What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males

RAPID CARE ER

Abdominal pain is common in men due to different causes. The pain can go from mild cramps to severe and unbearable stomach aches that may need urgent medical attention.

If you are a male and have been experiencing lower abdominal pain for quite some time now, this article is for you.

What is lower abdominal pain?

Lower abdominal pain also referred to as stomach ache, is a general pain you feel below the belly button.

Sometimes, lower abdominal pain is a symptom of another ailment. Since the abdomen covers many vital organs such as the liver, stomach, pancreas, reproductive organs, and small and large intestines, this area is prone to pain once an abnormality occurs.

Causes of lower abdominal pain

There are many causes of stomach cramps in men. They each have corresponding reasons why it happens.

Both men and women suffer from abdominal pain due to general or specific conditions that connect with the organs.

Certain conditions linked to the reproductive organs may likely be another factor. Women experience stomach pain due to pregnancy or menstruation, while men may be dealing with diseases in the prostate.

Pain around the belly button

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males
What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males

If you experience a distinct pain around the belly button or the navel, these two primary causes might explain it.

Early appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. The belly button area gets the most painful sensation. The pain gets even worse in the next 24 hours to the point where movement is almost impossible to do.

The common symptoms of appendicitis are:

  • Extreme abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Loose stools
  • high temperature

Surgery is the best treatment for appendicitis. It must be done immediately to alleviate further pain.

Stomach ulcers

A stomach ulcer is a condition when the stomach lining is inflamed. You can feel the pain in the center of the abdomen, and it feels like the area is burning.

The symptoms of stomach ulcers include:

  • Indigestion
  • Vomiting
  • Belching
  • Nausea

If you happen to vomit blood or have tar-like stools, you need to rush to the emergency hospital for immediate treatment as these are worrying signs you need not neglect.

Once these alarming symptoms happen, go to Rapid ER in Katy and La Porte, Texas. Medical doctors can give you immediate treatment for such an emergency.

Lower abdominal pain above the pubic bone

Another common lower abdominal pain in men occurs above the pubic bone. The pubic bone is one of the prominent bones of the pelvis.

If there is pain above this area, you may experience the health conditions below.

Bladder pain

Bladder pain refers to the cramping that occurs during or after urinating. The pain indicates an infection in the bladder.

Symptoms of bladder pain include:

  • Urge to urinate often
  • Blood in urine
  • Tiredness
  • Sickness

You have to take a lot of fluids to reduce the symptoms. But if plenty of water does not help, you must consult a doctor for immediate antibiotic treatment.

If not treated soon, your bladder may develop bladder stones which cause more pain and difficulty passing urine.

Testicular pain

Testicular pain is a common abdominal pain among males in the lower part of the abdomen. It is present either on the central part or on one side only.

In some cases, this health condition may come with sexually transmitted infections.

The symptoms of testicular pain are:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Lumps in testicles
  • Changes in discharge from the penis

Prostatitis

The prostate is a tiny gland between the bladder and the penis. It produces the fluid part of semen. Once this gland gets infected, you can feel burning pain around the genitals and the lower abdomen.

Aside from stomach ache, other symptoms of prostatitis are:

  • Difficulty in urination
  • Difficulty in ejaculation

If the prostatitis is just a mild condition, treatment is through antibiotics.

Lower abdominal pain on one side

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males
What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males

There are instances when the lower abdominal pain in men only occurs partially. The pain may be on one side only.

If you experience such pain, you may have the following:

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

With appendicitis, you experience severe pain in the lower right of the stomach. The pain gets worse when you move.

Common symptoms of appendicitis among males are:

  • Sudden pain on the lower side of the abdomen
  • Pain around the navel
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty in movement
  • Nausea and vomiting

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that starts in your urethra or bladder. The condition travels to one or both of your kidneys. The pain starts on one side and generally spreads through your body’s back area.

Symptoms of Pyelonephritis include:

  • Pain during urination
  • Blood in urine
  • Feeling unwell
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • High temperature

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that grow inside the kidneys. You may experience severe pain in the back and groin. Waves of pain occur as the kidney stones travel from the kidney along the ureters.

