Abdominal pain below the navel in the middle, causes of pain in the center in women and men

The reasons why the stomach hurts below the navel are quite numerous. Soreness under the belly button is a fairly common symptom that indicates existing health problems. The cause of abdominal pain below the navel in most cases is inflammation of the small intestine.

Poor functioning of the jejunum is accompanied by a state of malabsorption and this has a very negative impact on overall well-being. That is why prolonged pain below the umbilical area and around is a symptom that requires urgent medical advice.

The most common causes of this pathological condition are the following diseases:

lack of jejunal patency;
circulatory disorders of the mesenteric vessels;
jeunitis - an inflammatory process in the jejunum;
umbilical hernia – pain develops as a result of its strangulation;
enzyme deficiency;
irritable bowel syndrome.

Types of seals and features of therapy

Depending on the location of the lump on the skin of the abdomen, there are different types of lumps with characteristic symptoms indicating the development of various pathologies:

Lipoma. When the sebaceous glands are blocked in the subcutaneous connective tissue of the abdominal cavity, a lipoma (fat) can form - a benign neoplasm, which is an accumulation of fat cells. This is a soft-to-touch compaction that causes discomfort and pain when it reaches a significant size. Characteristic differences of the tumor are slow growth with preservation of skin mobility, absence of foci of inflammation and excretory ducts. Metabolic disorders, unbalanced nutrition, exposure to stress and hereditary predisposition can provoke the development of lipoma. The appearance of such a compaction does not require drastic medical intervention. The tumor is removed surgically when its size increases significantly.
Read also: This is why vomiting bile after alcohol is common
Atheroma. Against the background of blockage of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands in the navel area, an atheroma may occur - an elastic, dense cyst fused to the skin, measuring from 1 to 3 cm. Inside this formation there is a sebaceous secretion, and at the top there is a clogged duct in the form of a dark dot or hole. Atheroma is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process and rapid tumor growth with the appearance of intense pain in the navel area. The tumor can only be removed through surgery under local anesthesia.
Dermatofibrosarcoma. A malignant neoplasm ranging in size from 2 mm to 15 cm, which most often develops in men and women aged 20–35 years. In the initial stage, the tumor looks like a mobile, painless lipoma or scar with a reddish-brown smooth surface. At further stages of pathogenesis, the skin over the neoplasm atrophies, and erosions appear on the surface. As the tumor grows, it can affect internal organs, so it is important to promptly diagnose and remove dermatofibrosarcoma. The malignant lump is removed surgically.
Diverticulitis. Diverticula can form in the intestinal walls - bag-like protrusions measuring 1-2 cm, in which the remains of digested food accumulate, creating favorable conditions for the growth of pathogenic microflora. As a result, diverticulitis develops - an inflammatory process accompanied by general weakness, fever, upset stool and the formation of a painful large (up to 12 cm) lump near the navel on the left. Inflammation can be triggered by poor nutrition, the presence of helminthic infestations, age-related impairment of intestinal smooth muscle tone, and a hereditary predisposition to digestive problems. Antibiotics are used for treatment. At the advanced stage of the disease, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Umbilical hernia. A hard, painful lump above the belly button may be a sign of an umbilical hernia, a condition in which portions of the greater omentum or intestine protrude beyond the peritoneum through the umbilical ring. A hernia occurs in the presence of defects in the abdominal cavity, as well as against the background of excessive physical exertion, chronic constipation, and obesity. The disease is often accompanied by nausea, flatulence, and vomiting. Only a doctor can diagnose an umbilical hernia in the early stages of development with an external examination of the seal, confirmed by ultrasound, gastroscopy and X-ray data. A hernia can be removed through surgery.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm. A pulsating hard lump near the navel on the right may be a sign of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a dangerous disease that involves expansion, thinning and subsequent rupture of its walls. The disease is accompanied by a dull aching pain in the abdomen, radiating to the back. To treat aneurysms up to 5 cm in size, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and calcium antagonists are used. At the advanced stage, surgical intervention is indicated.
Hydronephrosis. This is the accumulation of urine in the renal pelvis with subsequent atrophy of these organs. A characteristic symptom of the disease is the formation of lumps in the navel area (depending on the location of the affected organ, a subcutaneous lump develops on the right or left). Hydronephrosis is treated surgically.
Torsion of the uterine appendages. The pathology most often manifests itself in women with adhesions in the abdominal cavity. The seal is localized on the right or left of the navel, its appearance is accompanied by severe pain, nausea and vomiting. Torsion of the uterine appendages can only be treated by surgical intervention.
Ovarian cyst. If the cyst reaches a large size, it can be felt in the form of a subcutaneous compaction. The growth of the tumor is accompanied by menstrual irregularities and painful sensations in the abdomen. The advisability of conservative or surgical treatment is determined by the type of tumor.
Metastases of a malignant tumor. Stomach cancer in the later stages of pathogenesis can give metastases localized in the navel area - small painless subcutaneous lumps with jagged edges. The disease must be treated through surgery.

