Abdominal pain has many causes; symptoms can range from mild to severe. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's time to seek professional help when trauma is associated with abdominal pain, when pain is so intense that it causes the sufferer to curl the body into a fetal position or doesn't allow the person to sit still, when it worsens over the course of several days, or when the pain is associated with blood in the urine or stool or severe swelling of the abdomen.
Muscle Strain
A strain results when the muscle tears from being overworked or overstretched. The number of fibers torn will determine the degree of strain, from grade one to three, with three being a full tear in the muscle. In the abdomen a full tear will eventually lead to a hernia. If there is only partial tearing, the pain will be felt locally when stretched or during a muscle contraction, and will heal in one to six weeks.
Hernia
The abdominal muscles encircle the waist like a corset and help to hold in all of the delicate soft tissues, like the intestines. If a tear or weakness in the muscles occurs, the intestines can bulge out through the tear. Initial symptoms include mild pain when a person coughs or lifts objects; left untreated, a hernia can lead to severe complications, including a strangulated or obstructed bowel. Hernias can happen anywhere in the abdomen, from the rib cage to the pubic bone. Inguinal hernias, which affect the lower abdomen, are the most common type of hernia. According to the Mayo Clinic, inguinal hernias are more common in men than women.
Bowel Obstruction
Many problems, from lack of fluids or essential minerals to hernias to more serious issues like cancer or paralysis of the intestines, can cause a bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction can happen anywhere along the intestines. According to the Merck Manual, lower bowel obstructions typically cause mild pain symptoms and are associated with constipation. The lower abdomen will become mildly distended, but is not tender to the touch.
Endometriosis
This condition happens only in women of menstruating age, and occurs when uterine tissue migrates to other areas of the lower abdomen and pelvis. According to Endometriosis.org, pelvic and lower abdominal pain during menstruation, fatigue and difficulty conceiving are the most common symptoms.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Sometimes an egg becomes fertilized in the ovary or the fallopian tube and fails to reach the uterus. The Nemours Foundation states that the most common place for an ectopic pregnancy is the fallopian tubes. Once the fertilized egg begins to grow and divide, the tissue will tear and cause intense pain and bleeding. This can be a life-threatening condition.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women end up with pelvic inflammatory disease as a result of an untreated sexually transmitted infection. Symptoms include mild pelvic and lower abdominal pain. Once diagnosed, this disease can be treated with antibiotic therapy; left untreated, it can lead to infertility.
