Pain in the lower abdomen is more characteristic of women. Such a symptom is usually associated with gynecological diseases. In men, the causes of discomfort can be very diverse. These are diseases of the genitourinary tract that vary in severity (from mild inflammation to oncology) and the digestive system. Often the cause of pain is prostate problems. For any unpleasant sensations, you should immediately consult a doctor, because almost all diseases, if they are detected in the early stages, have a favorable prognosis. In the case of disorders of the digestive system, you can do, for example, only a correction of the diet.
What can pull on the lower right abdomen in men, on the left or in the middle? Diagnosis of pathology with such a nonspecific symptom causes difficulties. The doctor needs to see the full clinical picture (additional complaints) and confirm his guesses with the results of laboratory tests in order to properly prescribe treatment. Depending on the identified disease, bed rest, a therapeutic diet, taking antibiotics or other groups of drugs, and surgery may be indicated. Next, we consider the most common causes of pain in the lower abdomen, additional symptoms and treatment tactics for various pathologies.
Inflammation of the testicles and appendages
The cause of pulling pain in the lower abdomen in men can be orchoepididymitis. Doctors call inflammation of the testis or testicles. If the pathology is accompanied by inflammation of the appendages, then epididymitis is diagnosed. Most often, the inflammatory process develops in the testes and in the appendages. The disease can be triggered by previous infectious diseases (typhoid, flu, chickenpox, pneumonia, mumps, scarlet fever and others), but in most cases, the cause is inflammation of the genitourinary system (prostatitis, urethritis, and so on). In the latter case, the infection is transferred to the testicle with a blood stream. Orchoid epididymitis can be caused by testicular injury. Inflammation sometimes also occurs after surgery on the prostate.
The acute and chronic stages of the disease are distinguished. Acute is characterized by severe pain in the testicle and lower abdomen, on the affected side increases in the size of the scrotum, the folds are smoothed, and the skin becomes stretched. Touching the inflamed area is very painful, a man rises in temperature, general signs of intoxication appear, namely: headache, weakness and nausea. If untreated, the symptoms persist for about two weeks, and then the disease becomes chronic. When palpating the testicle, a painful compaction is felt.
The diagnosis will be accurately determined by the andrologist or urologist during the examination. With the help of laboratory tests, the doctor will determine the nature of the infection, it is often recommended to conduct an ultrasound scan. The patient is shown bed rest, while the scrotum should be in an elevated position. A diet is prescribed with the exception of spicy, fatty and fried foods from the menu, heavy drinking is recommended. Be sure to conduct therapy against the disease that caused the inflammatory process. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are usually indicated. With purulent complications, an autopsy and drainage of the testicle is necessary. In the worst case, a testicle is removed.
Tumors of the peritoneum and genitals
Drawing pain in the lower left abdomen in men, on the right or in the genital area can cause malignant or benign tumors of the peritoneum or genitals. Benign formations are usually asymptomatic, but may be accompanied by signs of compression of nearby organs. Because of this, severity appears in the lower abdomen in men. The reason can be even more serious - a malignant neoplasm. Cancers are usually accompanied by intense pain.
Benign tumors of the abdominal cavity are a relatively rare occurrence. The reasons for the development of pathology are unknown. Most often, tumors in the peritoneum are secondary, that is, they develop due to the aggressive growth of neoplasms and the growth of cancer cells of the abdominal cavity organs and internal genital organs. Primary malignant tumor processes in the peritoneum are more often diagnosed in men over fifty. Malignant lesions are manifested by a decrease in body weight, pain and symptoms of compression of nearby organs, tension occurs in the lower abdomen. In men, the main risk factor is exposure to asbestos for a long period of time. Diagnosis is difficult, since the severity of the lower abdomen in men is not a specific symptom, but is typical for many diseases.
Often, an accurate diagnosis is obtained only after excision of the neoplasm and further histological examination. But radical removal of the tumor is only possible with limited processes. With multiple neoplasms, the prognosis is extremely disappointing. Patients die from complications caused by impaired functioning of the peritoneal organs.
The cause of drawing pain in the lower abdomen in men can be a malignant neoplasm localized in the genital area. Prostate cancer is diagnosed in men over sixty-five years old. Only one percent of cases fall into the proportion of patients with this disease under 65. Prostate adenoma is also an age-related disease. Only ten percent of men over 80 avoid this ailment. In men from twenty to forty years, the main trigger factor is injury. More often, cancer is diagnosed in hockey players, cyclists and football players. The only sign of pathology for a long time may be heaviness in the lower abdomen in men, therefore it is recommended to visit a doctor annually after 60-65 years.
Genitourinary diseases
Various genitourinary diseases are accompanied by pulling pains in the lower abdomen in men in the middle, left or right. It can be pyelonephritis, kidney stones, cystitis, hypothermia of the kidneys. Any pathology can cause such a symptom. A complete clinical picture and test results will allow the doctor to determine the exact diagnosis.
