What’s Causing Your Stomach Pain?

Stomach pain is a signal for many women that something isn’t right. And sexually active folks may know that stomach pain is a common Chlamydia symptom. But pain in the stomach doesn’t always mean you need STD testing. Here’s a guide for when to take action about stomach pain.

Stomach Pain and STD Testing

First, let’s get one thing straight: stomach pain can be caused by lot of things, including the flu, menstrual cramps, overworking abdominal muscles, and more. But stomach pain is also a Chlamydia symptom. Other symptoms include:

• Vaginal or penile discharge
• Painful urination
• Nausea
• Fever
• Lower back pain
• Pain during sex

If you’re at risk for Chlamydia and experience these symptoms, you should consider Chlamydia testing. But there’s more to the story: stomach pain and Chlamydia are more connected than some people realize.

Stomach Pain and PID

Chlamydia is a pretty sneaky STD in that its symptoms are often nonexistent. But untreated Chlamydia can cause long-term damage in the form of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Symptoms of PID include stomach pain and other Chlamydia symptoms.

Even if you aren’t at risk for Chlamydia, you might be at risk for PID, which can:

• Be caused by a number of infectious agents (including some that aren’t sexually transmitted!).
• Lead to infertility.
• Cause ectopic pregnancies.

Because stomach pain and other PID symptoms can signal a number of maladies, women and their doctors often misdiagnose the disease. 

Treatment for Stomach Pain Caused by an STD

If you have symptoms of STDs (whether they include stomach pain, discharge, warts or something else), STD testingis the only surefire way to know what you have and what kind of treatment you need.

The nice thing about Chlamydia is that it is 100% curable: with a round of antibiotics, you can clear up the infection and any stomach pain that went with it. PID can also be treated, and the sooner you take action, the better. The less time dangerous bacteria live inside your body, the better your chances of preventing long-term damage.