Why Does The Lower Abdomen Hurt In Men? Disease Symptoms

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Why does the lower abdomen hurt in men?

Pain is a symptom of a problem in the body. With the help of this signal, he tries to communicate that some organ or organ system needs help. Therefore, pain cannot be ignored, it is necessary to find out its causes and eliminate them. Self-diagnosis can be dangerous, and a doctor should be involved in detecting and treating the disease.

Pain in the lower abdomen in a man is quite common. There can be many reasons for their occurrence. The article is designed to help you understand them and guide the person to which specialist he needs to contact.

Content:

• What organs are located in the lower abdomen of a man
• What organ can respond to pain?
• When lower back and lower abdomen hurts in the center
• When the lower abdomen hurts on the left
• When the lower abdomen hurts on the right
• When the lower abdomen hurts above the pubis
• Making a diagnosis depending on the nature of the pain
• Diagnosis based on additional symptoms
• Research Needed to Make a Diagnosis
• Treatment

What organs are located in the lower abdomen of a man

The lower abdomen is filled with various organs. Knowing their location, one can assume which organ is giving pain signals.

Below the abdomen on the right side are the following organs:

• Appendix;
• Cecum;
• The end of the small intestine;
• Lower part of the right ureter.

The following organs are located in the suprapubic region:

• Small intestine;
• Bladder and part of the ureters;
• Prostate;
• Seminal vesicles.

The following organs are located in the lower abdomen on the left side:

• Rectum;
• Part of the small intestine;
• Sigmoid colon;
• Left ureter.

Not always painful sensations in the lower abdomen indicate the pathology of the listed organs. Sometimes pain can radiate from other body systems that border on them. This is possible due to the extensive network of nerve fibers that permeate the entire human body.

What organ can respond to pain?

Pain in a man in the lower abdomen can occur with inflammation or tumor damage to the following organs:

• Stomach.
• Any part of the intestine.
• Appendix.
• Bladder or ureter.
• The prostate gland or testicles.
• Lower parts of the spinal column.
• Seminal vesicles.

When lower back and lower abdomen hurts in the center

Pains concentrated in the center of the abdomen in the lower part of it most often indicate certain disorders in the functioning of the organs of the urinary system, the prostate gland or the spinal column.

1. Renal colic. When the outflow of urine through the ureter is impaired, the person develops renal colic. The ureter is a thin tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder. Disruption of passage most often occurs due to blockage of the ureter with stones. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that his obstruction occurred against the background of an inflammatory process, or he was clamped by a tumor neoplasm. Moreover, the tumor can grow both from the organ itself and from tissues that are in the immediate vicinity of the ureter.

   Pain in renal colic has the following features:

   • Paroxysmal pain.
   • The pain forces the person to be constantly on the move in order to find a position that will bring relief.
   • The pain radiates to the groin, to the genitals, to the pubis.
   • The general health of a person is disturbed, nausea may appear.
   • The body temperature may rise.
   • Blood may be present in the urine.

2. Kidney pathology. A man may be affected by the left ureter or kidney if he has the following symptoms:

   • The pain is localized above the lumbar spine.
   • The volumes of urine have increased, or, on the contrary, have become insignificant.
   • The body temperature has risen.
   • The urine contains impurities of blood, pus, mucus.
   • The urine smells extremely unpleasant.

3. Pathology of the spinal column. Many pathologies of the spine are manifested by pain in the lower abdomen and in the back area: osteochondrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, etc.

   In this case, the person will experience the following symptoms:

   • The pain does not migrate, it is localized in one area.
   • The pain is not diffuse, has a clear localization.
   • Pain shoots in the leg.
   • Stool is not disturbed, there are no signs of poisoning such as nausea and vomiting.
   • In the morning hours, the pain hinders movement, and during the day it fades away.
   • The lower limb on one side can lose sensitivity, sometimes there is a feeling that "goosebumps" are running over it.

When the lower abdomen hurts on the left

The causes of pain in the lower abdomen on the left side can be as follows:

1. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. If a man has exacerbated gastritis or gastroduodenitis, this will necessarily be reflected by abdominal pain. They are localized in the epigastric region, radiating to the left side. It is difficult to suspect gastroduodenitis on your own, you need to seek help from a specialist. Symptoms that may suggest inflammation of the digestive system: heartburn, nausea, pain when pressing on the center of the abdomen in its upper part.
2. Enlargement of the spleen in size. If the spleen increases in size, this will necessarily manifest itself with pain in the left side in the lower abdomen, since the organ is located under the ribs on the left. Its expansion can occur against the background of organ inflammation, or with spasm of the venous vessels.
3. Other symptoms that help to suspect an acute enlargement of the spleen in size: high body temperature, vomiting, pain in the lower abdomen on the left side.
4. Spleen infarction. If the flow of arterial blood to the spleen is disturbed, then an organ infarction occurs. This is expressed by sharp pains that shoot from the left hypochondrium into the lower abdomen. When you try to take a deep breath, cough, or move, the pain increases. The body temperature rises.