If it is hard near the navel, and the appearance of subcutaneous lumps is accompanied by pain and malaise or is asymptomatic, you must definitely seek medical help. Only a doctor can diagnose the reasons that provoked the appearance of dense subcutaneous lumps and prescribe an effective treatment regimen based on examination data, palpation of the tumor and studying the results of laboratory tests.

A lump near the navel is a common occurrence in people of any age. And this is understandable, because in the retroperitoneal space there are many systems and organs (spleen, stomach, gall bladder, colon, jejunum, ileum, greater omentum, upper part of the kidneys and ureter, digestive and urinary systems). Each organ can fail, manifest itself with pain, swelling, swelling, or compaction in a certain area of the abdomen.

urinary system

The urinary system is susceptible to attacks by pathogens, the reproduction and activity of which provokes the appearance of discomfort.

The occurrence of aching pain in the lower abdomen (from the navel to the groin) may be a consequence of inflammation of the walls of the bladder (cystitis). Additional symptoms: frequent urination, accompanied by cramps, false urges. There may be blood in the urine. Treatment is carried out with antibiotics and herbal medicines (for example, Fitolysin). Learn about the symptoms that indicate cystitis.

Aching pain in the suprapubic region and in the urethra can be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, specific and nonspecific urethritis. Inflammation of the urethra is accompanied by painful urination and discharge. The pathogen is determined based on test results, then a course of antibiotic treatment is carried out. Painkillers can help relieve discomfort during therapy.

Urolithiasis disease

Stones can form in various organs of the genitourinary system, but most often they are found in the kidneys. Under the influence of a number of factors, stones begin to migrate. As they move from the kidneys along the lower third of the ureter, a cutting pain occurs in the groin area, which can radiate to the head of the penis and testicles. When the stone stops, the attack of pain subsides a little, and at the same time a strong urge to urinate appears. When the walls of the urethra are damaged, the urine becomes stained with blood.

Even before migration, kidney stones make themselves felt with nagging pain localized in the lumbar region.

Acute pain in the lower abdomen that occurs after exercise can be caused by stones in the bladder. Especially often their formation occurs against the background of prostate adenoma. The main danger lies in blockage of the urethra, which is indicated by severe cramping pain not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the lower back. This condition requires urgent medical intervention.

On right

On the right, just above the middle part of the abdomen, are located: the right kidney, the ascending colon.

Induration near the navel on the right, pain and discomfort may appear due to the following provoking factors:

