Experiencing Upper Abdominal Pain?

Many people will experience upper abdominal pain at some point in life or another. Upper abdominal pain has multiple potential causes, plenty of which aren't serious. Bloating, gas, and pulled muscles can all produce upper abdominal pain, and often, this type of discomfort will go away on its own in a matter of hours or days. When pain in the upper abdominal region persists, however, medical intervention may be necessary.

Upper Abdominal Pain and Chlamydia

Although it's not the most common chlamydia symptom, persistent upper abdominal pain could point to an STD. If upper abdominal pain is accompanied by painful urination and thick, colored genital discharge, then STD testing should be performed to see if chlamydia or another STD is to blame. Upper abdominal pain caused by a sexually transmitted infection will generally not go away without proper treatment.

PID and Upper Abdominal Pain

Chlamydia is an STD that's easy to treat. All it takes is antibiotics to cure the infection and eliminate any associated symptoms, including upper abdominal pain. The problem, however, is that many people who have chlamydia don't experience any STD symptoms and, as such, don't think to undergo chlamydia testing. Left untreated, however, chlamydia can cause severe repercussions in women, including a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID affects the reproductive system and can result in chronic upper abdominal pain. Women who don't get tested and treated for chlamydia also run the risk of compromising their ability to conceive.

Treating Upper Abdominal Pain

The treatment for upper abdominal pain will generally depend on its underlying cause. In the case of a muscle pull, for example, a doctor may recommend bed rest or refraining from exercise until the issue has resolved itself. When upper abdominal pain is caused by an STD like chlamydia, treating the actual infection will help the symptom go away.

Getting Tested for Chlamydia

Chlamydia testing today is easy and non-invasive. All it takes is a urine sample to screen for infection. Results are typically produced quickly, and treatment is often completed within 7 to 10 days.