A girl's lower abdomen hurts: causes, first aid, prevention

Lower abdominal pain in women can be not only a consequence of the influence of a negative factor on the body, but also a sign of a serious illness that requires prompt treatment. Before taking any action, it is necessary to take into account the accompanying symptoms and consider the possible causes of the phenomenon.

Causes of pain that are not diseases

Pain, the focus of which is localized in the lower abdomen in women, does not always indicate organ damage by diseases. Unpleasant sensations can arise due to the influence of some provocateurs and conditions of the body.

1. Menstruation.
   Menstrual pain in the lower abdomen is triggered by cramps caused by contractions of the uterus. If the discomfort does not bother you for more than three days and is easy to tolerate using an affordable over-the-counter pain reliever, there is no cause for concern. In cases where the pain is prolonged and unbearable, a visit to a gynecologist is necessary, since they can be a symptom of a disease of the reproductive system.
   

   Almost half of the fairer sex experiences severe pain during menstruation

2. Pregnancy. The pain is caused by the pressure of the fetus on the organs located in the lower abdomen, and changes in the body. An unpleasant symptom is expressed especially clearly with an ectopic pregnancy and various complications during gestation in the uterus.
   

   During pregnancy, abdominal pain can be caused by both natural processes in the body and various pathologies.

3. Improper nutrition. Low-quality or "heavy" foods put pressure on the organs of the digestive system, located in the lower abdomen. Especially often, pain occurs due to the abuse of fatty, expired and saturated with harmful additives.
   

   Overeating and poor-quality food provoke a violation of the digestive processes, which is often manifested by pain in the lower abdomen

4. Alcohol abuse and smoking. Alcohol is bad for the functioning of the pancreas, liver and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The substances contained in tobacco are irritating to the digestive organs.
   

   Smoking and alcohol often provoke diseases of the digestive and genitourinary system, which are manifested by pain in the abdomen

5. Physical exercise. Excessive physical activity (lifting weights, specific exercises, etc.) provokes pain in the abdominal muscles. Unpleasant sensations can also occur after intercourse if the movements were intense.
   

   Lower abdominal pain can occur due to excessive stress, including during gymnastics

Important: lower abdominal pain in girls can also be triggered by hypothermia or overheating.

What diseases does the symptom refer to?

Lower abdominal pain in women is a sign of diseases of various body systems. In each case, unpleasant sensations have a specific character and are accompanied by individual symptoms.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The lower abdomen is the location of the various organs through which the digestive processes are carried out. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are easy to recognize by a number of their characteristic symptoms:

• stool disorders (diarrhea or constipation);
• nausea and vomiting;
• bloating;
• heaviness in the stomach;
• loss of appetite.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the lower abdomen hurts, may imply dysfunction of these organs:

• pancreas (pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis, cyst);
• stomach and intestines (gastritis, duodenitis, ulcer);
• liver (cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholecystitis);
• spleen (heart attack, volvulus, abscesses).

Attention: the pain syndrome is especially pronounced with appendicitis. The pain is accompanied by indomitable, repeated vomiting and other dangerous symptoms. Such manifestations require an early visit to the doctor. Ignoring the recommendation entails many negative consequences, including death.

Reproductive system diseases

Diseases of the female reproductive system are deterioration of the condition of the genital organs and malfunctions in their work.

The group of gynecological diseases that provoke pain in the lower abdomen includes:

• endometritis;
• sexually transmitted infections;
• cystitis;
• cyst;
• vaginitis;
• adnexitis;
• colpitis.

Diseases of the female reproductive system accompany these symptoms:

• vaginal discharge;
• itching and burning sensation in the vagina;
• menstrual irregularities;
• discomfort during intercourse.

Important: diseases of the female reproductive system may be accompanied by bleeding before or after menstruation. The volume of released blood depends on the characteristics of the body and the disease.

Diseases of the urinary system

With impaired renal function, pain is localized not only in the back, but also in the lower abdomen, since in this area there are organs responsible for the process of urination.