Appendicitis, with the appearance of troubles and inflammation of the appendix with a displacement to the right. Usually causes acute pain discomfort accompanied by fever and nausea. Patients need to urgently contact a surgeon.
Lipoma as a benign wen or a consequence of blockage of the sebaceous glands. The tumor, soft to the touch, may increase in size and roll slightly under the skin. Requires surgery to remove.
Atheroma in the form of a cyst up to 3 cm in diameter, tightly sealed to the skin. Perhaps the appearance of a dark dot in the middle of the abdomen, as a fact of gland blockage. Atheroma has an inflammatory course, so the signs are hotness to the touch, pain in the area. Requires surgical intervention to remove it.
Fibrosarcoma is a malignant tumor up to 2-15 mm in diameter. It looks like a smooth scar (bump) on the skin, mobile and painful. The place in the middle part of the square of the peritoneum is tense, atrophies over time and can become covered with crust and erosion. Requires surgical removal.
Diverticulitis is a type of hernia with the accumulation of intestinal contents as the inflammatory process develops. Provocateurs – infection with worms, heredity, unhealthy diet, decreased muscle tone. Symptoms: upset stool, passing blood particles, increased temperature, pain in the inflamed area. Treatment is antibiotics or surgery.

Left

If you divide the abdominal cavity into 4 zones, then on the left side there are: the renal gate, ureter, omentum, intestine, intestinal loops.

Why is there a lump near the navel on the left:

Intestinal obstruction with the appearance of persistent asymmetrical bloating, vomiting, gas formation in the walls of the large intestine, and stool retention.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm with protrusion and expansion of the walls. More common in men. Causes: hypertension, atherosclerosis, bad habits, infection. There is a dull pain in the left peritoneum radiating to the lower back. Treatment is medication; in advanced cases, surgery.
Hydronephrosis is a kidney disease that leads to accumulation of urine in the pelvis. Causes: urolithiasis, tumor, prostate adenoma in men, gynecological pathologies in women. Left-sided hydronephrosis is diagnosed taking into account the affected kidney on the left. Symptoms are increased blood pressure and temperature, colic in the lower back, difficult outflow of urine with stinging and burning.

Protrusion and pain when urinating are often observed in men with urinary tract infections and the development of diseases - cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis. Possible irritation of the gastric mucosa due to bloating and colic in the left quadrant of the abdomen.

Colic, nausea, vomiting, and fever may indicate problems with the pancreas. Hardening in the peritoneum indicates:

hernia;
umbilical ring fistula;
cyst development;
swelling of the walls of the small intestine;
metastasis to the navel in stomach cancer.

Such hardening can be extremely dangerous. Doctors do not advise letting the situation take its course and delaying the examination. Especially when special discomfort and characteristic signs appear, regardless of the location in the abdomen.

Above

In the upper left part of the peritoneum there is: the spleen, diaphragm, stomach, pancreas, intestinal loops. Some diseases can cause the spleen to become enlarged or even rupture. The cause may be an injury or blow, when there is severe pain, a bluish seal near the navel from above.

Other causes of discomfort:

peritonitis;
perforation of a stomach ulcer;
irritation of the mucous membrane or cancer of the stomach, colon;
rupture, stretching of the tissues of the abdominal aorta;
sigmoid colon volvulus;
intestinal tumor;
Crohn's disease.

What organs are located in the area above the navel?

To understand why the stomach hurts above the navel, you need to clarify which internal organs are located in this area and above (this place has other names - upper abdomen, epigastrium, epigastrium) or near it. The list is quite large :

stomach, its part corresponding to about a third of the organ;
one of the lobes of the liver;
gallbladder with its ducts;
pancreas;
partially the kidneys (their top);
spleen;
cardiac pericardium;
sections of the intestine - part of the duodenum, the transition from it to the jejunum;
areas of large vessels - vena cava, abdominal aorta;
nerve endings that form the celiac plexus.

Human anatomy suggests that pain above the navel can result from a number of serious dysfunctions of any of the organs located in the named area of the body or slightly above it. Therefore, such a signal from the body cannot be ignored. It is necessary to accurately determine the causes of pain above the navel, and accurately follow all the doctor’s instructions during the treatment period.

From below

A seal near the navel from below is observed if it is:

pinched hernia;
protrusion of the sigmoid colon;
rupture of the walls of the diverticulum;
inflammation of the pelvic organs in women;
intestinal obstruction in the lower sections;
increased gas formation in the walls of the large intestine;
localization of the tumor in the genital organs of men.

