What's causing your stomach pain?

Stomach pain is a women’s health issue – discover why, and what could be causing it, plus when to see a doctor.

Why we need to talk about stomach pain 

What kind of stomach pain do you have?

Why does my stomach ache?

When to see your doctor 

How is belly pain diagnosed?

What to take for stomach pain

Stomach ache can stop you in your tracks and get in the way of enjoying life – and when certain causes are behind it, it’s more likely to affect women. Read on to find out what could be troubling your tummy.

## Why we need to talk about stomach pain 

Stomach – or ‘abdominal’ – pain is a big issue, especially for women, and can have a huge effect on daily life. Globally, data suggests that almost 25% of women have abdominal pain (compared with 17% of men).

“The good news is that mostly, stomach ache isn’t a sign of anything serious – but we need to be talking about it,” says Dr Ann Nainan, family doctor and Healthily expert. 

“Stomach pain can be a symptom of many different conditions – some of which are more common in women – so it can be hard to pinpoint the cause. That means it’s important to know when to get help from your doctor. ”

- a 2017 study of more than 500 women found that many didn’t get help from their doctor for period pain, for reasons such as feeling embarrassed and assuming that period pain is ‘normal’
- a 2021 survey of more than 54,000 people found that women are more likely to get regular abdominal pain when eating – it happened in 13% of women, compared with 9% of men
- there’s some evidence that women may wait longer for treatment for abdominal pain: 1 study found women waited an average of 65 minutes for pain relief in the emergency room in the US, compared with 49 minutes for men

Read more about [women and pain](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/women-and-pain-why-they-get-more-pain-conditions-than-men).

## What kind of stomach pain do you have?

“Stomach pain can potentially cover a lot of areas of your body – many of us count everything from indigestion to period pain or bowel pain as ‘stomach ache’,” says Dr Ann. 

“Medically, the term ‘abdominal pain’ is often used. This can make it confusing to understand what might be wrong, and whether you can use self-care, need pharmacy help or should see a doctor.” 

To get the information and support you need, it’s important to be able to identify your pain:

- some people describe it as ‘stomach ache’, ‘belly ache’ or ‘pain in tummy’ – but abdominal pain is actually any pain you feel between your chest and groin 
- your stomach is just 1 part of your abdomen. The area between your chest and groin is also home to organs such as your bowels (small and large intestine), liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas and bladder – and in women, your womb (uterus), fallopian tubes and ovaries
- sometimes, what you feel as stomach pain can actually be pain that’s coming from elsewhere, such as your chest, pelvis or back. Our bodies can be confusing, right? 

### How to describe your pain

It’s worth keeping notes on your phone or a notepad, so you can describe your pain to a pharmacist, doctor or our [Smart Symptom Checker](https://www.livehealthily.com/symptom-checker) – that can help you work out your best next steps to deal with the symptoms. 

Make a note of:
- where the pain is
- what it feels like
- how long it lasts
- whether it happens/gets worse or better after certain activities or foods
- whether it spreads to anywhere else – such as your shoulder or back
- if you have any other symptoms – such as vomiting or a fever

The thing about abdominal pain is that only you know how it feels – you can’t measure it with tests. 

Here are some words that may help you describe how it feels:
- sudden or gradual 
- dull or sharp
- crampy 
- it comes in waves (colicky) or is constant
- burning or achy

### Where is your pain?

You might feel the pain in 1 particular spot, or all over your belly. Knowing more about the location of your stomach pain can give you clues as to what might be going on. 

Read more about possible causes of stomach pain in your:

- [lower abdomen](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/what-are-the-common-causes-of-lower-abdominal-pain)
- [right side abdomen](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/why-do-i-have-pain-in-the-right-side-of-my-abdomen) 
- [left side abdomen](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/whats-causing-pain-in-the-left-side-of-my-abdomen) 


Get help with this

## Why does my stomach ache?

Most of the time, stomach pain isn’t anything to worry about – often it’s temporary, and not anything serious and/or long-term. 

Let’s look at some of the most common types of abdominal pain. 

