the lower portion in women. You can check up with your doctor and take the prescribed antibiotics to treat the condition.
Cancer:

Another reason that might cause abdominal pain can be cancer. When the lower side of the abdomen is affected with the growth of cancerous tissues, it produces mild to extremely sharp abdominal pain in women
Kidney Stones Causing Abdominal Pain In Women:

In case there is a stone formation in the kidney then it would cause mild to severe lower abdominal pain under your ribs. Sometimes, the kidney stones may travel down the ureter and may lead to lower abdominal pain
Constipation:

Constipation is one more cause of abdominal pain in women. Both, acute as well as chronic constipation can lead to both, lower left as well as lower right abdominal pain. The pain generally comes after defecation.
Urinary Tract Infections:

One more cause of abdominal pain in women can be urinary tract infection which is an infection of the kidney or the bladder. In such a condition you may have severe lower left abdominal pain. This infection is caused by bacteria and it requires antibiotic treatments.
Miscarriage:

Central lower abdominal pain can be caused because of a miscarriage; especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as spotting, bleeding or back pain etc.
Injury:

There may be another cause of abdominal pain in women; which may be because of any kind of injury or trauma to the abdomen, may be due to an accident or a fracture or a violent act. This may cause lower abdominal pain.
Cholecystitis:

Cholecystitis is one kind of disease generally characterized by the inflammation and swelling of the gallbladder. This disease can cause an abdominal pain in women.
Endometriosis:

Endometriosis is one more medical condition which can cause abdominal pain in women. In this condition, uterine cells move out of the uterus in to several other organs in the abdomen. These are the cells that are usually responsible for menstruation and when they move out of the wall of the uterus, can cause blood accumulation in that particular organ. This in turn leads to formation of blood clots and adhesions, which further leads to pain in the abdomen.
Ectopic Pregnancy:

If you have Ectopic pregnancy then it can easily cause left or right abdominal pain. It must be noted that such a conditional can be actually life threatening and you might require surgery on an immediate basis.
Intestinal Obstructions:

Intestinal obstruction is another cause of abdominal pain in women. The contents of the intestine that pass to the lower bowel become blocked and that is the reason you may feel mild to severe pain in the abdomen.
Appendicitis:

Appendicitis is one more cause, in fact one of the most common cause of right lower abdominal pain in women. This pain is characterized by the appendix inflammation. Appendicitis is required to be treated by a simple surgical operation so as to get rid of the severe pain.
Ovarian Cyst:

A sac like or cyst tumor in the ovary, which is usually benign, can be responsible for the abdominal pain, especially the lower abdominal pain in women.
Salpingitis:

Salpingitis is actually a sexual disease, which is basically caused by an inflamed tube inside the vagina of females. One would feel severe pain in the abdomen if she has been affected by this condition.
Intestinal Problems:

There are several problems in the gastrointestinal system which has potential to cause abdominal pain, especially on the left side of the abdomen in women.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Irritable bowel syndrome is one more cause of abdominal pain, or intermittent abdominal pain that begins in late teens or early 20s. However, most women with Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, or the inflammatory bowel diseases start having their symptoms of abdominal pain between the ages 15 to 40.
Miscellaneous Causes of Abdominal Pain In Women:

There may be a lot of unrelated conditions causing abdominal pain. For instance, herpes zoster may impact the skin and the underlying nerves of several areas of the body, which may also include the abdomen. Again, a slipped disk can compress the abdominal nerves and cause abdominal pain, especially on the left side of the abdomen in the women’s body.

Conclusion:

This article talked about some of the causes of abdominal pain in women. In case you are suffering from any such pain and doubt about your condition then do visit an expert medical professional and get yourself properly diagnosed and go for the prescribed treatments. Women need immediate medical attention in case of any signs of internal bleeding, such as bloody or tarry stools or if they vomit anything that appears to be bloody or looks life coffee grounds. Abdominal pain along with high fever or chills may also be the result of a serious infection, which requires immediate medical attention.

References:

“Abdominal Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis” by Erica Hersh, MD, Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/symptom/abdominal-pain
“Abdominal Pain in Adults” by Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/abdominal-pain/basics/causes/sym-20050728
“Abdominal Pain in Women: When Should You Be Worried?” by Marjorie Greenfield, MD, Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/abdominal-pain-in-women-5082271
“Causes of Abdominal Pain: ABDOMINAL PAIN IN WOMEN” by Caroline R. Taylor, MD, MSD, MSDx. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/symptoms-of-gi-disorders/abdominal-pain
“Pelvic Pain in Women” by Stephanie S. Faubion, MD, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Available at: https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/gynecologic-problems/pelvic-pain

Also Read:

20 Possible Causes of Abdominal Pain in Women