According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 110.2 million visits to hospital emergency rooms occurred in 2002. Abdominal pain was the most frequently cited reason for visiting the emergency room. There are multiple causes of abdominal pain in women and they present with a variety of symptoms.
Cholecystitis
The gallbladder was designed to aid in the digestion of fat, according to Penn Medicine. Bile is the necessary aid for fat digestion. Bile is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Occasionally, gall stones form, although the reason why is unknown. These stones can sometimes get stuck in the duct that usually secretes the bile into the digestive system. According to Penn Medicine, acute cholecystitis, or gallbladder disease, affects women between the ages of 20 and 40. Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder caused by the chemicals in the bile. Subsequent infection can occur that will also cause pain. Symptoms of acute cholecystitis include right upper quadrant abdominal pain, particularly after a fatty meal, and nausea and vomiting. If infection is present there may be a fever.
Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is caused by a fertilized egg getting trapped in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg continues cellular division and grows inside the fallopian tube until eventually it causes rupture of the tube. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are abdominal cramping on one side of the pelvis, lower abdominal pain, slight vaginal bleeding and possible dizziness, according to MayoClinic.com. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. Symptoms of a ruptured ectopic include severe abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, shoulder pain due to referred pain and symptoms of shock.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the fallopian tubes and uterus that is a serious complication of chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection of the pelvic organs affects 750,000 women a year and causes infertility in 75,000 of those women. Sexually active women are at greatest risk, particularly those with multiple partners. Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include lower abdominal pain, fever, foul smelling vaginal discharge, painful urination and irregular menses.
