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Intense pain in the lower abdomen: the possible serious causes

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Intense pain in the lower abdomen: the possible serious causes
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Certain women suffer from frequent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, which can sometimes be very acute or even chronic. There are multiple possible causes for such pains, which is why it is important to consult a doctor. Vigilance is crucial, because certain pains can be indicators of serious illnesses.

Very painful periods: endometriosis?

If you suffer frequently from acute pain in the lower abdomen during your period, it could be a sign of endometriosis. Consult your doctor. With every menstrual cycle, the uterus becomes lined with a new layer, which is ready to receive an egg if it has been fertilised. In the absence of fertilisation, the lining and the unfertilised egg are evacuated via the vagina as your period. In the case of endometriosis, this lining can migrate outside the uterus, and can form near the cervix, leading to pain during sex, or can form in the Fallopian tubes, affecting the ovaries or the abdomen, causing acute period pains.

This condition should be treated in time, because in the long term, it can lead to sterility. 

Cramps and late periods: pregnancy?

In the case of acute pain in the lower abdomen and your period being significantly late or not coming at all, you may be pregnant, be suffering an ectopic pregnancy or be having a miscarriage. Consult a doctor or the emergency services immediately.

Ectopic pregnancy needs to be treated extremely urgently, because the egg, instead of descending into the uterus, becomes stuck in the fallopian tubes, and can grow there if it is fertilised. This leads to intense pain and involves a risk of internal haemorrhage. 

Pain and fever: peritonitis or salpingitis

Whether you are a man or a woman, if you suffer from acute pain in the lower abdomen accompanied with fever, consult a doctor immediately. It could be classic appendicitis, which needs to be surgically treated in time, to ensure it doesn’t evolve into peritonitis, an infection of the peritoneum, which can lead to death if it is not treated.

In women, it could also be salpingitis, in which case you need to contact the emergency services. Salpingitis is an infection and inflammation of the Fallopian tubes. Pus forms and there is a risk that the pelvis can become infected. This can have serious consequences, leading to sterility or chronic pain.

Infection of the Fallopian tubes, or salpingitis, is generally caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Clamydia and gonorrhea are the main STIs responsible for salpingitis, and it is often the consequence of unprotected sex, although this is not the only cause. Around 70 to 80% of cases of sterility linked to the Fallopian tubes is due to chlamydia. 

Other serious causes of acute pain in the lower abdomen

There are numerous other potentially serious causes of acute pain in the lower abdomen:

  • appendicitis (in men and women)
  • haemorrhage of an ovarian cyst (in women)
  • ovarian cancer (in women)
  • renal colic: a kidney stone passes into the urinary tract (mainly in men)

If you experience such pain, contact a doctor without hesitation.

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