Symptoms of having kidney stones are:

  • Waves of pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Small kidney stones commonly pass in the urine. However, if you have severe and unbearable pain, you may need to go to the ER to check if your kidney stones have developed into big ones.

At Rapid ER, you can get an immediate diagnosis and treatment if you already have severe abdominal pain caused by kidney stones. Contact Rapid ER today for a quick consultation.

Muscular pain

Another reason that causes lower abdominal pain in males is a simple muscle strain due to an extensive workout or movement. You may feel mild discomfort on one side of your abdomen.

Warm baths and painkillers are some of the ways how to prevent lower abdominal pain.

Before a workout, you need warm-ups and gentle stretching to avoid muscle strain.

Hernias

Hernias are a weakness in the abdominal muscle wall and fatty tissue that causes contents in the stomach to protrude.

The aching pain comes with swelling in your groin. The lumps appear when you lift a heavy object or when you cough.

Consult a doctor about your hernia to find out if you need surgery. Troublesome hernias may require surgical repair to reduce intensive pain.

Generalized abdominal pain

You may have these common conditions if you experience general pain in the whole abdomen area.

Constipation

Generic abdominal pain may be due to constipation, a condition where you have few bowel movements due to a lack of fiber.

The pain caused by constipation may occur on the left side, where the large bowel goes down to the rectum.

Treatment for constipation is through over-the-counter medicines. You may also start drinking plenty of water and eating more fibrous foods.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a long-term disorder that involves the large intestine. The pain happens anywhere in the abdomen. It triggers due to stress, lack of exercise, and poor diet.

Symptoms of IBS are:

  • Cramping
  • Constipation
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a short-term illness caused by inflammation in the digestive system. Some causes of gastroenteritis include parasites, viruses, bacteria, bacterial toxins, and particular chemicals you may have consumed.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include:

  • Abdominal cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

Back pain

There are cases when simple back pain can result in pain in the abdomen. Often called a referred pain, the pain in the stomach can be felt when moving around, lifting, and bending.

However, back pain in the abdomen may also be a serious matter.

A rare case is an abdominal aortic aneurysm that happens when there is stabbing pain in the stomach, particularly between the sternum and the belly button.

Once you experience this symptom, you can proceed immediately to Rapid ER for immediate diagnosis. It has an on-site laboratory facility to assess your condition and provides rapid results to expedite treatment.

Treatment for lower abdominal pain

For some abdominal pain cases, pain relief medications work just right. But there are situations where immediate treatment and surgery are needed to relieve the pain.

Your doctor may require surgery for conditions such as enlarged kidney stones, appendicitis, and gallstones.

Certain conditions such as infections and ulcers cure medicine, particularly antibiotics.

Meanwhile, problems in the digestive system are the most common cause of lower abdominal pain. You can alleviate the pain with simple tips you can do at home.

You can try these tips on how to prevent lower abdominal pain at home:

  • Bowel rest. Do not take anything by mouth to let the intestines rest and heal. You may take water and easy-to-digest food like crackers to ease your hunger.
  • Drink plenty of water. Hydrate as often as possible. Water will keep the stool soft and easy to pass.
  • Heat therapy. Put warm water in a bottle and place it in your abdomen to relieve the pain. You can also try to soak in the bath.
  • Home remedies. You can grab a few treatments from natural ingredients you can find in your kitchen or your garden. Ginger – relieves constipation, Licorice – helps pass on gas, and Peppermint – relaxes intestinal muscles.

Get emergency treatment for abdominal pain

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Males

It is hard to spot the exact reason for the stomach cramps in men unless you consult a specialist to assess your condition.

Specific lower stomach pain in men can ease at home, such as constipation, back pain, and muscular pain. There are available home remedies you can try to relieve the pain.

However, if the stomach ache already affects your day-to-day routine, you need to consult a doctor immediately. This pain may likely be a warning sign of an underlying condition.

Immediate diagnosis and treatment are essential to relieve abdominal pain and prevent further complications.

At Rapid ER, trained medical doctors can give emergency care to people who experience lower abdominal pain. Health providers are ready to provide the best medical care for urgent situations 24/7.

Visit Rapid ER in any of its locations in Katy and La Porte, Texas, today.