5. Spleen abscess. An abscess is a purulent lesion of an organ. It develops when pathogenic bacteria enter it. They are able to enter the spleen through the systemic circulation.

   The symptoms of an organ abscess are:

   • Pain in the left hypochondrium. It extends to the chest and lower abdomen.
   • The body temperature rises.
   • The state of health is rapidly deteriorating.
   • Weakness and nausea join.
6. Curl of the spleen. This condition is characterized by a volvulus of the artery that feeds the organ. The cause may be a congenital anomaly of the mesenteric ligaments, or an injury to the spleen. The following symptoms indicate volvulus of the artery: constipation and increased gas formation, vomiting, impaired well-being. The pain originates in the left hypochondrium and goes down to the lower abdomen.
7. Lymphocytic leukemia or myeloid leukemia in chronic form. Pain in these forms of blood cancer occurs in the lower abdomen after eating. It can be felt by palpation of this area. As the disease progresses, the pain gets worse.

8. Crohn's disease. This disease is characterized by intestinal damage, it is manifested by the following symptoms:

   • Pain that migrates throughout the abdominal cavity.
   • Diarrhea and vomiting.
   • Increased fatigue.
   • Arthralgia.
   • Lack of desire to eat.

   These symptoms are especially pronounced at a time when the disease is aggravated. During remission, the main symptoms do not bother the person.

9. Polyposis. Frequent intestinal inflammation leads to the formation of polyps on its wall. These neoplasms are permeated with nerves, therefore, they can manifest themselves as painful sensations when food masses pass through the intestines. Polyps need to be removed as they can malign.

10. Ulcerative colitis (UC). With NUC, the large intestine suffers, which is covered with ulcers from the inside. The reasons for the development of pathology have not yet been established.

    Symptoms of this form of colitis:

    • High body temperature.
    • In the early stages of the development of the disease, pain is localized precisely on the left side of the abdomen, in its lower part.
    • Bloating.
    • Violation of well-being.
    • Unstable stools.
11. Diverticulitis. With diverticulitis, the intestinal wall becomes covered with protrusions that resemble small hernias. Diverticulitis affects the elderly. Sometimes the disease does not manifest itself in any way and it can be detected only when an X-ray is taken with the use of a contrast agent, and the study can be performed for a completely different reason.

With inflammation of diverticula, abdominal pain is observed, constipation develops, and body temperature rises.

• Appendicitis, with an atypical location of the appendix. Appendicitis always manifests with pain in the upper abdomen, which then goes to the right side. However, when the process is located in an atypical place for it, pain can be given precisely to the left side. As the inflammation intensifies, the pain increases. The nature of the pain is pulsating, cramping. In parallel, nausea and vomiting may occur, diarrhea sometimes develops. Body temperature is most often elevated.

When the lower abdomen hurts on the right

If the pain is concentrated in the right lower abdomen, then the following pathologies can be suspected:

• Diverticulitis
• Inflammation of the right kidney or ureter.
• Appendicitis.
• Crohn's disease.
• Diseases of the spinal column.

When the lower abdomen hurts above the pubis

Pain concentrated in the lower abdomen just above the pubis can characterize the following disorders in the body:

1. Prostatitis in the acute phase. With an exacerbation of prostatitis, the pain is sharp, stabbing, covers the entire perineum, gives to the testicles and groin, to the rectum and sacrum. If the prostatitis is not aggravated for the first time, then the pain takes on a pulling character. Exacerbation of inflammation can be caused by alcohol abuse, staying in the cold, and overwork.

In addition to pain, a man begins to worry about urinary disorders. During the emptying of the bladder, sharp pains in the abdomen will occur, the urge becomes frequent. Urinary retention is possible. In addition, erection suffers.

• Inflammation of the bladder. With inflammation of the bladder, a man experiences the following symptoms:

  • Pain during emptying of the bladder, which does not allow emptying completely.
  • Increased urge to urinate.
  • The appearance of blood impurities in the urine.
  • The urine becomes cloudy.
  • The pain in the pubic area becomes pulling.
  • The body temperature rises.
  • If the disease is severe, vomiting and nausea may occur.
• Bladder cancer. When the tumor reaches an impressive size, it begins to cause difficulty in emptying the bladder. Blood impurities appear in urine. Further progression of the disease resembles the symptoms of cystitis, lumbar pains, pains above the pubis join, it is not possible to eliminate them with the help of antispasmodics. The body temperature rises rarely in bladder cancer.
• BPH. Urination becomes more frequent, the man begins to wake up at night to empty his bladder. The prostate increases in size, which leads to the fact that the man begins to experience pain during urination. Sensations are sharp, stabbing. In addition to urinary retention, lower back pain is observed.

• Prostate cancer. When the neoplasm grows, the first symptoms of the disease appear:

  • Pain in the perineum.
  • Increased urge to urinate.
  • Blood appears in urine and semen.
  • The urine stream loses its former pressure.