### Digestive problems

If you get pain after eating, there are a number of things that could be going on: 
- [__indigestion__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/indigestion) – this is pain or discomfort you feel in your upper abdomen soon after eating or drinking something that doesn’t agree with you. It’s slightly more common in women than in men, which some experts think could be due to immune system differences. It can also be more common if you’re pregnant, especially from 27 weeks, due to hormones and your growing baby pressing against your stomach
- [__constipation__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/constipation) – women are 2 to 3 times more likely to get constipation than men and it often triggers stomach ache (plus [bloating](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/what-causes-bloating-in-your-stomach) and [nausea](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/feeling-sick-nausea)). Again, constipation is common when you’re pregnant, and for 6 weeks after giving birth. Theories about why women are more likely to get constipation include that the female gut works more slowly, because of changing hormone levels, but more research is needed
- [__flatulence__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/flatulence) – also known as trapped wind, where you feel bloated and are farting a lot. Some figures show that bloating is more common in women (almost 1 in 5) than men (1 in 10). In a 2022 US study, researchers said the gender gap may be because of factors including hormones and diet differences
- [__Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome) – a long-term condition where you can get abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloating, especially after eating. Research shows that IBS rates are 1.5 to 3 times higher in women than men – this may be down to factors including hormones and differences in gut sensitivity. The female colon is also longer and has more twists and turns, which can put you at greater risk of IBS symptoms
- [__food allergy__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/food-allergy) or [__intolerance__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/food-intolerance) – food allergy is when your body’s immune system reacts to specific foods, such as peanuts or fish. The result for your digestive system? Abdominal pain and spasms. Food intolerance is different – your body finds it difficult to digest certain foods and you can get belly ache, bloating, wind and/or diarrhea. In a 2017 research review, it was found that after puberty, food allergy and intolerance happens more often in women
- [__food poisoning__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/food-poisoning) – you know the drill: you’ve eaten something dodgy and now you’re paying the price with stomach cramps, [vomiting](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/vomiting-adults) and [diarrhea](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/diarrhoea). Anyone can get food poisoning – 1 in 6 Americans get sick from it every year
- [__gallstones__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/gallstones) or a [__peptic ulcer__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/peptic-ulcer) are other possible causes of of stomach pain after eating

### Your menstrual cycle

There are times in your monthly cycle when you may notice your stomach isn’t on top form. You might get: 

- __diarrhea and/or bloating__ – ever noticed that you poop more during your period? There’s a reason for that. The hormones that relax the muscles in your womb to get it ready to shed its lining do the same thing to your bowels – which can lead to pooping more often and, in some cases, diarrhea. You might also get bloating and abdominal cramping
- [__ovulation pain__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/ovulation-pain) – this is pain that you may feel in your lower belly when your ovary releases an egg ([ovulation](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/ovulation)), about 2 weeks before your period
- [__period pain__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/painful-periods) – stabbing pain in stomach? It could be period pain, which affects more than 1 in 2 women for a day or so each period. It can also feel like a dull ache in your lower belly. Read about [what women say about period pain and what helped them](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/what-it-feels-like-to-have-heavy-periods-and-period-cramps) 

### Women’s health conditions

These conditions can also lead to abdominal pain: 
- [__endometriosis__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/endometriosis) – this long-term condition, where tissue similar to the lining of your womb grows in other parts of your body, affects about 1 in 10 women globally. Symptoms can include pain in your lower belly and back, bad period pain and pain during or after sex, as well as nausea, constipation and diarrhea
- [__ovarian cysts__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/ovarian-cyst) – these fluid-filled sacs on your ovaries are really common, and most premenopausal women will have them. Most go away on their own and don’t cause symptoms. A cyst is more likely to cause symptoms if it’s large, or bursts. Symptoms can include pain low in your abdomen (pelvic pain), bloating, a swollen belly, changes to how you poop or pee and changes to your periods – see a doctor if you have these symptoms
- [__pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease)__ – this is an infection of your upper genital tract which can be a complication of some [sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections), such as [chlamydia](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/chlamydia) and [gonorrhea](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/gonorrhoea). Symptoms can be really mild, but may include lower abdominal pain and/or tenderness, plus pelvic pain
- [__ectopic pregnancy__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy) – this is when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of your womb, such as in one of your fallopian tubes. It means the egg won’t grow into a baby. Symptoms usually develop between week 4 and 12 of pregnancy and include pain low down on 1 side of your belly, pain at the tip of your shoulder and pain when using the bathroom. See a doctor urgently if you think you have these symptoms

