Pain in the lower abdomen in men

Causes of pain

On the left side of the abdomen there are a large number of organs, each of which can cause pain. There are several possible causes for the condition:

• inflammation;
• injury;
• circulatory disorders (ischemia, heart attack);
• torsion of the ligaments of an internal organ;
• suppuration;
• systemic damage;
• genetic disease;
• poisoning;
• organ dysfunction;
• spasm;
• the appearance of a neoplasm.

A doctor should find out the cause during a face-to-face appointment. He will prescribe the necessary diagnostic procedures and select the optimal treatment.

Diagnostics

A doctor can guess the cause of pain through examination and palpation. The further diagnostic method is selected based on the results:

• general blood test - will indicate an infectious lesion, detect leukemia;
• general urinalysis - will help determine kidney pathology;
• Ultrasound is the fastest and easiest method for examining the abdominal organs;
• MRI - gives the most reliable results;
• colonoscopy - assessment of intestinal condition;
• radionuclide testing is relevant for some diseases of internal organs, for which other methods are not informative.

Based on the results of diagnostic measures, the patient is diagnosed. Pain treatment is selected according to the detected disease.

Read also: Pulling in the lower abdomen

Which doctor should I contact?

If there is pain in the lower abdomen, a man needs to visit a therapist - without an examination and a preliminary diagnosis, it is impossible to determine the potential cause of the condition. Then, depending on the type of pathology detected, treatment is carried out:

• gastroenterologist – if a man has colitis or other diseases of the digestive tract
• urologist – when a disorder of the urogenital tract is detected
• infectious disease specialist – if the development of dysentery is established

When diseases of the digestive or urinary tract are associated with hormone imbalance or diabetes, you will need to see an endocrinologist.

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Possible diagnoses

Pain in the left side of the lower abdomen can be caused by damage to any organ located on this side. Possible diagnoses for such a patient:

• pathology of the spleen (abscess, heart attack, rupture, inflammation);
• lymphocytic leukemia or myeloid leukemia;
• intestinal pathology (malsorption, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, polyps, obstruction);
• oncology;
• pathologies of the reproductive organs (salpingitis, endometriosis, torsion of the ovarian pedicle, salpingoophoritis, adnexitis, rupture of uterine ligaments);
• ectopic pregnancy;
• kidney damage (enlargement of the pelvis).

Pain in the left side can be caused by other diagnoses, but radiate (transition) to this area. Therefore, it is important to contact a medical facility in a timely manner and conduct a comprehensive examination.

Prevention

To prevent the development of conditions that cause pain in the left side and lower abdomen, men should:

• Pay attention to personal hygiene.
• Lead an orderly sex life - without casual sexual intercourse.
• Avoid hypothermia and prolonged stay in humid climates.
• Avoid chaotic eating and consumption of low-quality foods.
• Change working and living conditions in favor of a safe option - move away from sources of intoxication.
• Avoid body damage.
• Limit yourself from stress.

Additional preventive measures are seasonal vitamin therapy, regular medical examinations for hereditary predisposition to pathologies.

Pain in the left side extending to the lower abdomen is an important sign that indicates the need to consult a specialist. Diseases that lead to abdominal discomfort are numerous. Without hardware and instrumental diagnostics, it is impossible to accurately determine the root cause of the condition. Therefore, a visit to a specialist is an indispensable condition for maintaining the integrity of the affected organ.

Treatment

Treatment for a condition where the left side of the lower abdomen hurts depends on the diagnosis. Several groups of drugs can be used:

• painkillers - to relieve symptoms;
• antibiotics - for inflammation and suppuration;
• enzymes - for gastrointestinal pathologies;
• hormones - for endometriosis;
• sedatives - for irritable bowel syndrome;
• carminatives - for flatulence;
• chemotherapy - for oncology and leukemia.

If the pain is caused by kidney damage, special preparations and herbal teas may be prescribed. And in case of ectopic pregnancy, injuries and ruptures of organs, as well as in the absence of the ability to cure the patient with conservative methods, surgical intervention is performed.

Pain in the left side is a reason to consult a doctor in any case. But if they are of high intensity or began after a possible injury, this must be done urgently. Delay can threaten the patient with serious complications, including death.

