What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is pain felt anywhere in the area between the bottom of your ribs and your pelvis. Most people will have abdominal pain at some point in their lives.

Abdominal pain can be serious, but can also get better on its own without needing any special treatment.

People sometimes refer to abdominal pain as:

• stomach pain
• stomach ache
• stomach cramps
• tummy pain
• sore stomach
• belly ache

There are different types of abdominal pain, which can:

• be mild or severe
• come on suddenly (acute pain)
• happen from time to time (recurrent pain)
• be an ongoing symptom (chronic pain)
• start off mild and steadily get worse

Pain that comes and goes in waves is often called colicky pain.

This page is about abdominal pain in anyone over the age of 12 years. Here is information on abdominal pain in children.

What symptoms are related to abdominal pain?

Pain in your abdomen may be:

• aching
• stabbing or sharp
• burning
• twisting
• cramping
• dull

Tummy pain can be in different areas of your abdomen and can move or radiate to other areas. It can come and go or be constant.

Sometimes it may help to lie still. With other types of abdominal pain it may help to move around for relief.

The pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• bloating, belching and burping
• loss of appetite
• heartburn
• nausea and vomiting
• a change in bowel habits (doing a poo) — including diarrhoea or constipation
• problems with urinating (doing a wee)
• fever

Describing the pattern and location of your symptoms to your doctor can help them work out the cause of your abdominal pain.

What causes abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is often caused by a problem in your digestive tract (the gut). But it can also be caused by other organs, such as your kidneys or reproductive organs.

Some of the causes of abdominal pain connected to your gut are:

• gastroenteritis or food poisoning
• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or hiatus hernia
• peptic ulcer
• gallstones
• pancreatitis
• appendicitis

Other causes of abdominal pain related to your bowel include:

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• lactose intolerance
• inflammatory bowel disease
• diverticulitis and diverticular disease
• bowel obstruction

The cause of the pain will affect how long your symptoms last.

Abdominal pain can also be caused by problems with other organs, such as:

• period pain
• kidney stones
• urinary tract infection
• heart attack

Many different medicines can cause abdominal pain as a side effect, including:

• anti-inflammatory medicines
• aspirin
• medicines to help manage the symptoms of dementia

Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about your medicines and abdominal pain.

How is the cause of abdominal pain diagnosed?

Abdominal pain is a common symptom.

Your doctor will ask you about your pain and any other symptoms you have. Your doctor will also consider your past medical history, age, sex, recent travel and medicines you are taking when working out the cause of your pain. They will also do a physical examination.

Your doctor may suggest you have tests, such as:

• blood tests
• urine tests
• stool tests
• an ultrasound scan, x-ray, CT scan or MRI scan of your abdomen
• endoscopy or colonoscopy — where a long, flexible tube with a camera is used to examine your stomach or bowel while you are under sedation
• electrocardiogram (ECG)

They may refer you to a specialist doctor for some tests and treatments.

When should I see my doctor?

See a doctor if you have abdominal pain that:

• is recurrent (keeps coming back)
• is persistent (ongoing)
• started mild but is getting worse

Also see your doctor if you have:

• vaginal bleeding that is not associated with your menstrual cycle (periods)
• a change in your bowel habits
• any bleeding from your back passage or blood in your stools
• swelling of your abdomen
• unexplained weight loss
• yellow skin or whites of your eyes
• fevers

If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife.

When to seek urgent care

If you have severe pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have pain that:

• is getting worse
• has lasted for several hours or more
• wakes you from sleep
• is spreading to your neck, chest or shoulders

Urgent medical attention is also needed if you have abdominal pain and:

• have bleeding from your bowel
• have blood in your urine
• have persistent vomiting
• are unable to urinate (wee), have a bowel motion (poo) or pass gas (fart)
• have a fever (a temperature of 38ºC or higher)
• have a very bloated or swollen abdomen
• you fell very unwell

How is abdominal pain treated?

The treatment of abdominal pain will depend on its underlying cause.

Self-care at home

Mild abdominal pain may go away on its own within hours or days.

If you have mild abdominal pain with a known cause:

• Keep hydrated by drinking clear fluids and restrict alcohol, tea and coffee.
• Avoid foods that are rich, fatty or spicy.
• Stay rested.
• Try using a hot water bottle or warm wheat pack on your abdomen.
• Ask your pharmacist about using simple pain-relief medicines.

Always see your doctor for more severe abdominal pain or pain that comes back.

Medicines for mild abdominal pain

Mild abdominal pain can sometimes be treated with medicines from the pharmacy. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on what type of product is best suited to your situation.

Some medicines that may be recommended to treat abdominal pain (and related symptoms) if the cause is known include:

• simple pain-relief medicines
• antispasmodic medicines to ease spasms in the wall of the bowel
• anti-flatulence medicines
• antacids for heartburn or indigestion

You should not use aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, to treat abdominal pain other than period pain. These medicines may cause or irritate a stomach or bowel problem.

Other treatment options

Treatments depend on the cause of your abdominal pain.

Some conditions can benefit from dietary changes. But always check with your doctor or dietitian before making major changes to your diet.

In some cases, such as appendicitis or bowel obstruction, you may need emergency surgery.

Can abdominal pain be prevented?

Some lifestyle measures can help keep you and your gut healthy. These include:

• eating enough fibre, including from fruit and vegetables
• getting regular physical activity
• drinking plenty of plain water
• limiting how much alcohol you drink

Following a specific diet can help reduce abdominal pain due to some conditions, such as lactose intolerance or coeliac disease. But always ask your doctor or dietitian before restricting foods from your diet.

Resources and support

For more information and support, try these resources:

• The Gut Foundation
• Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)

For advice on what to do if you have abdominal pain, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week.