Tension in the abdomen: 9 common causes

Drawing in the abdomen
9 causes at a glance

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Tension in the abdomen is not always a problem for women – even if it is often claimed. What are the causes of the complaints and what helps against them.

Where does the pulling in the abdomen come from?

When the abdomen is pulled, the first thing most people think of is menstrual pain – not entirely without good reason. In fact, abdominal pain that occurs before and during your period is one of the most common causes of lower abdominal discomfort. Some women also feel the so-called middle pain between the bleeds. This marks ovulation and often occurs on only one side or above the pubic hair area.

Pain in pregnancy

On the one hand, severe abdominal pain can be an early sign of pregnancy. If you already know that you are pregnant and have such symptoms, you should be careful as a matter of principle. These complaints can often be traced back to an overstretching of the muscles and ligaments that support the uterus – for example when coughing or standing up. Here it might help to put your feet up and put a hot water bottle on the substructure. However, if the pain is very severe or if there are other symptoms such as cramps, bleeding, chills or fever, you should definitely go to the gynecologist.

What are the causes of abdominal pain?

If the symptoms cannot be traced back to your period or pregnancy, there are different possible causes. As well as In both men and women, the pulling in the abdomen can be divided into acute and chronic pain.

Acute pain

Acute pain can come on suddenly and indicate both a passing mood and a serious problem. There are some symptoms and signs that could suggest, for example, inflammation (such as appendicitis, cystitis, or fallopian tubes) or a rupture of a part of the intestine, that should be treated immediately by a doctor. These include:

  • Very severe pain
  • fever
  • Constipation or diarrhea (persistent)
  • nausea
  • Bleeding or discharge

Chronic pain

Pass the Pain in the lower abdomen for more than half a year is considered chronic and should also be checked by a doctor. Again, there are several possible triggers:

  • Chronic inflammation (for example, chronic bladder infection or in the gastrointestinal tract)
  • Cysts
  • Tumors in the organs
  • Endometriosis (uterine lining-like tissue that grows in the deeper walls of the uterus or outside of it)
  • Mental illness – Depression, for example, often also leads to physical symptoms in the abdomen