Diagnosis
The diagnosis of lower abdominal pain during pregnancy is performed in several steps. First of all, a precise survey of the occurrence, type and time of the pain should provide a possible suspected diagnosis. In order to narrow down the causes in the lower abdomen, it is decisive whether the pain is located on the right, in the middle or on the left.
This is followed by a physical examination. During this examination, the exact location of the pain is determined and by means of a palpation it can be determined whether the intestine is mobile, hardened or cramped. An ultrasound examination can then be performed.
Especially inflammations of the intestine, for example of the appendix, are diagnosed with the help of the ultrasound examination. Radiological imaging, e.g. CT, is postponed during pregnancy because the radiation can affect the growing child. In general, a different approach must be taken during pregnancy, both in diagnostics and treatment, in order to be as gentle as possible on both mother and child.
Can this be a sign of pregnancy?
Lower abdominal pain is also often described as one of the first signs of pregnancy. The monthly pain, together with menstruation, stops during pregnancy once the egg has been fertilized. Nevertheless, many women in early pregnancy describe a feeling like normal menstruation only without bleeding.
Even a regular, monthly pain in the lower abdomen does not therefore speak against pregnancy. Only bleeding does not occur during pregnancy. If not, however, this can be a dangerous complication of pregnancy.Lower abdominal pain should normally only occur at the beginning of pregnancy. If the pain is long-lasting and particularly severe, a doctor should be consulted.
Associated symptoms
Lower abdominal pain can take on different forms. In many intestinal disorders, but also in uterine disorders, pain with severe muscular cramps occurs. The abdomen is externally palpably hardened.
An accompanying symptom that urgently requires clarification is the loss of blood during cramps in the central lower abdomen during pregnancy. Many intestinal diseases can cause pulling and stabbing pains, which can be found especially on one side. This is usually due to inflammation, which can also increase the pain when touched or pressed.
In appendicitis, the pain can be provoked enormously by movement and pressure in the right lower abdomen. Accompanying symptoms may include fever, fatigue and aching limbs. Nausea is the feeling that is often accompanied by vomiting.
The nausea may indicate a gastrointestinal disorder. The stomach reacts with irritation of the mucous membranes and nausea, especially when certain foods are ingested. Nausea also occurs in pathogen-related infections of the gastrointestinal tract, which can also lead to lower abdominal pain, depending on the location of the intestinal inflammation.
During pregnancy, nausea with lower abdominal pain can also occur. This constellation of symptoms is even very typical for the first weeks to months of pregnancy. The hormonal change leads to nausea, which occurs particularly in the morning and may cause slight cramp-like pain in the lower abdomen.
The differentiation of the sides is groundbreaking in the diagnosis of lower abdominal pain. The potentially affected organs, which can be found on the right side of the lower abdomen, are mostly sections of the small and large intestine, as well as the appendix. The appendix is also the most common source of lower abdominal pain.
These can become so severe that patients tense up and bend over in pain on the right side. Chronic intestinal diseases or complaints of the pelvic organs can also cause pain in the right lower abdomen, which is why they should not be ignored in the diagnosis. Lower abdominal pain, which is only felt on the left side, is often caused by the gastrointestinal tract.
The end of the colon, the so-called “sigmoid”, is located in this area. This is a common site for inflammation and chronic diseases. The two most important chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, which are also preferentially found in this area, are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
The so-called diverticulitis is also often found in this area. The left-sided colon area can be examined very well by means of a colonoscopy. In case of complaints, this can be performed in almost all hospitals. Tumors of the colon are also often found in this area. For men over 55 years of age, a regular colonoscopy for this area is recommended for early detection of malignant diseases.
