Abdominal tenderness or pain may result in various common discomforts such as indigestion, problems of gas, constipation, spasms, etc. But if the symptoms are persistent and severe, they can result in serious illnesses such as gastrointestinal issues, digestive issues, inflammation, bowel disease, hernias, or much more.
Stomach tenderness in women arises because of the menstrual cycle. During menstruation, menstrual cramps, bloating, or tenderness in the lower stomach are common. But persistent or serve tenderness is an underlying cause of various gynecological issues.
Neglect in lower abdominal pain or tenderness can also result in ectopic pregnancy.
If you want to find the answer then, it is important to notice any discomfort that is miserere, or persistent and then contact your doctor immediately.
It can help to prevent you from many serious conditions and can help to reduce the spread of any life-threatening infection.
Don’t worry, if you are confused or tense about your tenderness.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the common reasons why is my stomach tender to touch? as well as discuss various conditions, their symptoms, and treatments that you should peruse.
So let’s get started!
1. Understanding the Lower Stomach
The lower stomach, also known as the lower abdominal area or pelvic region, houses several vital abdominal organs, including the intestines, bladder, reproductive organs, and associated supporting structures.
Any discomfort or stomach tenderness to touch in this area can be attributed to a multitude of factors, ranging from mild to severe.
1.1 Identify Your Type of Pain
Identifying your type of pain can help you to figure out an action that will help you to answer why is my lower stomach is tender to touch. Here:
1.1.1 Acute pain:
Acute pain suddenly comes and goes on its own. It may last longer than a few hours or days. You may also feel pain or abdominal tenderness
1.1.2 Chronic pain:
Chronic stomach pain comes and goes during chronic diseases. Chronic pain lasts longer from weeks to months.
1.1.3 Mild pain:
Mild abdominal pain may be a result of trapped gas or indigestion. You can find relief with over-the-counter medications. If your belly pain doesn’t go away, seek hospital care.
1.1.4 Progressive pain:
Progressive pain occurs with problems like ulcerative colitis, worsening acid reflux, kidney stones, or liver problems. Always contact a doctor in case of severe belly pain.
Here are the possible causes and conditions for your lower abdominal tenderness or stomach ache:
2.ย Muscle Strain or Injury
Why is my stomach tender to touch? You can find the answer in your daily life as well.
In this era, you must be conscious about your health. And it is good to stay healthy and take proper care of your body.
But sometimes, for various reasons, people tend to push themselves towards overexertion. This overexertion in exercise, workouts, or restless sports results in muscle strain or several injuries.
Muscle strain or injury is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain that makes your stomach tender to touch.
2.2 Possible Causes
- Lifting heavy objects
- Overexertion
- Heavy Workouts
- Sports-related injuries or accidents
- Sudden movements
These may result in lower abdominal pain.
2.3 Potential Remedies and Treatment
Here are some remedies that can help you to find some relief for your lower abdominal pain:
- Rest
- Applying ice
- Heat therapy
- Over-the-counter pain medications
Always remember, when you experience severe pain and why is your lower stomach tender to touch?
Medical care is essential to rule out any significant or underlying medical conditions.
3. Gynecological issues
Lower stomach tenderness in women can be attributed to various gynaecological conditions.
During the menstrual cycle, menstrual cramps, caused by the contraction of the uterus during menstruation, can result in lower abdominal tenderness.
3.1 Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts, fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries, can cause lower abdominal pain and tenderness when they rupture or become enlarged.
3.1.1 Symptoms
Ovarian cysts don’t cause any symptoms besides lower abdominal pain or overall stomach pain. It requires a proper medical diagnosis.
But in some cases:
- Menstrual irregularities
- Irregular Bowel movements
- Pain during intercourse
3.1.2 Treatment
Ovarian cysts occur due to hormonal changes and they can be repaired on their own.
In case it doesn’t repair, call your doctor.
3.2 Endometriosis
Endometriosis, a condition where the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of it, can lead to lower abdominal pain and tenderness.
This outside tissue grows and thickens then it breaks down and bleeds with each period. But it blocks the blood and the blood gets trapped in the body.
3.2.1 Symptoms
Professional medical diagnosis is essential to identify endometriosis.
Here are the symptoms of endometriosis:
- Painful menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding
- Heavy bleeding during sex
- Heavy bleeding while urinating or having a bowel movement
- Having trouble getting pregnant
3.2.2 Treatment
Consult with your doctor and have prescribed pain medications and therapies.
A minor surgery might be required to remove the extra lining and help with fertility problems.
3.3 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), an infection of the female pelvic organs, can cause lower abdominal pain or tenderness along with other symptoms like pelvic pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, and fever.
Seeking medical evaluation and discussing symptoms with a healthcare professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
4. Urinary Tract Infection(UTI)
It is a condition that occurs because of bacterial infection in the urinary system. This also includes the infection of the bladder and urethra.
4.1 Symptoms
This infection has symptoms such as:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Burning pain during urination
- Cloudy urine
This infection is more common in women. Pay proper medical attention before the infection turns into a kidney infection.
4.2 Treatment
The treatment typically involves:
- Antibiotics prevent infection from spreading further.
- Drink plenty of water to flush out the bacteria from your body.
furthermore, contact your healthcare provider to identify the causes of abdominal pain and for the required treatment.
5. Digestive Issues
Digestive issues can cause pain in your lower abdomen. Some conditions occur because of digestive issues that cause lower abdominal pain:
5.1 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is an intestinal infection. This impacts your bowel movement and causes stomach pain.
