Stomach ache and abdominal pain
Stomach aches are cramps or dull aches in the tummy (abdomen).
Most stomach aches do not usually last long and are often not serious. Severe abdominal pain can be more serious.
Abdominal pain self-help guide
Advice for adults with abdominal pain.
Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Self-help guide
Treatment from a pharmacist
Speak to your pharmacist about:
- what’s causing your stomach ache
- treatments that might help
- medicines to help relieve symptoms of constipation and indigestion
Immediate action required: Go to A&E or phone 999 for an ambulance if:
- you’re less than 16 weeks pregnant and have severe abdominal pain
- you have a stomach ache that came on very suddenly or is severe
- it hurts when you touch your stomach
- you’re vomiting blood or your vomit looks like ground coffee
- your poo is bloody or black and sticky and extremely smelly
- you can’t pee
- you can’t poo or fart
- you can’t breathe
- you have chest pain
- you have diabetes and you’re vomiting
- someone has collapsed
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP practice if:
- your stomach ache gets much worse quickly
- stomach pain or bloating will not go away or keeps coming back
- you have repeated bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea
- you have stomach pain and problems with swallowing food
- you’re losing weight without trying to
- you suddenly pee more often or less often
- peeing is suddenly painful
- you bleed from your bottom or vagina, or have abnormal discharge from your vagina
- you have diarrhoea that does not go away after a few days
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
What causes stomach ache and abdominal pain?
Stomach ache and abdominal pain can have different causes. You may have stomach ache only, or other symptoms like diarrhoea too.
Sudden stomach cramps with diarrhoea
Stomach cramps with diarrhoea may be caused by a tummy bug (gastroenteritis). Tummy bugs usually get better after a few days and don’t need treatment.
Sudden severe abdominal pain
Sudden severe pain in a particular area of your tummy may be a sign of a serious problem. It could get worse without treatment.
Sudden severe abdominal pain can be caused by:
- appendicitis – painful swelling of the appendix
- a bleeding or perforated stomach ulcer
- acute cholecystitis – inflammation of the gallbladder, which may need to be removed
- kidney stones – small stones that develop in one or both of your kidneys
- diverticulitis – inflammation of the small pouches in the bowel
- ectopic pregnancy – when a fertilised egg develops outside the womb, this can be very serious if it isn’t treated
- acute pancreatitis – a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time
If your GP thinks you have one of these conditions, they’ll ask you to go to hospital immediately.
Sudden and severe pain in your abdomen may also be caused by a pulled muscle in your abdomen or an injury.
If there’s any possibility that you could be pregnant, you should take a pregnancy test.
Long-term or recurring abdominal pain
Speak to your GP practice if you or your child have persistent or repeated abdominal pain. The cause is often not serious and can be managed.
Possible causes in adults include:
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – the pain is often relieved when you go to the toilet
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – for example Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and endometriosis
- a urinary tract infection (UTI) that keeps returning – you’ll usually also have a burning sensation when you pee
- constipation
- period pain – painful muscle cramps in women that are linked to the menstrual cycle
- stomach ulcer
- heartburn and acid reflux
- gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
Possible causes in children include:
- constipation
- a UTI that keeps returning
- heartburn
- acid reflux
- abdominal migraines – abdominal pain that keeps coming back and you don’t know why