Severity in the lower abdomen in women: causes and types of pain

The severity of the lower abdomen in women can be due to many factors. Among the causes of abdominal discomfort, there are both banal overeating and serious pathologies of internal organs. You should not ignore the painful sensations in this area. A negligent attitude towards health triggers irreversible processes in the body and requires long-term treatment.

Etiology

In the lower part of the pelvis, many organs are concentrated, among which the intestines, organs of the reproductive and urinary systems play a huge role in the functioning of the body. When discomfort appears in the lower part of the peritoneum, it is difficult to identify the source of its occurrence without qualified assistance. A disease of any organ located in this part of the abdomen can manifest itself with similar symptoms.

Among the most common are the following:

• dysmenorrhea;
• gynecological diseases;
• infections and inflammation of the genitourinary system.

While pregnant, a woman may also experience pain in the lower abdomen. Diseases of the intestines and pathologies of the spine often reveal themselves through pain in this part of the abdominal cavity.

Types of pain

Pain arising in the lower abdomen of a woman is divided into several types:

• sharp, cutting;
• stupid;
• cramping;
• incessant;
• pulsating.

Based on the characteristics of pain and the symptoms present, a specific disease can be diagnosed.

Table 1. Symptoms and possible diseases

Symptoms	Most likely disease
Dull pain accompanied by bloody discharge not related to menstruation	Inflammatory process of the genitourinary system
Prolonged pain, intense vaginal discharge, and an increase in body temperature	Pelvic Infectious Diseases
Constant pain on the background of urinary disorders	Diseases of the urinary tract
Cramping pain alternating with vomiting and lack of appetite	Pathology of the digestive tract
Periodically worsening pain that lasts a long time and fever	Inflammation of the appendix

Dysmenorrhea

Premenstrual syndrome is expressed through migraine attacks, nervousness, mood swings, weakness and pain in the lower abdomen. Manifestations of this kind both precede and accompany menstruation. On these days, the belly can increase in volume. If there is an overproduction of the hormone that causes the uterus to contract, the intensity of the painful sensations increases.

In nulliparous women, dysmenorrhea is considered primary. After the baby is born, the discomfort goes away and the cycle stabilizes. The fair sex, who have reached the age of 30, has secondary dysmenorrhea. It is provoked by malfunctions in the functioning of the uterus, operations or the formation of tumors.

Means to reduce the severity of the lower abdomen in women

Since dysmenorrhea is a natural process in the body, you can try to relieve the discomfort yourself. It is quite problematic to completely stop the pain syndrome. It seems possible only to take measures aimed at reducing it. Folk remedies and special exercises successfully cope with this task.

The following herbal decoctions will help cope with pain:

1. Chopped leaves of St. John's wort, calendula flowers and chamomile brewed in equal parts.
2. Dried dandelion roots, aged for 20 minutes in a water bath.
3. Pharmacy tincture of calendula.
4. Green tea flavored with a pinch of mint and lavender.
5. Collection of chamomile, cuff, rose petals, calendula and nettle.
6. A mixture of oak bark and valerian.

Decoctions should be taken 3 times a day before meals. Herbs should be brewed at the rate of 20 grams. for 1 glass of boiled water. Taking B vitamins, zinc, magnesium and calcium is also beneficial during this period.

In addition to traditional medicine, it is useful to do physical exercises aimed at improving the condition.

A combination of the following exercises will significantly relieve pain:

1. From a kneeling position, with the hands fixed on the floor, rotate the pelvis in different directions. The recommended lead time is 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Sitting on the mat, straighten your back and touch your heels. From this position, you need to try to raise your legs to your stomach in a fast rhythm about 25 times.

These simple body movements help to improve blood flow in the internal organs and reduce discomfort. In case of severe pain, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist.

Gynecological diseases

In most situations, discomfort in this area of ​​the peritoneum is caused by gynecological pathologies. The most common diseases include inflammatory processes of the reproductive system.