  When the tumor begins to spread metastases, the person will lose weight, his appetite disappears. Chest pains appear, weakness does not recede even after a good rest. When the skeleton is damaged, pains in the joints and bones appear.

• Vesiculitis. Inflammation of the seminal vesicles is manifested by the following symptoms:

• The pain spreads to the sacrum and gets worse during bowel movements or when the bladder fills.
• Pain always accompanies erection and ejaculation.
• Blood impurities appear in the semen.
• Urination is impaired.
• The general state of health is disturbed.

Making a diagnosis depending on the nature of the pain

The pain is dull.	Chronic prostatitis in the acute stage. Expansion of the veins of the spermatic cord. Pancreatitis BPH.
The pain is acute.	Renal colic. Swelling of the ureter or inflammation. Spleen volvulus. Vesiculitis. Restrained inguinal hernia.
The pain proceeds as contractions.	NUC. Intestinal diverticula. Inflammation of the prostate gland.
The pain is sharp.	Renal colic. Inflammation of the appendix. Inflammation of the prostate gland. Infringement of an inguinal hernia. Inflammation of the spleen when an infection enters it. Inflammation of the ovary.
Aching pain.	Acute inflammation of the prostate gland. Kidney inflammation. Inflammation of the bladder. Cancer of the prostate or bladder. Gastritis or gastric ulcer.
The pain is pulling.	Chronic inflammation of the prostate gland. BPH. Diverticulitis Kidney pathology. Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
The pain is cutting.	Inflammation of the prostate gland. Inflammation of the bladder. Cancer or prostate adenoma. Bowel diseases.
The pain is very intense.	Inflammation of the appendix. Crohn's disease. Renal colic.

Diagnosis based on additional symptoms

To determine the cause of the pain, it is not enough just to know the symptoms; one should start from what exactly accompanied its onset.

1. Pain and connection with certain events. If pain occurs immediately after emptying the bladder, then this may indicate an inflammation of the bladder.

   If, before the onset of pain, a man was in the cold for a long time, then his prostatitis or cystitis could worsen.

   If pain occurs after intimacy, then it can signal vesiculitis or prostatitis.

   If pain manifests itself after eating, then it may be a symptom of an irritable bowel. In addition, with nervous tension, a man will feel the urge to empty the intestines, and after going to the toilet, there is a feeling that the act of defecation is not completely completed. This syndrome is also characterized by an alternation of constipation and diarrhea.

2. High body temperature. If, against the background of pain in the lower abdomen, the body temperature rises, then this may be a sign of the following pathologies:

   • Infectious inflammation of the seminal vesicles.
   • Acute inflammation of the prostate gland.
   • Diverticulitis
   • Kidney inflammation.
   • Urolithiasis, which provoked renal colic.
   • Inflammation of the appendix.
   • Severe cystitis.
   • Crohn's disease.
   • Spleen pathology.

3. Pain on palpation. If, on palpation of the peritoneum, a man experiences pain in the lower abdomen, this may indicate the following pathologies:

   • Inflammation of the appendix.
   • Intestinal abscess.
   • Spleen infarction.
   • Diverticulitis

Research Needed to Make a Diagnosis

To determine the true cause of pain in a man, which is localized in the lower abdomen, he will need to visit a doctor. This could be a gastroenterologist or urologist.

During the initial visit, you will need to go through the following procedures:

• Answer the doctor's questions about how long a man has been worried about pain, and whether there is any relationship with other situations. The doctor will be interested in how intense the pain is, what its nature is, exactly where it is concentrated.
• After the interview, the doctor will begin palpation of the abdominal wall. Palpation of the prostate may be required, which is performed through the rectum.
• If necessary, the specialist will give the patient a referral for the following diagnostic procedures:
• Ultrasound of organs located in the abdominal cavity.
• Ultrasound of the prostate.
• Contrast X-ray examination of the intestine.
• Ultrasound of the pancreas.
• Ultrasound of the urinary system.

If a tumor neoplasm is found, it will need to be harvested. A biopsy is most often performed during surgery, when after excision of the tumor, a small part of it is separated and sent for histological analysis. Before the patient is referred for surgery, a number of preparatory measures are performed, including MRI or CT.

If the doctor has a suspicion of urinary tract pathology, then it will be necessary to pass urine for analysis according to Nechiporenko and for bacteriological culture.

If a patient is diagnosed with prostatitis, then a bacteriological analysis of prostate juices is necessary.

Treatment

Therapeutic tactics depends on what kind of diagnosis was made to the patient. Surgical intervention is performed for spleen infarction, appendicitis, intestinal abscess, prostate adenoma.

Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, inflammation of the prostate gland require correction with medication.

An oncological neoplasm is always removed. Depending on the type of tumor, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is prescribed, and sometimes both of these methods are combined.

Author of the article: Lebedev Andrey Sergeevich | Urologist

Education: Diploma in the specialty "Andrology" received after completing residency at the Department of Endoscopic Urology of the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education in the urological center of the Central Clinical Hospital No. 1 of JSC Russian Railways (2007). Postgraduate studies were completed here by 2010.