This includes a complete medical history with a detailed description about the pain, including the exact location and what makes it better or worse. The doctor will then do a physical examination by pressing on all areas of the abdomen to try to find the cause of the pain. A pelvic examination might be done if ovarian cysts or some other problem of the female reproductive system is suspected. In this procedure, the doctor inserts a lubricated finger into the vagina, and places the other hand on the abdomen and feels the internal organs, such as the uterus and ovaries.

Blood Tests for Abdominal Pain
Blood might be taken to test for the presence of bacteria, viruses or parasites or other signs of infection, such as a high level of white blood cells.

Endoscopy
This is a procedure that allows the doctor to look for problems anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). The patient is given some medicine to relax. Then the doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube called a fiberoptic endoscope through the mouth and down into the throat through which he can see the esophagus, stoma and duodenum, and as parts of the intestines from within and can look closely at inflamed, ulcerated or infected areas.

Laparoscopy
A surgical procedure similar to endoscopy in which a thin, lighted tube is inserted through one or more small cuts in the abdomen. The doctor can then look inside the abdomen.

Stool sample for Abdominal Pain
A sample of a bowel movement might be required to test for blood, bacteria or other germs that could be causing diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Ultrasound of the Abdomen
An ultrasound is a test in which sound waves are bounced off tissues and internal organs and changed into pictures (sonograms). A transducer (the device that sends and receives the sound waves) is moved over the skin of the abdomen. Tissues of different depths reflect sound waves differently and the results can be used to diagnose a variety of abdominal problems.

Urinalysis for Abdominal Pain
A sample of urine might be required to test for blood or bacteria. This is a common test used for diagnosing urinary tract infections.

Treatment for Abdominal Pain
Treatment for abdominal pain depends on the cause of the problem and can range from home care, such as resting and drinking extra fluids, to surgery. Surgery to remove the diseased part is the treatment of choice for appendicitis and gallbladder disease. Medication therapy with antibiotics is commonly used for treating UTIs and peptic ulcers. Antibiotics might also be prescribed for gastroenteritis, along with rest and fluids, if the doctor believes the problem is caused by a bacterial infection. Estrogen is commonly given to relieve the symptoms caused by ovarian cysts. However, this does not always help and the cysts might have to be removed surgically. Medicines to relieve pain, stop nausea and vomiting or reduce stoma acid might also be prescribed, so that patients could be as comfortable as possible.

Prevention of Abdominal Pain
There is no way to prevent all abdominal pain, since no one knows exactly what causes appendicitis and ovarian cysts. However, learning the risk factors might prevent some problems like Colecystitis and peptic ulcers. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. For example, risk factors that increase the chance a person will develop gallstones and olecystitis include eating a diet high in fats and being overweight. Other problems like gastroenteritis and urinary tract infections can be prevented often by following simple home care measures such as those listed below.
Gastroenteritis caused by food poisoning might be prevented by:

• Always washing your hands before handling food.
• Cooking food completely to kill bacteria.
• Storing leftovers quickly after eating.
• Thawing frozen foods in the refrigerator.
• Washing all dishes, surfaces and kitchen tools that touch raw meat in hot, soapy water before and after using them.
• Washing the tops of cans before opening them.

Urinary tract infections in women might be prevented by:

• Drinking a glass of water before sexual intercourse and using the bathroom within 15 minutes after intercourse to get rid of bacteria that might be in the urethra.
• Going to the bathroom at least every few hours to prevent bacterial buildup in the urine.
• Not using douches, as this flushes away protective bacteria that live in the vagina.
• Washing from front to back after a bowel movement, so that bacteria from the rectum is not spread to the vaginal area.