### Inflammation or injury

Sometimes your pain may be down to irritation, infection or injury, such as: 
- [__urinary tract infection (UTI)__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/urinary-tract-infection-adults)__ – pain in your lower belly can be a symptom of a UTI, such as a bladder infection. Women are up to 30 times more likely to get a UTI than men – because women have a shorter pee tube (urethra), which makes it easier for bacteria to get into your bladder
- [__stomach flu__](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/gastroenteritis) – also known as gastroenteritis, this is when you get diarrhea and vomiting thanks to a bacterial or viral stomach bug. How long does a stomach bug last? It usually clears up by itself within a week
- __muscle strain or injury__ – a pulled stomach muscle. This can happen if you tear or over-stretch your stomach muscles during exercise, heavy lifting or an accident – even chronic coughing or sneezing can cause it

### Your emotions

Yes, the stress stomach pain connection is real – feeling tense or anxious can cause belly ache. Maybe you’re about to go for a job interview, or you’re nervous about a social situation such as a date or a party. 

Here’s why stress can affect your stomach: 
- a sudden spike in the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline can upset your digestive system, leading to symptoms including stomach ache
- stress can also make you more likely to get [heartburn](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/how-to-get-rid-of-heartburn), due to an increase in stomach acid, which can increase your risk of stomach ulcers 
- there may be differences in women and men’s gut response to stress

## When to see your doctor 

Always see your doctor if:
- you’ve been injured
- you’re pregnant
- the pain doesn’t go away 
- the pain is severe – so bad it’s hard to think, talk or move, or you can’t sleep
- you can’t explain your stomach pain 
### When to see your doctor as soon as possible

Sometimes, your stomach pain may be something you need to see a doctor about within 24 to 48 hours. That’s the case if you have stomach pain and: 
- it’s getting worse or it keeps coming back
- you’re having problems swallowing food
- you’re losing weight without meaning to
- you’re suddenly peeing more or less than usual 
- peeing is painful 
- you bleed from your bottom or vagina, or you’re getting abnormal discharge
- from your vagina 
- you have diarrhea that hasn’t gotten better after a few days
- you also have a fever or feel unwell

### When stomach pain is serious – emergency signs

More rarely, stomach pain can be a medical emergency. Call an ambulance or go to the emergency room if you have stomach pain and: 
- it started suddenly, it feels really bad, or it changes – from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain, for example
- it hurts when you touch your stomach
- you have chest pain 
- you can’t poop or fart 
- your poop is black or bloody, and very sticky and really smelly 
- you’re vomiting blood, or what looks like coffee grounds
- you can’t breathe
- you can’t pee
- you have [diabetes](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/diabetes) and you’re vomiting
- you have collapsed

## How is belly pain diagnosed?

“Tummy troubles are pretty inevitable from time to time,” says Dr Ann. “Sometimes, the cause may be obvious to you, while other pains are harder to place. Your doctor should always take your stomach pain seriously, and can help you get a diagnosis and the right treatment.

“It’s a good idea to prepare for your appointment by keeping a stomach pain diary. You can record [descriptions of your pain](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/4-types-of-abdominal-pain-and-what-you-can-do#what-pain-do-you-have), and what you were doing before or when the pain arrived (eating, for example). This will help you and your doctor to recognize any patterns, and help you answer questions about your symptoms.”

Your doctor may ask questions such as:
- what does your pain feel like?
- where do you feel the pain – is it all over, or in 1 place?
- does the pain move elsewhere, such as into your back?
- do you have pain all the time, or does it come and go?
- does it wake you up at night?
- have you had similar pain in the past? 
- does anything make your pain better or worse?

They will probably look at and listen to your belly, and gently feel your abdomen for any areas of tenderness. They may suggest a pelvic examination if you have pain in your lower abdomen. 


## What to take for stomach pain

“Treatment for stomach pain really depends on what’s causing it,” says Dr Ann. “But if your pain is mild, there are things you can do at home to help yourself, such as resting, eating small amounts of plain food, and drinking plenty of clear fluids such as water.

“You can also try medicine for stomach pain – painkillers such as acetaminophen [(paracetamol)](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/drugs/painkillers-paracetamol) can work well. But if your symptoms aren’t improving, speak to your doctor.

“Don’t take [aspirin](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/drugs/anti-platelets-aspirin-low-dose) or [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/drugs/anti-inflammatories-non-steroidal) unless your doctor tells you it’s OK to do so, as these medications can make some types of abdominal pain worse.”


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References

 Christina Quaine

Susie Parker

Dr Emily Blount

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In some cases, belly pain is more likely if you’re a woman. Find out why with our guide to what causes it, plus learn when to get help.