Causes of Side Pain: Do They Differ Between Men and Women?

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Pain can be said to be the body’s way of sending a signal because something has gone wrong in the area where the pain occurs.

It could be considered a kind of alarm.

Except for temporary pain caused by external environmental factors, if pain persists in a specific area, you should suspect a warning sign in that area.

In particular, the abdomen and side areas, where pain may occur frequently, contain important organs in our body, and even simple problems can cause pain, so you need to pay closer attention to the signals your body is sending.

But did you know that the cause of side pain can also differ depending on sex?

Today, let’s look at how the causes of side pain in men and women differ.

Causes of Side Pain in Men

Urinary stones

If side pain in men is especially severe on the right side, urinary stones may be suspected as the cause.

In fact, since urinary stones account for 25% of hospitalized urology patients, they are said to be a common symptom in men.

In particular, during the summer, the risk of urinary stones increases because body fluids are easily lost, so it is a good idea to maintain adequate fluid intake in daily life to help prevent recurrence.

Urinary stones are considered one of the leading causes of side pain in men, and the pain is known to be severe.

It is said that they can suddenly cause intense pain, along with hematuria, vomiting, high fever, cold sweats, and weakness, to the point that they are compared to the labor pains women feel during childbirth.

Urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis

Inflammatory reactions in the urinary tract can also be considered a cause of side pain in men.

Such inflammation of the urinary tract can occur regardless of sex, but in men, symptoms such as pain in the genitals when urinating or pus discharge from the urethra are said to appear more often.

In severe cases, referred pain can radiate to the side, so many people may mistake it for symptoms of a herniated disc.

Because inflammatory reactions in the urinary tract like this need to be improved with antibiotics, early treatment is recommended.

Hepatitis

Among the things that can cause side pain in men, hepatitis should also be suspected.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver cell tissue and can be caused by viruses, medications, alcohol, and other factors.

In the case of acute hepatitis, it is accompanied by weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and side pain, and it can improve with appropriate treatment and sufficient rest.

However, if symptoms persist, it may already have become chronic hepatitis, or another problem with the liver should be suspected, so a detailed examination is recommended.

Causes of Side Pain in Women

Pelvic inflammatory disease

So, what are the causes of side pain in women?

The first is pelvic inflammation.

It is also a major cause of side pain in women, and it is characterized by inflammation that occurs when bacteria proliferating in the lower genital tract spread to the endometrium and fallopian tubes during intercourse or when using an intrauterine contraceptive device.

If pelvic inflammatory disease becomes severe, it can lead to complications such as ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility, so you need to be especially careful.

In the early stages, when the inflammation is not severe, it can improve with antibiotics, so prompt testing is recommended.

Appendicitis

Among the causes of side pain in women, symptoms that appear mainly on the right side may suggest appendicitis.

Because the appendix attached to the end of the cecum becomes inflamed, pain is mostly felt in the right side.

In addition, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and retching may also occur.

Since appendicitis can lead to damage to nearby organs if a long time passes after the pain begins, it is important to receive treatment quickly.

Ovarian cysts

Female-related conditions can also be a factor in side pain in women.

A representative example is an ovarian cyst, which is a tumor that develops in the ovary.

It is a fluid-filled cyst, and as a functional cyst, it is characterized by problems in the ovulation process, such as the ovary failing to mature normally and obstructing the release of follicles.

In addition to pain, it is said to be characterized by vaginal bleeding, discomfort during urination, and indigestion.

Today, we looked at the causes of side pain in men and women.

In addition, there are many common causes such as muscle pain, shingles, kidney stones, pancreatitis, spinal disorders, and intercostal neuralgia, so if you cannot determine the exact cause, we recommend getting examined at a medical institution as soon as possible.

Thank you.

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