Read also: Pulling in the lower abdomen during pregnancy

Dear patients! Remember that only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the causes and nature of the disease, and prescribe effective treatment. You can make an appointment with our specialists or call a doctor at home by calling 8-(4822)-33-00-33

Be healthy and happy!

Causes

Disorders that cause discomfort in the left side of the lower abdomen in men are characterized by diversity. To preliminary establish the cause, you need to analyze your diet, lifestyle, family history, and psychological situation in different areas of life.

Intestinal diseases

Caused by hereditary predisposition, starvation, stress, and incorrectly composed diet. Also, eating hot food immediately after cold food, and vice versa, has an adverse effect on the condition of the intestines. For a long time, pathologies can progress asymptomatically. Several years may pass from the initial changes in the digestive tract to the first manifestations of the disorder.

General signs of intestinal diseases:

• Constant bloating and tension in the anterior abdominal wall
• Nausea, regular bouts of vomiting
• Bitter taste in the mouth, gray coating on the tongue
• Pain when palpating the abdominal cavity
• Weakened or complete lack of appetite
• Difficulty passing gas

Additional signs are rashes on the skin of the face and chest; weakness, lethargy; constipation or diarrhea, increased motility (loud sounds inside the abdominal cavity).

Pseudomembranous colitis

Intestinal inflammation; The rectum and sigmoid colon are affected. In 90% of cases, the pathology is a consequence of incorrectly administered antibiotic therapy. With pseudomembranous colitis, pain occurs in the left side, then moves to the groin area. In men, cramps often recur in the lower abdomen, the severity of which decreases slightly after defecation. Bowel movement occurs with water or excessively liquid stool. Pseudomembranous colitis causes dehydration.

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Dysentery

An infectious disease that occurs due to the entry of pathogenic pathogens into the digestive tract - Shigella. The path of movement of unfavorable microflora into the body is water or food.

Symptoms of the condition, in addition to discomfort in the left side:

1. Increased motor skills, cramps in the lower abdomen
2. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, decreased blood pressure
3. An admixture of blood and copious amounts of mucus in the stool
4. Increased body temperature

The average duration of the disease is up to 3 weeks. The period from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first signs of dysentery usually takes about 3 days.

Irritable bowel syndrome

IBS (abbreviation for this disease) is characterized by impaired peristalsis, as a result of which the intestines are unable to fully digest food.

Reasons for development:

• hereditary predisposition
• suffered severe intoxication (acids or alkalis)
• abuse of hot, sour, salty, spicy, smoked foods, semi-finished products
• alcoholism

In advanced forms of IBS, after consuming any type and volume of food, bloating and discomfort when palpating it occur. Typical symptoms of the condition: tenesmus (false urge to defecate), a feeling of insufficient bowel movement, diarrhea. The stool contains copious amounts of mucus. Discomfort in the left side of the lower abdomen increases in men after a stressful event and immediately before bowel movement. A distinctive feature of IBS is that the symptoms of the pathology are observed only in the morning and afternoon.

Diverticulosis and its complications

It is a disease of the colon in which sac-like elements form inside its wall. Reason for development: impaired peristalsis of the organ; dystrophic changes in the connective and muscle tissue of the intestines. For a long time, the pathology progresses asymptomatically or manifests itself with a small number of mild symptoms.

The man's complaints are related to defecation problems, pain in the lower abdomen moving to the left side. Discomfort is accompanied by constipation or diarrhea, intoxication. Differential diagnosis is carried out with a stomach ulcer, since the symptoms of the two diseases are similar. A complication of diverticulosis is an intestinal abscess, which is manifested by an increase in body temperature to critical levels.

Ischemic colitis

Inflammation of the colon that develops as a result of impaired blood supply in it. The sigmoid colon is often subject to pathological changes. Attacks of pain occur mainly at lunchtime or somewhat later. Discomfort in the left side and lower abdomen is accompanied by bloating, tenesmus, loose stools mixed with a small amount of blood. Timely treatment of ischemic colitis allows you to get rid of the disease in a few days.

Intestinal obstruction

Characterized by the inability of the intestines to move digested food masses. Passage problems are caused by the presence of a certain element that prevents food particles from moving freely. These factors include:

• intraintestinal neoplasms of a malignant or benign nature
• adhesive process
• presence of a foreign body
• hernia

Circumstances predisposing to intestinal obstruction - previous abdominal surgeries (standard ones that involve tissue incision), fasting. In addition to pain in the left side of the lower abdomen, men experience flatulence (accumulation of intestinal gases) and constipation. Hyperthermia, decreased blood pressure, weakness, pale skin are signs indicating the onset of peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity).