Table 2. Possible diseases

Disease	Symptoms
Vaginitis	It is characterized by a feeling of heaviness both in the lower abdominal cavity and across the entire surface of the vagina. It is accompanied by excessive vaginal discharge, provoked by the effects of fungal microorganisms and staphylococci.
Endometritis	Inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the uterus. It manifests itself through an increased body temperature, a violation of the microflora of the vagina and heaviness in the peritoneum. Benign growths also cause discomfort in this part of the abdomen.
Endometriosis	The growth of endometrial cells, which facilitates the release of tissues beyond the uterine region. The severity and discomfort in the affected organs is especially pronounced before the onset of menstruation.
Cysts	Despite the fact that the formation of cysts, as a rule, is asymptomatic, a "heavy" abdomen often serves as an alarm bell of an unpleasant disease.
Fibroids of the uterus	A benign tumor that forms on the basis of connective tissues. Large formations lead to excessive pressure on neighboring organs, which provokes disruptions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system. Painful sensations are not very pronounced. Pathology manifests itself through the severity of the lower abdominal region.

In addition, anomalies of the organs of the reproductive system can cause discomfort.

Pregnancy

In most cases, pain in the lower abdomen is physiological in nature. There can be several reasons for discomfort during pregnancy:

• natural stretching of the uterus during fetal development;
• pressure of the enlarged uterus on adjacent organs;
• stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus.

Unpleasant sensations in the abdomen are of a different nature depending on the phase of pregnancy. Already from the first weeks after conception, the uterus begins to grow. In the early stages, the severity is caused by internal changes in the body. The attachment of the embryo to the wall of the uterus is accompanied by a slight pulling pain.

In later stages, the severity in the lower abdomen is due to the uterus pressing on the bladder and intestines. Discomfort in the last weeks of gestation is caused by stretching of the abdominal muscles, which do not have time to adapt to the rapid growth of the child.

If the heaviness in the peritoneum is accompanied by severe pain, these can be the consequences:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• premature birth;
• early placental abruption.

Among the unpleasant symptoms of a pregnancy failure, bleeding of a dark brown color, severe weakness and increased pain with minor physical exertion are also noted.

Failed miscarriages are especially dangerous. The embryo remains in the uterus and is saturated with blood, which leads to cramping pains in the lower abdominal cavity. The condition requires immediate surgical intervention.

To reduce pain during pregnancy, the expectant mother needs frequent walks in the fresh air and a well-designed diet.

Inflammation of the urinary system

The urinary system consists of the bladder, urethra, kidneys, and ureters. Among the most common pathologies of these organs, infectious diseases are noted.

Ascending urinary tract infections are especially common in women. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the urethra. It is smaller and wider in size compared to the male organ. Harmful bacteria easily penetrate the bladder and follow through the ureters into the renal pelvis. Most often, such diseases are chronic and do not have pronounced symptoms.

Table 3. Diseases of the urinary system

Disease	Symptoms
Cystitis	Inflammation of the bladder, accompanied by sharp, cutting pain in the lower abdomen. Urination is difficult and uncomfortable.
Urethritis	A urinary tract infection caused by exposure to fungi, parasites, or viruses. Often sexually transmitted.
Pyelonephritis	Inflammation of the renal parenchyma. E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus provoke the development of the disease.

Also, bacteriuria is referred to as infections of the urinary system. It is characterized by the presence of bacteria in urine that contribute to the formation of an inflammatory process.

Other reasons

Feeling of heaviness can be a symptom of not only gynecological diseases and infections of the genitourinary system. In some cases, it is a harbinger of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic spine. There is aching pain that causes discomfort both while walking and in lying position.

Table 4. Pathologies related to pulling sensations in the abdomen

Disease	Symptoms
Irritable bowel syndrome	Disorder of a neurotic nature. It is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the abdominal region and periodic stool disorder.
Suppurative appendicitis	The process of death of the nerve endings of this process does not always proceed against the background of acute pain and distention of the peritoneum. A pulling pain is often a warning sign.

Varicose veins can also cause heaviness in the abdomen.

First actions for pain and heaviness in the lower abdomen

If discomfort in this area is observed for a long time, you should undergo a comprehensive examination. To make the correct diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe several types of body studies:

• analysis of urine and feces;
• general and detailed blood count;
• ECG;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, liver and kidneys;
• a smear taken from the vagina and cervical canal;
• CTG.

In no case should you self-medicate. The use of traditional medicine can temporarily relieve unpleasant symptoms, but at the same time erase the overall picture of the disease. Treatment should be prescribed only by the attending physician. It is important to strictly adhere to the agreed recommendations and prevent the occurrence of complications or the transition of the disease into a chronic form.

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