Man’s lower abdomen hurts

Both men and women experience abdominal pain. Many of the causes are the same, but there are conditions that are more common in the stronger sex and those that only occur in men.

Pain in the lower abdomen occurs at or below the level of the navel.

“The reasons are varied and can come from different organs and systems,” says doctorurologist-andrologist Rodion Vasilevsky. – For example, urological – prostatitis, overactive bladder, end-stage bladder and prostate cancer, lower ureteral stones. Or neurological – diseases of the lumbosacral spine, chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Or proctological and general surgical – diseases of the large intestine, hernia and others.

Therefore, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes pain in the lower abdomen.

Causes of pain in the lower abdomen in a man

Doctors identify the causes of pain by their location to make it easier to understand what is causing these symptoms:

Pain in the umbilical region

If a man’s pain occurs in this location, it can be caused by:

• early appendicitis. In the initial stages of appendicitis, pain is often felt around the navel. She can come and go, gradually moving to the right side. After 24 hours, it intensifies, especially when moving. Nausea, loose stools, and fever may occur.

  Surgery is required to remove the appendix.

• Gastritis or stomach ulcer. Pain in the center of the abdomen may be a symptom of gastritis or an ulcer. She often has a fiery temperament. Nausea, indigestion, belching and even vomiting are added to it. Blood in the vomit or black, tar-like stools are warning signs and require urgent investigation.

  Treatment will be needed to stop acid production and relieve pain.

Pain just above the pubic bone

If the pain appears just above the pubic bone (in the suprapubic area), it may be one of the following reasons:

• Diseases of the bladder. Pain in the bladder is usually weak, central. Cramping and burning during or after urination may indicate an infection. As well as blood in the urine, feeling tired and nauseous. Bladder stones can also cause pain in the area with sharper and stronger sensations and difficulty urinating.

  If the symptoms do not go away after taking a large amount of fluid, you should consult a doctor – he will prescribe antibiotics.

• Problems with testicles. In this case, pain is often felt in the lower abdomen, in the center or on the side. Causes may include inflammation or sexually transmitted infections. Injury to the testicles can also be given pain in the abdominal cavity.

  If there is pain in the abdomen, any lumps in the testicles, skin changes or discharge from the penis, you should immediately consult a doctor.

• Prostatitis. The prostate is a small gland located between the bladder and the penis. If it becomes inflamed or infected, it can cause pain that is felt in the genitals but also in the lower abdomen. It can appear during urination or ejaculation.

  If prostatitis occurs quickly (acute), it is usually caused by a bacterial infection and antibiotics will need to be taken.

Pain on one side of the abdomen

Sometimes pain in the lower abdomen is felt only on one side. It can appear anywhere – from the navel to the groin. There are several reasons for this pain:

• Appendicitis. As mentioned above, appendicitis pain can start in the center, but usually goes to the lower right side of the abdomen, where the appendix is ​​located. Pressing on this area hurts, and it also gets worse when the man coughs, sneezes, or moves.

  In this case, an operation is required.

• Pyelonephritis. An infection in the kidney causes pain on one side, which may radiate from or radiate to the back. It may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain when urinating, blood in the urine, and a general feeling of being unwell. Nausea, vomiting, and high fever are common.

  These infections are usually bacterial in nature and require antibiotics.

• Stones in the kidneys. Sudden very severe pain in the back, abdomen and groin can be caused by kidney stones. The pain usually comes in waves as the body tries to push the stone out of the kidney and up the ureters. Stone pain is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Often kidney stones form in people who drink little fluid.

  Small stones usually go away and are excreted in the urine, but if the pain is severe and does not go away, hospital treatment may be required.

• Crick. Muscle strain can also cause abdominal pain. It can be quite strong when the muscle is moving.

  Warm baths and painkillers usually relieve muscle pain.

• Hernias. Another cause of abdominal pain. Hernias form when the muscular wall of the abdomen weakens and fatty tissue or part of the intestine sags through it. A man may feel aching pain and notice a soft bump or swelling in the groin. The bumps usually appear when a person strains, coughs, or lifts something heavy.

  Surgery may be required to treat a hernia.

Pain all over the abdomen

It is also called generalized. She also has several reasons:

• Constipation. A fairly common cause of pain, usually associated with nausea, loss of appetite and bloating. The pain is often not localized, but may be felt on the left side, where the colon descends into the rectum.

  The simplest thing that can relieve constipation and, therefore, pain is a large amount of liquid and fibrous food.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS pain can occur anywhere in the abdomen and is often associated with bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. It can be constant or colicky (wave-like).

  Treatment for IBS focuses on addressing the causes of the disease, such as stress, diet, and a healthy lifestyle.

• Gastroenteritis. Intestinal infections, viruses, and food poisoning can also cause pain throughout the abdomen. It may be dull, but there are often crescendos and convulsions before episodes of diarrhea, vomiting, or both.

  Most attacks go away after a few days. Drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

• Backache. Sometimes back pain is felt in the abdomen. This is called “referral pain” and can be confusing because the man assumes that it is the stomach that hurts. The pain is aggravated by movement, bending and lifting.

  To determine the treatment, you need to exclude the causes of abdominal pain.

Treatment for pain in the lower abdomen in a man

In order for the doctor to make a correct diagnosis, it is important to correctly describe your pain to him: character, location, strength, duration. This can be a useful indicator to determine the cause.

Associated symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and urinary problems will also help determine the cause.

Diagnostics

In addition to questioning the patient, the doctor will also examine the abdomen to determine if there is pain when pressing certain areas, and also check for bumps.

Additional tests will vary depending on the suspected condition. This includes a urine, stool or blood test, and an abdominal scan.

Modern treatments

Treatment methods directly depend on the cause of the pain, and are described above. In each case, the diagnosis and tactics will be determined by the doctor.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed common questions about lower abdominal pain in men with urologist Rodion Vasilevsky.