Inguinal hernia strangulation

The patient lives with an inguinal hernia for a long time without any particular inconvenience, but under certain circumstances, strangulation of the protrusion may occur. Predisposing factors are excessive or sudden physical activity, heavy lifting, muscle tension during bowel movements. In addition to pronounced discomfort with left-sided localization, a man is worried about constipation, decreased blood pressure, hardening of the hernia, and irritability.

Kidney diseases

Include destructive, inflammatory, infectious, tumor processes. The cause of the development of kidney disease is hereditary predisposition, hypothermia, taking medications, and working in harmful conditions. An additional predisposing factor is living in a humid climate. As the kidney disorder progresses, men experience pain in the left side of the lower abdomen, moving to the lower back. Then discomfort covers the perineum, as the pathological process spreads to the bladder and ureters.

Additional signs:

1. The appearance of blood in the urine
2. Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
3. Hyperthermia, chills
4. Weakness, decreased performance

To confirm the development of kidney disease, problems with the digestive tract and inflammation of the back muscles are excluded.

Pyelonephritis

Inflammation of the kidneys, which occurs due to the entry of pathogenic microflora into the urogenital tract. Causes of the disease:

• hypothermia
• conditions that are accompanied by urinary retention (prostate adenoma, tumor of the kidney or neighboring organs)
• purposeful long-term urinary retention
• movement of a pathogen from foci of the body

Manifestations of pyelonephritis resemble signs of a kidney tumor, some disorders of the digestive tract, muscle inflammation, and spinal dysfunction.

Urolithiasis disease

Characterized by the formation of one or more stones inside the renal pelvis. Stones differ not only in quantity, but also in composition, size, structure, and prospects for movement through the urinary tract.

Cause of urolithiasis:

1. Unhealthy diet (abuse of spicy, salty, sour foods)
2. Alcoholism
3. Problems with metabolism (violation of the acid-base balance in the body)
4. Sedentary lifestyle

When changing the position of the stone, the man feels pain in the lumbar region, nausea, and an increase in blood pressure and body temperature. The condition is defined as renal colic and requires immediate relief. When an attack occurs, the general symptoms may be aggravated by the release of blood during urination. This indicates damage to the renal pelvis and indicates the need for iron supplementation. Medicines in this group will correct hemoglobin levels, which decrease during blood loss.

Diseases of the genital organs

An unpleasant sensation in the lower abdomen in men occurs with varicocele (varicose veins of the spermatic cord), vesiculitis (inflammation of the seminal vesicles), left-sided orchitis (testicular damage).

Their symptoms:

• Pain in left side
• Hyperthermia
• Limitation of general mobility
• Discharge from the genital tract (purulent, curdled)
• Redness, swelling of the affected area
• Nausea, weakness, lethargy, general intoxication

The causes of the development of diseases of the genital organs are lack of personal hygiene, hypothermia, casual sexual intercourse, and damage to the groin area.

Testicular torsion

It is a change in the anatomical position of the testicle, which leads to compression of the nerve fibers running near the organ and the blood vessels that supply it. Men immediately experience pain in the lower abdomen, and if torsion of the left testicle occurs, then the discomfort is localized on the corresponding side.

Reasons for the development of the disorder:

1. Defects in the structure of the male reproductive system
2. Suffered injuries to the groin area - blows, bruises
3. Wearing excessively tight underwear
4. Increased physical activity

Additionally, blood pressure decreases to critical levels, nausea occurs, almost immediately turning into vomiting; the skin of the scrotum takes on a bluish color.

Chronic prostatitis

A disease of the prostate gland, which manifests itself in its prolonged inflammation. Prostatitis takes a chronic course if it is not eliminated in an acute form. Reasons for development:

• hypothermia
• sedentary lifestyle
• hereditary predisposition
• movement of pathogenic microflora from other foci of inflammation
• frequent cases of arousal without subsequent intimacy

In addition to pain in the lower abdomen and perineum, chronic inflammation of the prostate is manifested by decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and urinary disorders. Exacerbation of inflammation of this form is observed at least once every six months.