Abdominal Pain in Men: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

 5 mins 30 secs

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  • About Belly Pain

Every fan of football, hockey, or slapstick humor will be familiar with at least one form of male abdominal pain: and that’s getting kicked or hit in the groin. But there are many others, and while you can’t do much about the latter except apply ice and hope for that pain to go away fast, other forms of abdominal pain can be treated, prevented, and managed.

This article reviews some of the most common causes of abdominal pain in men, how to treat them, and when to see a doctor.

Common Causes of Abdominal Pain in Men

There are many things that can cause abdominal pain in both males and females, and only some of these causes are actually related to the stomach. So, even though we may be tempted to say we have a “stomach ache,” the pain may not come from the stomach at all. In addition to the stomach, the abdominal cavity hosts a few other organs as well, that may cause pain in what we so often mislabel the ‘stomach’. In medical terms, this is actually abdominal pain.

The specific location of the pain plays a key part. For example, pain in the upper abdomen may indicate a problem with your stomach, like indigestion, whereas pain in the lower right side could mean something very different, like appendicitis.

Read more about the different locations of abdominal pain.

Some causes of abdominal pain also tend to be more common in men than in women. Abdominal pain in males includes1:

  • Appendicitis: The pain usually starts around your belly button and moves towards the lower right side of your abdomen2. The pain may be sudden and severe, and you might experience additional symptoms, like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, or a swollen abdomen3.
  • Gallbladder inflammation: Additional symptoms of gallbladder inflammation include pain in the right upper side of your abdomen that gets worse when you take deep breaths and when you touch the area. You may also have fever and yellowing of the eyes2.
  • Hernias: Usually, a hernia causes a small bulge in your lower abdomen, which you may only notice when you stand up, cough, or strain4.
  • Bowel obstruction: This means that there’s something blocking your intestines. Additional symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and constipation5.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas: This condition causes pain in your upper abdomen that can spread as far as your back. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, fast heartbeat, and weight loss6.
  • Stones in the urinary tract: This happens when small stones get blocked in your urinary tract, causing renal colic. The condition typically causes pain in your groin and towards your testicles, as well as vomiting and nausea7.
  • More serious conditions that affect the liver: This could include hepatitis.

Immediate medical consult is advised for these conditions. 

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Men?

Some pelvic organs may cause what feels like lower belly pain in men. However, the pain may come from somewhere else, for example from the testicles. Common causes of lower abdominal pain in men include:  

  • Problems with the testicles: This can include testicular torsion, whereby the testicles rotate, causing the spermatic cord to twist. Testicular torsion is a medical emergency that often causes vomiting8.
  • Inflammation of the prostate: This causes pain in the central lower abdomen. You can also have pain between the scrotum and the anus, around the penis and scrotum, or in the lower back. You may also experience pain during, or after peeing9.

How to Relieve Abdominal Pain in Men

Painkillers and antispasmodics can relieve some forms of abdominal pain11. However, unlike painkillers, which simply cut the pain signals in the brain, while not actually solving the pain itself, antispasmodics like Hyoscine N -butylbromide (Buscopan®) target cramps and abdominal pain at the source. They do so by relaxing the abdominal muscles12.

Furthermore, antispasmodics such as Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®) are gentler on the stomach. Unlike a painkiller such as ibuprofen, which may have gastrointestinal side effects11, Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®) is easy on the tummy, while staying tough on pain.

Cramps in The Belly: Male vs. Female Symptoms

According to some estimates, up to 46% of the general population have abdominal cramps with no underlying disease at its cause. This form of pain is called “functional abdominal cramping pain” (FACP) and it usually doesn’t come with any other symptoms16.

Although this form of abdominal pain tends to affect women more than men16, because it is so widespread, it is also very common among men. FACP is characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and may sometimes be accompanied by an altered bowel habit(chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both – either mixed or in alternation)17.

The causes of FACP which is common in IBS are unclear, but researchers think it’s a combination of several factors such as stress, an overreaction of the immune system, and an imbalance in the gut bacteria16.

How to Relieve FACP

You can relieve abdominal cramps in several ways:

  • Try taking antispasmodics such as Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®). Antispasmodics are well-tolerated and available OTC in most countries15.
  • Avoiding foods high in so-called FODMAPs may help relieve your symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhea18.
  • Psychotherapy and relaxation techniques can help ease the symptoms18. There is some evidence to suggest that probiotics may help improve symptoms. They are generally safe to try18.

When to See a Doctor for Abdominal Pain in Men

See a doctor for your abdominal pain if you have additional symptoms, such as16:

  • you lost weight without wanting to
  • you look pale
  • you feel generally unwell
  • you have persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • you have blood in your poo
  • your abdominal cramps happen when you’re doing physical activity
  • the pain is very intense
  • the pain is keeping you from doing the things you love or are required of you (such as going to work or exercising)

Don’t let belly pain hold you back.

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