The main cause of irritable bowel is a parasitic infection in the intestines.
5.1.1 Symptoms
This infection often needs a diagnosis according to the symptoms. The lower abdominal pain mainly results in rebound tenderness.
Here are the symptoms:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Stabbing pain or severe stomach pain.
5.1.2 Treatment
The bowel syndrome is controllable. Proper care and medication are required to prevent it.
Here are some tips you can follow to prevent it from spreading:
- Self-care with high fiber intake, physical exercise, yoga, stress management, and relaxation techniques.
- You can also apply some therapies such as biofeedback, cognitive behavioural therapy, and brief psychotherapy.
- Get a prescribed medication from your healthcare provider.
- Remember, always take advice from your doctor for your well-being.
5.2 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Inflammatory bowel disease causes inflammation in the digestive tract. This affects the inner lining of the colon wall and causes inflammation in the digestive tract which leads to tenderness in the stomach.
5.2.1 Symptoms
Here are the symptoms:
- Bloating or tenderness in the lower abdomen.
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Blood stools
5.2.2 Treatments
This disease has two most common types:
- Crohn’s Disease: It causes inflammatory chronic pain that affects the inner lining of the colon wall. It is a chronic disease that also causes acute abdominal pain. Consult with your doctor to have proper medication to reduce its impact.If the medication doesn’t provide any relief, it can lead to surgery.
- Ulcerative Colitis: It causes abdominal inflammation in the digestive tract. Professional medical attention, medication, and surgery are the required treatments.
5.3 Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis occurs when undigested foods get pouched in one or more parts of the digestive system. Pouched food or fibers may make you feel why my lower stomach is tender to the touch. After the age of 40, it is a common disease.
5.3.1 Symptoms
Besides the tenderness or stomach pain, here are some other symptoms:
- Nausea vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Change in your bowel habits
- Fever
5.3.2 Treatment
The treatment includes:
- Diet modifications such as an increase in liquid intake and following a low-fiber diet.
- Prescribed antibiotics to reduce the spreading.
- For severe cases, proper hospital care and surgery are required.
6. Gastrointestinal Obstruction
In digestion, your food moves freely from your stomach to the rectum. But when the food or stool gets blocked in your small intestine or in your large intestine, it makes you feel why is my lower stomach is tender to touch and it can result in gastrointestinal obstruction.
Your intestines are present in your abdominal cavity, which takes up the most space in your abdomen. That’s why you experience lower abdominal pain or tenderness. This is a cause of serious gastrointestinal issues.
This condition is a serious illness and needs emergency medical care.
6.1 Symptoms
Here are the symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction:
- Malaise (overall feeling of illness)
- Severe pain and constipation
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea Vomiting
6.2 Treatment
Immediate medical help is the crucial treatment for this condition.
7. Hernias
If you feel why my lower stomach is tender to touch, it can also be a sign of hernias.
Hernias occur when an organ or tissue pushes through a weakened area of the abdominal wall. Lower abdominal pain may be present when a hernia develops.
Certain types of hernias occur because of the twisted fallopian tube. Twisted fallopian tube results in abdominal point tenderness or lower abdominal pain.
7.1 symptoms
The symptoms can include:
- A visible bulge
- Pain during physical activity or lifting
- Discomfort when coughing or bending over.
7.2 Treatment
Surgery and proper hospital care are often required to repair a hernia.
8. Appendicitis
Appendicitis occurs due to an inflamed appendix. If the inflamed appendix bursts, it can spread the infection to peritonitis.
This may result in experiencing lower abdominal pain or severe stomach pain.
8.1 Treatment
Immediate professional healthcare is required to prevent further complications such as the ruptured appendix.
9. Other Possible Causes
There are several other causes, such as kidney stones, food poisoning, peptic ulcer disease or stomach ulcers, stomach virus, ectopic pregnancy, and fatty foods.
If you have an overdose of dairy food products contact your doctor to test your lactose intolerance. It may also be the reason for your stomach pain.
10. Some Tips to Consider to Take Immediate Action
- If you are facing chest pain as well as abdominal pain, contact your healthcare provider.
- Always review your licensed physician, surgeon, and board-certified doctor of family medicine before giving any physical exam.
- Note down the medical history of yourself as well as of your family. Some diseases pass generically and this also helps your doctor to identify the cause of your conditions.
- If you feel point tenderness in your abdomen, immediately contact professional hospital care.
- Dehydration can cause abdominal tenderness and low blood pressure. Always keep electrolytes or glucose-rich in potassium and magnesium to prevent your feeling of why is my lower stomach being tender to the touch.
11. Conclusion
The tenderness or pain may also lead to some common issues such as indigestion, bloating, pain, constipation, gas problems, etc.
If your stomach is tender to touch, this can also lead to various digestive issues, gynaecological issues, or other serious conditions. Stomach ulcers are a common cause of lower stomach tenderness.
You should essentially reach out to a doctor and let them conduct a proper physical examination to prevent further issues. There might be some diseases that require emergency surgery such as the appendix, hernias, etc.
The things that you should consider when you feel why is my lower stomach is tender to touch?
Firstly, understanding your lower stomach and the types of pain you are feeling. Then consult with your doctor. With proper tests like physical examination, blood tests, or urine tests, and a collection of questions, they can identify the condition you are suffering from.
Abdominal pain is the most common that leads people to the emergency room.
Last Updated on December 25, 2023 by soubhik92@gmail.com