A lump in the lower abdomen can be caused by: IBS, intestinal inflammation, compression by nerves (extending from the spinal column), or movement of a kidney stone down the ureter.

Women's problems

Pathologies or reasons for the appearance of lumps in women are often gynecological in nature. Doctors advise not to wait for severe colic or other signs of pathology to appear: nausea, bleeding and to go to the clinic.

Provokes tumors in the abdomen in women:

adhesions in the uterine cavity;
torsion of the appendages, when a compaction is observed in the left, right part of the navel, in addition there is nausea, vomiting, throbbing pain, when surgical intervention is no longer possible;
ovarian cyst with compaction as the tumor reaches an impressive size;
menstrual irregularities.

Treatment will depend entirely on the type and size of the tumor - conservative or surgical.

It is not uncommon for sutures to harden in women after a cesarean section. Of course, the resulting lump does not always indicate pathology. But a caesarean section is a complex operation in which doctors have to cut tissue in the peritoneal area. Next is to seal the honey. materials, and fabrics are sewn with a ligature.

During the recovery period, the sutures are covered with scar tissue, but sometimes a growth appears in the peritoneum due to an autoimmune reaction, the use of low-quality materials, tissue infection, and the development of an abscess under the skin.

Other causes of pain above the navel

Situations when the stomach hurts in the center (at the navel and above), sensations are observed in the epigastric zone, may indicate the presence of other diseases and conditions:

inflammatory processes in the liver (viral hepatitis);
increase in the size of the spleen;
the formation of a hernia in the broad abdominal or umbilical muscles;
osteocondritis of the spine;
myocardial infarction;
development of abdominal aortic aneurysm;
renal impairment;
intestinal colic;
diseases of the female reproductive system.

The appearance of a symptom may be associated with a lack of nutritional culture or a “harmful” diet, the presence of stress, increased physical activity, and pregnancy.

Treatment measures

Methods are selected exclusively by the attending physician. It is possible to prescribe medications based on the results of diagnostics, other studies, tests, blood and urine tests. So, for example, if a hernia is detected, a correction is required, which means surgical intervention. The main thing is not to give the pathology a chance to develop further.

Additionally, in the case of a hernia in the area of the umbilical ring in infants, it is recommended to massage, place the baby on the tummy more often, and apply a copper coin to the navel.

Reviews from women are such that in some cases the umbilical hernia resolves on its own. The main thing is to start preventive or therapeutic measures in time.

Often in infants a hernia is caused by poor ligation of the umbilical cord or accumulation of gases. It is enough to carry out simple manipulations in a timely manner, which will certainly help to avoid complications and surgery in the future.

Of course, in some diseases, a protrusion at the navel carries a mortal danger:

peritonitis;
abdominal aortic aneurysm;
duodenitis;
inflammation of the intestine, duodenum.

Conclusion

Immediate assistance from specialists is required. Connivance and lack of reaction to a protrusion in the abdomen on the part of parents can lead to irreversible consequences and death.

Doctors warn! Shocking statistics - it has been established that more than 74% of skin diseases are a sign of parasite infection (Accarida, Giardia, Toxocara). Worms cause enormous harm to the body, and the first to suffer is our immune system, which should protect the body from various diseases. The head of the Institute of Parasitology shared the secret of how to quickly get rid of them and cleanse your skin, it turns out that’s enough. Read more .

If suspicious signs appear in the form of a growth in the navel area, it hurts a lot and increases in size, then you need to consult a doctor immediately.

Lumps near the navel may have different etiologies. In some cases, this is considered normal, and sometimes this sign signals possible health problems.

To determine the nature of the neoplasm, you need to consult a doctor who, based on the diagnostic results, will make an accurate diagnosis.

Pivot table

The table shows the most commonly diagnosed causes of pain in the lower abdomen:

The human body is quite complex, each organ in it is interconnected. Sometimes it happens that based on the location of the pain it is not clear what disease it is associated with. Let's look at why the navel hurts in men, point out the most likely pathologies, and tell you what to do in these cases.

