Lower abdominal pain is pain that occurs at or below the belly button. This pain can be:
- cramp-like
- achy
- dull
- sharp
- a foul odor
- a cottage cheese-like consistency
- an unusual color, such as yellow or green
What causes lower abdominal pain and vaginal discharge?
Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections are common causes of vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain.Conditions associated with vaginal pain and discharge can range from mild to severe. They include the following:
- Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection that occurs due to an overgrowth of bacteria.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) or cervical cancer can cause a bloody, brown, or watery vaginal discharge along with a foul odor.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs due to infection of the upper reproductive organs and abdominal structures. This infection is commonly a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
- Trichomoniasis occurs due to a parasite.
- A yeast infection occurs due to a fungus.
- Mittelschmerz is abdominal pain that occurs during ovulation.
How are lower abdominal pain and vaginal discharge treated?
The way your doctor treats these symptoms differently depends on what’s causing them. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for infections such as PID or STIs. They may prescribe topical or oral antifungal medications for a yeast infection.Your doctor will decide how to treat HPV or cervical cancer based on the severity of the condition. In some instances, your doctor may recommend surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Home care
You can do the following at home to help treat your symptoms:- Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water to help to reduce adverse effects from vaginal infections.
- Wear clean cotton underwear, and keep your vagina clean.
- Avoid using perfumed products around your vagina, such as deodorant body washes.
- You may wish to avoid sexual intercourse until you don’t have any symptoms.
- Take all medications as prescribed.
- You may also wish to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, to relieve lower abdominal pain.
How can you prevent lower abdominal pain and vaginal discharge?
Practicing good hygiene and sexual habits can help to prevent these symptoms. Examples include:- always using a condom during sexual intercourse
- keeping your stress levels low
- keeping the vagina clean and dry
- refraining from douching, which can irritate the vaginal tissues
- wiping from front to back after going to the bathroom