Kidney diseases that cause lower abdominal pain include:

• pyelonephritis;
• renal colic;
• renal failure;
• polycystic;
• urolithiasis disease;
• nephroptosis;
• hydronephrosis.

In addition to pain in the back and lower abdomen, kidney diseases make themselves felt with these symptoms:

• violation of the process of urination (painful urination, frequent urge to use the toilet, decrease or increase in the amount of urine);
• temperature increase;
• general malaise (apathy, lethargy).

Attention: in case of malfunctioning of the kidneys, pain can be given to the leg. Also, patients are often disturbed by cramps in the urinary tract.

Diagnostics and treatment

At home, one can only assume the cause of the pain in the lower abdomen and limit the influence of harmful factors, if any. For an accurate diagnosis, you should consult a doctor, informing him about other accompanying symptoms.

The table provides tips for choosing a doctor and the steps that experts recommend to take for treatment.

Dysfunctional organ system	Therapist	Recommended measures
Digestive system	Gastroenterologist	Diet (switching to a diet that excludes hard-to-digest food), taking medications (enzymes, sorbents, probiotics, rehydration salts, etc.)
urinary system	Nephrologist	Diet (consumption of foods with a minimum amount of salt), taking medications (diuretics, antiseptic, antispasmodic, calculi, analgesics, etc.).
Reproductive system	Gynecologist	Temporary refusal from sexual intercourse, taking medications (antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal, etc.), the use of topical drugs.

What to do with pain in the lower abdomen?

A number of actions involving first aid for pain in the lower abdomen:

• identifying the cause of the ailment. If it is associated with a deterioration in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract due to poisoning, you should use activated charcoal and rinse the stomach. In case of pain due to spasm, you need to take an anesthetic drug ("No-shpa", etc.);
  

  No-shpa or other antispasmodics will help eliminate painful spasms.

• comfortable position and limited physical activity. It is advisable to lie down in a comfortable position;
  

  To reduce pain, you need to lie on your back and try to relax.

• call an ambulance if the state of health deteriorates sharply. Unbearable pain, clouding of consciousness, a sharp rise in temperature, indomitable vomiting - all these symptoms indicate the need for urgent hospitalization or qualified medical care.
  

  If dangerous symptoms appear, you should immediately call a doctor at home.

Important: before the arrival of doctors, it is highly discouraged to use various medications, except for pain medications. Also, the situation can be aggravated by meals and liquids. Self-medication, which involves the use of folk remedies, is highly discouraged.

Prophylaxis

To avoid pain in the lower abdomen, you need to adhere to simple rules of prevention.

1. Monitor nutrition. Balancing the diet and excluding low quality products from it will have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive system. Eating a healthy diet will help prevent indigestion and disease.
   

   Proper nutrition will help prevent the development of pathologies of the digestive system.

2. Pay attention to hygiene. Clean cutlery before cooking and eating, and shower or bathe regularly.
   

   Hygiene is of paramount importance in the prevention of gynecological diseases

3. Protect yourself when in doubt about your partner's sexual health. Unprotected intercourse often becomes the cause of gynecological diseases provoked by the transmitted infection.
   

   In order to avoid genital infections, we must not forget about the means of protection.

4. Do not abuse alcohol. Frequent drinking is fraught not only with relapses of abdominal pain, but also with the development of liver disease, pancreas and stomach ulcers. It is advisable for smokers to either give up cigarettes, or reduce the daily dose and stop smoking before breakfast.
   

   To avoid health problems, alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum.

5. Limit the influence of harmful factors. Prevent frostbite, avoid heavy physical exertion for the body.

Attention: if pronounced painful sensations accompany menstruation, and there are various suspicions of the presence of diseases of the reproductive system, you should consult a gynecologist.

Lower abdominal pain in girls is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored

Even if the pain subsided after taking medication, you need to pay special attention to your health. Finding out the cause of the ailment will help identify negative factors, the impact of which will need to be limited, and diseases that require treatment. Give up self-selection of drugs and procedures in favor of a quick visit to the doctor.

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