A man must understand that it is useless to treat the pain itself - it is necessary to establish why it appeared. You won’t be able to do this yourself, at home. You will have to contact a therapist or a more specialized specialist, undergo an examination and take tests. Only then will the diagnosis be known and treatment can begin.

Associated symptoms

It is difficult to say from the photo and external symptoms what could have contributed to the formation of the compaction.

First of all, after visiting a doctor, he collects information about accompanying symptoms, which may be the following:

with an umbilical hernia: pain in the area of compaction, nausea, pain in the rectum, constipation;
with diverticulitis (protrusion of the intestine, similar in appearance to a hernia): pain, fever, diarrhea alternately with constipation, the presence of blood in the stool;
with a benign tumor: an increase in the size of the tumor, pain is often absent, as well as other unpleasant symptoms;
with a malignant tumor: pain, erosion, crusts over the tumor on the epidermis, peeling;
with atheroma cyst: pain, inflammation of the skin, rapid growth;
when the bladder is bloated: discomfort when urinating;
with an abdominal aortic aneurysm: aching pain radiating to the spinal region;
with duodenitis: pain, dizziness, increased dryness of mucous membranes, general malaise, hypertension.

General recommendations for pain above the navel

If your upper abdomen hurts, you should carefully monitor any symptoms that arise. Dangerous and requiring medical attention are :

prolonged persistence of pain after taking painkillers;
presence of blood in vomit or stool;
difficulty breathing and swallowing reflex.

The main symptom, which is accompanied by severe weakness, increased body temperature, dizziness and sweating, should also not be ignored.

Found an error? Select it and press Ctrl+Enter.

Diagnosis of neoplasm

If a lump of unknown etiology is felt in the navel area, the doctor may prescribe the following diagnostic measures to determine the cause of the growth:

computed tomography;
ultrasonography;
X-ray examination;
angiography;
colonoscopy;
esophagogastroduodenoscopy;
sigmoidoscopy.

Laboratory diagnostic measures include urine and blood tests, blood biochemistry, biopsy followed by histological examination.

You should immediately consult a doctor if there is severe pain and purulent exudate is released from the lump.

Treatment

What treatment will be in a particular case depends on the root cause of the development of the tumor. Sometimes you can get by with drug therapy, which is prescribed in accordance with the results of tests and instrumental studies.

Some pathological conditions require only surgical intervention. For example, it could be a hernia that needs to be repaired. An important condition is to prevent the development of complications by promptly consulting a doctor to diagnose the condition.

If an umbilical hernia is detected in a newborn, massage is required in combination with the main treatment. The baby is often placed on his stomach. Numerous reviews from mothers confirm that applying a copper coin to the tumor helped save the baby from such a pathology.

Often the cause of a hernia in newborns is poor tying of the umbilical cord or accumulation of gases. In this case, appropriate manipulations are performed that will help quickly eliminate the pathology and prevent complications.

Some diseases that are accompanied by such a symptom require emergency treatment in a hospital setting. Deaths also occur, especially if the disease develops. Such pathologies include inflammatory process in the intestines, peritonitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, duodenitis.

Prevention

You can prevent the development of compactions caused by diseases of the abdominal organs by following the following recommendations:

proper nutrition with limited consumption of fried, fatty, salty foods, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, fast food, canned food;
skin hygiene: daily water procedures, use of gentle detergents without aggressive substances in the composition, use of a soft washcloth;
work and rest schedule: you need to go to bed and get up in the morning at the same hours; It is recommended to take short breaks during the working day;
exclusion of stressful situations and emotional overload.

Flatulence

The cause of hardness in the abdominal muscles is often increased accumulation of gases.
Flatulence or gas formation is often a consequence of the fermentation process in the intestines, which can be caused by overeating, eating stale foods, carbonated drinks, baked goods or vegetables containing large amounts of fiber and starch. About 500 ml passes through the digestive tract of a healthy person during the day. gases With their increased formation, the intestines become distended, which negatively affects the digestion process. Associated symptoms will be bloating, a feeling of heaviness, nausea, belching, and sometimes heartburn.