Kidney stones: symptoms and treatment
Urolithiasis is a disease that is prone to recurrence. Pathology is characterized by the presence of stones in the bladder, kidneys and ureters. The main cause of the disease is a violation of metabolic processes, which leads to the formation of salts that form stones. Other factors can lead to the development of pathology: malnutrition, local climate, poor-quality drinking water, taking certain medications, lack of vitamins D and A, other inflammatory processes of the genitourinary and excretory systems, unfavorable heredity.
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- Paroxysmal pain. Discomfort is most often felt in the lower back or side, but can also appear in the lower abdomen. A man pulls his left side or right periodically, the duration of the attack is from 20 to 60 minutes. This is usually preceded by physical activity, the use of diuretic drugs or a large amount of fluid. The location of the pain changes as education progresses along the ureter. Often discomfort is accompanied by frequent urge to the toilet.
- An admixture of blood in the urine. Cloudy discharge with a strong unpleasant odor can also indicate the discharge of the stone.
- Nausea and vomiting, general deterioration of health. These same symptoms are characteristic of the inflammatory process, that is, pyelonephritis.
- High temperatures can occur when sand or stone is moving away.
- A basic examination for suspected urolithiasis includes examination and questioning of the patient, general tests of urine and blood, ultrasound, and review urography. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a multi-helical CT scan, dynamic or static nephroscintigraphy, urine culture. A CT scan is performed to determine the density of the stone and the state of the surrounding tissues, nephroscintigraphy will allow to study the degree of impaired renal function, and urine culture is necessary to determine the presence of infection in the urinary tract and the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics.
After receiving the results of the examination, the doctor will determine the treatment tactics. Today, drug therapy is carried out, aimed at independent passage or dissolution of the stone, open interventions, lithotripsy (contact or remote), endoscopic interventions. Until recently, the leading method in treatment was surgery, but today it is fading into the background. The operation is prescribed only for strict indications. Most often, remote lithotripsy is performed, which does not injure the tissue, but can destroy the stone to small pieces, which then gradually come out when urinating.
Renal hypothermia
Renal hypothermia in most cases is a prerequisite for the development of serious diseases. With mild hypothermia, sufficient active measures to warm the body and bed rest are sufficient so that the symptoms disappear four days after the start of treatment. An average degree of hypothermia is characterized by high risks of the development of the inflammatory process. Adequate timely therapy is necessary so that the prognosis is favorable. A severe degree is accompanied by glomerular inflammation and an increase in autoimmune processes. With extremely severe frostbite, soft tissue necrosis occurs. In this case, the chances of complete healing are almost absent.
Non-specific symptoms are usually as follows: in women and men, drawing pain in the lower abdomen on the left or on the right, as well as in the kidneys and in the lower back, intoxication of the body (fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, nausea, chills), impaired urination (change in the color of urine, frequent urges, discomfort), swelling. Comprehensive diagnostics include general urine analysis, Nechiporenko analysis, bacterial culture, renal ultrasound, CT, excretory urography.
With hypothermia of the kidneys, it is important to provide the patient with first aid. It is necessary to stop contact with environmental factors that caused hypothermia, warming (you can give the victim a warm drink and food, after having a back massage), thermal insulation (you need to wrap a person in a thermally insulating blanket and provide bed rest), call a doctor (with severe forms of hypothermia call an ambulance or, as soon as possible, transport the patient to the nearest hospital with a department of urology, nephrology, intensive care).
Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
Spasms in the lower abdomen in men can be caused by an inflammatory process localized in the kidneys. Acute inflammation can threaten the patient's life. The patient complains of severe pain, fever up to 39 degrees, general weakness, headache. In some cases, nausea and vomiting occur, pallor, tachycardia, decreased blood pressure, bloating are observed. With pyelonephritis, there is a high probability of the spread of the inflammatory process to other organs and systems, because in the process of blood circulation 25% of all blood in the body passes through this organ. Therefore, it is important to treat pyelonephritis under the supervision of a physician.
Cystitis
Cystitis is more common among women due to the anatomy, but men can also suffer from inflammation of the bladder. Such a pathology, however, occurs only in 0.5% of them. With cystitis, itching and burning appear during urination, a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen (in men this is a characteristic sign, while women can confuse discomfort with gynecological diseases), an admixture of blood in the urine.
At the first symptoms of inflammation, the patient should contact a medical institution. Shown bed rest, medical diet with a minimum of spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, canned goods. To reduce pain, heating pads, warm baths, and physiotherapeutic procedures are used. With severe symptoms, drugs are prescribed that relieve spasm (Papaverine, Drotaverinum), painkillers (Diclofenac, Metamizole, Ketorolac). The main component of therapy is antibiotics. Commonly used are Cifran, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and so on. When viruses or fungi are detected, appropriate medications are prescribed. With adequate therapy, cystitis can be eliminated in a week and a half.
Renal colic: signs
Pull to the left lower abdomen in men can with renal colic. This condition can occur with urolithiasis, tumors, injuries, prolapse of the kidney and other pathological conditions. Often, pain in renal colic is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In this case, urgent hospitalization and consultation of a urologist is indicated to diagnose and determine the causes of the pathological condition. The attack can be alleviated with a heating pad or bath (the optimal temperature in this case is 37-39 degrees), antispasmodics and painkillers are prescribed. With the untimely provision of qualified medical care, acute pyelonephritis can develop, which will quickly lead to death.
