Gynecological lower abdomen pain

To determine a woman’s stomach pain, a gynecological examination is carried out. The ultrasound examination done during the visit to the gynecologist is part of the basic examinations for patients with lower abdomen pain. Infection samples are taken with the examination when needed, for example sexually transmitted disease tests are taken when an infection is suspected.

Also, blood tests need to be considered especially with suddenly started lower abdomen pain. Blood tests are examined for example for a pregnancy test and infection levels. Pap test, meaning a cervical smear is rarely necessary with sudden lower abdomen pain as long as the test has been taken recently. However, with long term problems there is reason to take the pap test, especially if it has been 1-2 years since the last one.

Infections require more precise examinations

Gynecological infections can be caused by the body’s own bacteria or foreign bacteria strain when they end up in the wrong place or the wrong bacteria strain comes to prevail. The doctor’s eye cannot distinguish the cause of the infection and often it is necessary to analyze the samples. Sexually transmitted diseases can also be symptomless or only have mild symptoms without stomach pains. Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests are done quite easily, and the diseases are also easy to treat with antibiotics. A long-term infection, that is left untreated can destroy the structure of the fallopian tubes and worsen the chances of getting pregnant in the future.

There are many gynecological infections, such as vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis or at worst an infection of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the whole pelvis area. The larger the infected area, the stronger the symptoms. Abnormal leaks occur both as bleeding and as vaginal discharge.

Stomach pains may occur at different levels and at worst a high fever may also be included. In the more serious infections, the infection levels of the blood are also high. The infection condition may even require hospital treatment and in every case the infections should be treated efficiently with antibiotics.

Period pain may be due to endometriosis

Some women experience intermittent recurring pains having to do with the menstruation cycle. The period pains may be quite strong and last for several days. Sometimes, the pain may even start before the period. Some women also detect pain while ovulation, meaning when the egg is released.

Often, a direct explanation for the period pain is not found. Some are believed to have enlarged varicose veins in the pelvic floor area, which may increase the pain.

The reason can also be endometriosis. In endometriosis, endometrium-like tissue is dispersed outside the uterus on the uterine tissue in the pelvic floor area or on the surface of the ovaries, the bladder and the intestines. The tissue may cause discharge and pain during menstruation. If the growths are particularly deep, the pain may start even before the menstruation bleeding begins. Sometimes endometriosis develops in the ovaries as abnormal lumps, meaning endometrial cysts. The cause of endometriosis isn’t known, but it seems, that there is also a tendency for inheritability.

The gynecologist detects a suspected endometriosis often in a gynecological examination. A gynecological ultrasound can help to confirm the diagnosis, especially if cysts are detected.

Period pains and a possible endometriosis can be treated with pain killers as wells as hormonally. Combined oral contraceptive pills, progestogen-only pills, contraceptive rings, contraceptive patches and intrauterine devices help most women with the period pain and also work as a treatment for a possible or a detected endometriosis and prevent it from progressing. If the endometriosis is difficult or the pains are problematic despite the treatments or there is an endometrial cyst in the ovaries, surgery is recommended.

Strong hormonal treatments can be used as a short-term treatment for endometriosis, in which a woman’s own hormonal treatment is pressed down so to say. Strong hormonal treatments are often used as a surgery’s follow-up treatment with difficult endometriosis.

Gynecological tumors causing pain

The risk of getting gynecological tumors increases with age. An exception is cervical cancer, which occurs also on young women more commonly. The tumors are classified either as benign or malignant, meaning cancer tumors. In both tumor types the symptoms can be very vague until the tumor has grown big or has spread far.

Lower abdomen pain can also be a symptom in tumor diseases. Even with very mild lower abdomen pain, it’s important to go to a gynecological checkup if the pain is abnormal from the usual. Abnormal bleeding is also a reason to go to a checkup.

Examining the situation requires a gynecological examination and a transvaginal ultrasound. Depending on the situation, additional examinations are taken if needed, for example cell samples from inside the uterus. The treatment of tumors are different surgeries and possible adjuvant therapies with cancer, such as radiotherapy or cytostatic therapy.

Early pregnancy disturbances

During the early stages of pregnancy lower abdomen pains often occur. The pain may be related to a perfectly normal pregnancy but can also be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. If bloody discharge occurs with the pain, it is important to get an ultrasound to examine the condition of the pregnancy. Bleeding and contractions are related to a threatful miscarriage situation. Heavy bleeding among with pain may be a sign of a miscarriage. It is important to go to a checkup immediately if the pains are difficult or the bleeding is heavy.

Sequalae of gynecological procedures

Infections, bleeding or hematomas may develop after any gynecological procedure. Symptoms are pains along with other symptoms. It is crucial to tell the doctor whether you have had any gynecological procedures recently. For example, if there are following pains after inserting an intrauterine device, the location of the device needs to be checked with an ultrasound. Sometimes the intrauterine device may end up outside the uterus during the insertion or due to the contractions in the uterus, the device is pushed away from its right place to the cervical canal or at worst all the way outside the uterus.

Important to remember

A lot of gynecological factors can be related to a woman’s lower abdomen pain and these factors are most often found by visiting the gynecologist. It is always good to tell the gynecologist about your own gynecological history, meaning menstruation cycle, possible procedures and abnormal bleeding, so that the doctor can consider the whole situation whilst making a diagnosis.

The gynecologist evaluates the reason for the lower abdomen pain by for example doing a transvaginal ultrasound and depending on the situation, also laboratory examinations. In uncertain situations or when the findings so require, an MRI of the stomach or a laparoscopy of the abdominal cavity under general anesthesia is performed.

To examine the situation of the patient with stomach pains, other specialists are often consulted, since for example intestinal and urinary problems may also be causing the pain. Sometimes also back disorders may cause radiating pain to the stomach area.