Genital hypothermia
To the right or left pulls the lower abdomen in men with hypothermia of the genitals. Urges to urinate also become more frequent, general symptoms of hypothermia are observed: chills, drowsiness, blue skin, "goose bumps", slow heartbeat. Hypothermia often provokes an exacerbation of various diseases. If the left or right side of the lower abdomen in men is pulled, then this can speak of epididymitis, priapism (the pain in this case is concentrated in the genital area and only gives to the lower abdomen), cystitis, chronic or acute prostatitis. You need to see a doctor to correctly diagnose the disease and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Digestive problems
Pulling in the lower abdomen? Causes in men and women may be associated with problems in the functioning of the digestive system. Discomfort can cause irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane of internal organs, spasms of smooth muscles, stretching of the walls of organs, for example, with increased gas formation. Severity in the lower left abdomen in men may be associated with irritable bowel syndrome. In women, such sensations most often indicate gynecological diseases. The severity of the lower abdomen on the right in men can accompany appendicitis, various intestinal diseases, abscesses and hernia. In the middle it hurts with colitis or bowel obstruction. It is very difficult to independently determine the exact causes of pain with problems with the digestive system. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will conduct a differential diagnosis. Treatment depends on the diagnosis.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Doctors say that every fourth person is sick with IBS, but only every third of them seeks medical help. The disease is also known as bowel neurosis or irritable bowel syndrome. The main causes are stress and increased sensitivity to pain. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome often appears on the background of a sedentary lifestyle, with irregular or improper nutrition, a genetic predisposition, and dysbiosis.
If a woman or a man pulls the left side and lower abdomen, this may be due to irritable bowel syndrome. Usually this condition is accompanied by constipation or diarrhea, frequent gas discharge, intestinal colic. Diagnosis of the disease is quite complicated. As a rule, such a diagnosis is made if there are no deviations in the analyzes, but the patient complains of unpleasant symptoms, for example, if the intestines and the lower abdomen are pulled. In men, by the way, IBS occurs less frequently than in women. Perhaps this is due to increased emotionality and frequent changes in the hormonal background in women. The highest frequency of the disease occurs at the age of 25-40 years, and in elderly people (over 60), IBS is less common.
A general treatment regimen for IBS does not exist, because the condition is caused by several reasons.In addition, until medicine has established a mechanism for the development of the disease. Practice shows that pathology can be completely cured only in a third of cases, in the rest you can only reduce the manifestation of symptoms. IBS cannot be called a disease that threatens the life and health of patients, but the disease can somewhat worsen the quality of life. Usually only symptomatic therapy and diet are prescribed.
Symptom of prostate problems
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Prostatitis in men is successfully treated, but you need to diagnose the disease as early as possible. Acute prostatitis is the result of infection of the prostate tissue. The reason may be elementary non-compliance with hygiene rules. The acute form of the disease is quite rare, chronic prostatitis is usually diagnosed. This form is dangerous in that alarming signs may subside even without treatment. But each time, exacerbations are increasingly painful. There is a likelihood of developing foci of suppuration, deposits of stones and other complex complications (up to oncology).
Common symptoms of prostatitis are: accelerated ejaculation, decreased erection, difficulty urinating, which is accompanied by burning and pain, psychological depression and anxiety. For the patient, a positive psychological attitude towards recovery is important. Experiences and stresses weaken the body's immune system and reduce the effectiveness of treatment. This is a vicious circle from which it is difficult for a patient to break out. For this reason, sometimes with prostatitis, antidepressants are indicated.
When urgent help is needed
Severity in the lower abdomen in men may require emergency medical attention. Pain arising from appendicitis can have different localization, since the appendix is located individually in each. Sharp pains may occur (patients say they “pull”) in the lower abdomen on the right. In men, appendicitis is treated in the same way as in women. Emergency surgery indicated. In addition, you can not use painkillers or apply heat to the stomach, because this can smear the clinical picture.
Immediate intervention requires pain, which is associated with pinching of an inguinal hernia. In the area of infringement, intense pain usually appears, which can give to the lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and constipation are characteristic. This condition requires urgent medical attention. It pulls the side to the lower left abdomen in men with diverticulitis. This pathology is also accompanied by fever, nausea and chills. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of protrusions of the intestinal wall against the background of stagnation of intestinal contents. It is observed mainly in people older than forty years, more often observed in women.
It is important to remember that almost any disease (even severe deviations) is easier to cure in the early stages. For this reason, it is important to devote time to early diagnosis. At the very first symptoms that were not previously observed, you need to see a therapist, and then undergo a detailed examination by a doctor specializing in diseases of the genitourinary sphere, digestive system and so on. A general practitioner can suggest the causes of pain in the lower abdomen based on the clinical picture and general tests. The same doctor will issue a referral to doctors of narrow specialization.